Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-23
Academy Increase


The bill will come up in the Senate
probably next Monday. Senator Cham
berlain of the Senate military commit
tee announced today that he would
await the arrival Of the Houe bill.
give it brief consideration in commit
tee and ask for its immediate consid-
GRAFTON in the Senate. AS preliminary
step on army legislation the Senate
during the day adopted by vote of 50
to the bill virtually doubling the au-
thorized strength of the cadet corps
at West Point Military Academy. A
similar measure applying to the Nav
al Academy already has been signed
by the President.
Hay Bill "Going Strong"
The Hay bill has not been altered in
any of it's broad aspects during the
three-day struggle in the House with
amendments. Chairman Hay has been
defeated only once, having approved
every other change made in the de-
tail of the measure. The bill probably
will go to the Senate virtually as
framed by the committee.
One section still to be disposed Of,
however, is the vital element of the
whole army plan proposed. 1t is the
militia pay provision, under which the
bill is expected to produce a force Of
4Z5.000 national guardsmen within five
years as a substitute for the admins
tration's continental army proposal.
Gardner Amendment
The section had been read when the
House adjourned and Rep. Gardner,
Republican of Massachusetts, had pre-
sented an amendment proposing to
substitute for it the federal volunteer
provisions Of the Chamberlain Senate
bill. The amendment will be discussed
an hour tomorrow under an agreement
reached by Reps. Hay and Gardner.
Another important section remaining is
that authorizing construction of plant
to produce atmospheric nitrogen for use
in explosives. 1t is certain to cause ex-
tended debate.
The effect of the Gardner amendment
will be to leave the National Guard FED.
eralized in every respect proposed by the
bill but without any payment from the
federal treasury except when the militia.
men We're called out for training periods
The provision of the Chamberlain bill
which is offered as substitute is briet
authorization of the creation of a force
of 261.0 900 federal volunteers by congress.
sional districts along the lines proposed
by the proponents of the continental
army.
While the amendment has little chance
of adoption, it is certain to focus atten.
ton on weaknesses of the National Guarc
system and bring out the reasons which
impelled former Secretary Garrison to ad
vocate the continental plan and resign
from the cabinet when it was rejected by
the House committee.
The House refused twice today to inser
in the bill provisions designed to prohibi
the use of the National Guard by the
state for strike duty. Representative
London of New York, Socialist. and Rep
Heating of Colorado, Democrat, were
met by points of order when they Offered
amendments for this purpose. The Hous,
| overwhelmingly sustained the ruling o.
the chair.
! A proposal by Rep. Emerson of Ohio
ileDuDllcd1l, THAT WOulu nave dQm1lteQ gen
! eral officers of the National Guard to tn,
federal service in command of their bri
! gades or divisions in time of war wa!
defeated after much debate. Represent
alive Emerson insisted that these mer
| who had given years to training guards
men were entitled to high rank when tn,
| troops were used for war. Rep. Hay de
clared that adoption of the amendment
, would mean the destruction of the bill
since the efficiency of the army depend
| ed upon the efficiency of it's higher Off
GERS.
The most important amendment PLACED
in the bill was suggested by Rep Hay
den Dem.). Ariz. 1t provides that wher
regiment of National Guard is sent t
the front. a fourth battalion be organizet
! from the National Guard reserve to tax.
/ the regiments place and to train re
| cruts for the fighting lines. Under thi
system, if the entire guard We're calle;
out force one-third its total strength
would take it's place at home to maintain
order, secure and train recruits. and in
sure that the fighting regiment would b.
kept up to full strength without bein,
hampered by levies of raw recruits !
! similar system may be devised for tn
regular regiments.