Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-12

l NaShlngtOn, Feb 11--A new note | of harmony and cooperation on na- tionaI defense problems was struck in the house military committee today as | a direst result of the resignation of 1 Secretary Garrison of the war de- partment. It found expression in the | adoption of a resolution declaring the committees appreciation of the con | fdence of President Wilson reposed ! in it and in the sacrifice, as disclosed ! in his correspondence with MT. Gar 1 rison.
 Non-Partissn Feeling.
 The non-partisan character of the [ feeling was emphasized by the fact | that the resolution was offered by Rep- | sentative Kahn, of California, ranking republican member of the committee. Members of both the congressional committees declared that the war sec l retary's withdrawal had brought out 1 sharply the presidents desire that con- gress should work out its army prob | lems in the light of it's own best judg- ment, despite his personal preference 1 for the continental army advocated by | MT. Garrison and the army war col lege. The net 1Ssult, they agreed, was | a clarifio oation of the congressional at ! moST here and the assurance of SUD- port for the bills that will be drafted | from elements of both the democratic and republican sides that had hereto fore been counted against the meas ureS.
  | will represent an effort to make ef- | fective virtually all of the plans of the i war department with the exception | that liberalization of the national l guard will be sought as a substitute | for the continental army plan.
 Final Steps in Committees. | Final steps toward beginning the 1 drafting of the measures wore taken today by both house and senate com
 mittees. Both will take up the work | Monday and t is planned to hold all ! day sessions whenever the business of the two houses will permit. . | The house con1mittee drought toda l public hearings or <-1n SssTlans anu ordered an seiaioo4<sge index of the 1 voluminous testim:ney prepared, so there would be as little delay as pos | sible either in committee consider
 ation or the coming struggle on the | floor. Similar steps were taken by the senate committee.
 l liberalization of National Guard. | Present indications are that the | house bill will lay it's stress upon pro- | visions designed to federalize the na- | tional guard, while the senate commit | tees main effort will go into the reg ! ular army angles of preparedness | plans. The final measures sent to the president for his signature will be compromise, it is thought, each house being willing to accept the judgment
  | own particular field.
 | Payment of Guardsmen.
 The house bill. it is expected. will | provide for payment of national suardsmen who comply with all regu- | lations laid down by congress on a | basis sufficiently liberal to insure the ! recruiting of approximately 400, 900 l men,, the ultimate size of the proposed continental army. To make certain the availability for federal use in time of war or great emergency of all men | who participate in this payment, the l plan contemplates authorizing the president to draft into a volunteer army. Members of the committee are vir- tually unanimous in the opinion that l congress has full constitutional au- thority to enact such a measure and | withstand any attack through the | courts. Training and Discipline.
 The system contemplated is of a | broad character designed to provide | for the training, the discipline Of the | guardsmen in peace times in way | that will insure efficient organizations i for volunteer war service. Only the | administration of the law would be | left with the war department It is | proposed also to provide under these | regulations for the coordination of en- listment periods, physical standards | and the examinations which officers | appointed by state authorities must | pass for an adequate reserve system | for the guard and for a standardized | metrod of recruiting to fill up the | wastage of regiments sent to the front |
 Quota of Troops to Each State.
 Provision also will be made under which the quoto of troops to be fur nished by each state and the propor- tions of artillery, calvary, engineers signal corps and other special service | troops would be determined by the war department. Special federal apDroria- tions will be proposed for the Saain- tenance of these more costly special | arm troops by the states.
 Situation In Senate.
 The situation in the senate commit tee is not so well crystallized It is indicated, however, that its legislation for the regular army will include sub stantially all of the plans of the war college as to organization and that it will be accompanied by a volunteer army reserve act designed to build up and maintain a force more than eoal in numbers to the force with the colors.
 Short enlistments with the colors and the discharge into the reserve of any man found efficient by his officers at the end of a years training un- doubtedly vii be among the plans pro- posed to accomplish this end.
 Increase of 4oooo Men.
 As to the size of the standing army the men with the colors-it is indi- | cated that the senate bill will exceed the increase of 4o-000 men asked by