The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-03-31
Army Bill
in the Senate

listened attentlVely. Chairman Cham-
berlafn of the Military Committee
gave detailed explanation Of the
Senate measure and its purposes and
told why the committee had decided
to substitute its own bill for the one
already passed by the house rather
than to attempt to reconcile differ
ences. He emphasized the need for
action.
What the people of the country
want now is action rather than long
discussions" he told the Senate,
Briefly reviewing the nations ear
lier military policies from the time Of
Washington down to the present, he
said Congress never had yielded to all
the requests of administrative officials
for greater efficiency in army organi-
cation.
The Senate bill was drawn, Senator
Chamberlain explained, after thor
ough study Of all reorganization plans
the Hay bill, the Garrison bill and
the Chamberlain bill.
"There are no differences between
the Secretary of War and the two mil
itary committees of Congress so SER
ious that they cannot easily be settled
in conference" he said. 1.-THE bill as
finally introduced was framed without
partisan or political purpose. 1t was
the embodiment of the best in all the
army bills, as chosen after careful
study by all the experts of the war
department, and Republicans on the
committee have co-operated and new
er sought to interfere with construc-
ton of the measure, which has for it's
purpose the best interests of the
country"
With compulsory training, not
compulsory service, he declared, the
country, after five years, could abso-
lutely do away with its standing ar
my, except such as was necessary for
police duty. The country, however,
he explained, was not ready for COM
pulsory training and voluntary train
ing in institutions of learning, was as
far as the bill had gone.
Blames Congress for Conditions
Senator Chamberlain blamed Con-
gress for the faulty equipment in the
army, for aeroplanes that would not
fly and machine guns that would not
shoot.
"The aviation service is notorious
ly weak" he said. at is not the
fault of the army or of the aviation
corps, but it is the fault of Congress
that refuses to appropriate money
to provide proper equipment.
"Still, in the discussion on the floor
of this Senate you will find distin-
guished Senators protesting against
the appropriations and arguing that
the peoples money must not be spent
for war And the voice of The paci-
fist is heard in the land protesting
that no money must be spent. They
say we will never have any more war.
l can only hope not, but no man can
tell what may happen in "a hours. |
Who could predict the blowing up, of !
the Maine, the Spanish war and the |
transformation of this nation into
world power in "a hours? Not only
have we become a world power, but
the United States today is disposed
stronger than ever before to assert
the Monroe Doctrine and to make it
more than a mere paper doctrine. If
we do undertake to assert it we must
be prepared to do it more than by
mere word of mouth"
Senator Gallinger, the Republican
leader, said the most recent object
essen Of the country's unpreparedness
was the fact that six days elapsed af-
Ter the Villa attack upon Columbus
before American troops could enter
Mexico.
Defective AerOplanes Discussed
The New Hampshire Senator added
hat the aeroplane equipment Of the
army was in adequate.
eyes, and Congress is to blame for
t." retorted Senator Chamberlain
'Why are all the machines defec-
i've? ?" inquired Senator Yenyon.
Other nations seem to buy the same
ind"
Zone reason is that we gave too
mall sum to buy them," began Sen
tor Chamberlain.
Perhaps the fault is not entirely
With Congress-" interrupted Senator
'homas.
Some Investigations about to begin
nay show ineficiency in the Avia-
ion Corps ITSELF"
Il hope it will show something; it
nay show Congress the Importance
4 thic earvicnjD rant;ad Cauafor