Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-19

WASHINGTON. April t9.--An army re-
organization bill that would produce regu-
lar army and reserve military forces in
the United State4 aggregating 100000
men was passed by the Senate last night
without a record vote. IT is a substitute
fer the Hay bill. passed by the House, and
: the differences will Ire worked out in con-
ference.
on the eve of n Joint session of the
houses of Congress to hear message
from the President on grave international
issues the Senate hastened completion of
the bill amid scenes of excitement, repeat
edly rejecting NIL amendments pending to
reduce the proposed strengthening of the
army.
In the closing hours of debate the Sen
ate made provision for n regular standing
army with peace strength OF 2SO.OoD
men, as compared With 10000 In the Fay
bill which passed the House: retained
after a close fight the plan for federal
volunteer army reserve force calculated
TO aggregate $1,000 men. and federalized
the National Guard forces of the States
at an estimated strength of 100000 men.
FOR MILITARY SCHOOL.
In addition TO this combined regular and
reserve force of 100000 men. an amend.
ment was PASSED to create n school and
college youths reserve. corps In time OF
war or threatened var. which would re.
crut force Of trained young men,
schooled by officers OF the regular army,
the estimated strength of which s csti.
mated anywherc from 100000 to 100000.
1--WE arc creating here tonight n peace
army of a Million ntu." declared Senator
Myers in surHurtirE an amendment Of
Senator Reed to mako the regular army
10000. Tho Senate had agreed previous
ly by vote OF 4! a. ~ to an amendment
by Senator Brand S2c. increasing II from
the proposed gt,cnCtiiof 10000 to $50, 600.
The Reed reduction proposal was rejected,
AZ to 81. after a brief speech by Senator
Williams, In which he referred to the
solemnity of the occasion which would con-
front Congress tomorrow
Are we or are we not threatened with
war;" asked Senator Williams. Are we
or are we not threatened with war from
Mexico? Are we or arc we not threatened
with war over the submarine controversy
Have we not been called to assemble in
joint session tomorrow the solemn pur-
pose, of whic. We do not ourselves,
definitely understand?
''If the army cannot exceed certain
number, except In n state of threatened
war. we are now in IA state of threatened
war II the President of the Unltcd States
thinks so.
WILLIAMS SEES DANGER.
For myself. ! think we are pretty serl-
ously threatened with international diff
CuitlcS DOtn from Inc East ana tne south.
The apparently grave developments of
the few hours preceding the passage of
the bill also probably served to save the
volunteer army provision, Champions of
the National Guard fought II bitterly In
the Committee of the Whole and 1t was
retained by vote of "a to 32 Tonight
Senator Lewis again moved to strike out
the section II was saved this time by a
vote OF 40 to 81.
other important provisions Of the SEN
ate bill not in the House measure include
the following:
Appropriation of s15.OOO,OOO for con-
struction OF government plants for pro-
ductlon. of ntrates to be used in manu-
facture of ammunition
Provision for vocational education OF
enlisted men of the regular army COM
pellng instruction either in agriculture
or the mechanical arts,
Creation OF a National Guard section in
the General Staff of the army. and re-
quirng all officers and enlisted men of
the National Guard to subscribe to an
oath to support the United States as well
as the respective States,