The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-09
FINAL VOTE ON THE ARMY INCREASE BILL
 IN SENATE APRIL IS
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Muscle Shoals (Alabama) be carried out.
 Senator Smith of Georgia, who favors the Underwood amendment, answered Senator Kenyon, declaring it mattered nothing to him where the site was To- cated or what process was used but that te was quite certain any board of engi- neers which passed fairly on the project would select Muscle Shoals as the best power site east of the Mississippi.
 Senator Lewis took the Senate to task for the time it was devoting to con- sideration of the bill.
 ''The conduct of the Senate he said, 'lnanifests disposition to avoid respon- sibility We should either surround the country with force or we should an- bounce to the country that force is not needed and direct our attention to the discussion of legislation for the advance ment of the nations civil life.
 Declaring the diplomatic situation was precarious and that the Mexican problem multiplied embarrassment" Senator Lewis added:
 we cannot utter doctrine and ignore it's execution
 The reference to Mexico drew from Senator Chamberlain and Senator Stone, chairman of the foreign relations con- mittee, statements that the army organ ation bill had no connection with the situation beyond the border
 IS DOMESTIC MEASURE
 'I would have the people in Mexico understand said Senator Stone, That the movement to increase the power of the United States would have been just as great even if Mexico were one wide field of peace and prosperity"
 Some senators anticipate that con siderable increase will be made by the Senate over the committed proposal to fix the peace strength of the standing army at 1S0,000 enlisted men, Both republican and democratic members have declared on the floor they would support amend ments for a greater figure, some advocat- ing great a force as 3OO,000. Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the military committee. originally proposed peace strength of 220,000.
 During the week of discussion on the bill there has been nothing to indicate the position of the majority of senators. It has been noticeable however. that there
  mittee's figures. The bill passed by the House provides for a peace strength of 14O,0O0, and the struggle to come in the conference committee Is expected to be sharply outlined.
 WILL BE IMPORTANT
 There are indications that the recent battle in the Senate over the volunteer army plan will have an important bear ing in the conference committee. The continental army project of the admin istration was particularly repugnant to the members of the House military com mittee. The Senate'S volunteer army pro- posal, retained in the bill by a close vote. is a miniature reproduction of the abandoned continental army scheme. One representative who is virtually certain to be one of the three House members on the conference committee, is known to favor a much largr regular army than provided for by the House bill and also to lean toward the volunteer plan. With these elements to consider, many senators believe 1t possible that the volun- teer plan will be traded out in the con- ference for an increase of the House army regular figures and the authorlza- | ton for citizens training camps being | retained by adopting the House provi- sion in that regard.