The Washington herald., 1916-04-29
Nv r. h. JOHNS.

Although the joint conference commit
tee on the army reorganization Dill mas
been in session two days, very little pro-
gress is reported toward an agree
ment on the important provisions OF the
measure. Most of the time has been con-
sumed in harmoniZing the details between
the two bills where the provisions OF
both the Senate and the House bill are
practically identical.
The first clash between the conferees
was over the medical corps provisions
of the bill The House conferees, II Is
understood are insisting that the re-
organization of the army should proNloe
for seven medical officers for every l,CO
enlisted men of the army. They call at
tention TO the great number OF clvillan
physicians that are now being employed
by the belligerents in the European war
In England physicians have virtually
been conscripted for the army and not a
few American medical men are now serV-
ing in the European armies.
In reply to this argument the Senate
conferees cite the fact that none Of the
European armies previous to the war
had over four medical officers to a thou
sand enlisted men. 1t is argued by the
Senate conferees that our army must
always be a skeleton organization, which
is to be filled out in the event of war.
Inc COnlHFGtC lISlsN AAldN NANAAAoHAA
men can be absorbed by the army much
easier than 1t can take in unframed men
as enlisted men or officers Of the line.
There are also some differences be-
tween the conferees as to the rank that
should be given to medical officers. The
Senate conferees are insisting that there
are too many high-ranking officers in the
plan proposed for the medical corps by
the House.
Chairman Hay, Of the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs, has directed his
Iieutenants to sound out the House on
a proposition for increasing the regular
army to 17s,OOO. According to the cur
rent report, the chairman's plans provide
for the raising of the organizations of
the army in the new bill to maximum or
war strength.
This proposition will not be accepta-
Bile to the Senate. as II is not on lines
recommended by the War College. Ac-
cording to the War College plan, there
should be seven divisions in the regular
army. The Senate committee has &C
cepted this organization, but 1t has re-
duced the strength of the regiments be-
low that which Is recommended by the
War College. 1t is insisted by Senator
Chamberlain that the first step that Con-
gress should take is to give the army
VI
and this is what the Senate committee
reported out to the Senate. Senator
Brandegee introduced an amendment to
the committee bill to bring the army up
to war strength This was satisfactory
to Senator Chamberlain and to the ma
jorfty of the members of the Military
Affairs Committee, as, according to their
views, the Brandegee amendment
strengthened the committee bill and gave
| the country an adequate army.
! There is no material difference between
the enlisted strength provided for in the
Senate bill and that of the plan proposed
| by Chairman Hay. The objections which
the Senate conferees and the military au-
thorities will make is that it does not
provide the proper organization which
can be expanded in the event of war.
As the naval bill has been agreed to by
the subcommittee, the chief of naval OPP
erations is given the rank of admiral
at an annual salary of $4,000 without
allowances The chief Of naval opera
tions is to hold this rank only while
he is acting in this capacity. Fifteen
officers, not below the rank of lieutenant
commander. are 70 be assigned to duty
as assistants 70 the chief of naval opera
TONS The chief of naval operations Is
authorized 10 issue orders as II they
emsnated from the Secretary of the
Navy.
This provision. it is insisted. gives the