Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-30
PLANS TOFORWARD
ARMY MEASURES
Secretary Baker and Administra-
ton Leaders Consider Need
ed Legislation.
BUDGET READY TO PRESENT
Senator Chamberlain Discusses
Universal Training as National
Policy With President.
BUDGET READY TO PRESENT
fBv A.socia,ed Pres


WASHINGTON. March 2e.-Plans TO
forward further preparedness meas
ures for the army to-day began To as
sumo definite form
How an increased armed force may
be promptly secured for the present
emergency. as we'll as universal train
ing as "a national policy. was dis
cuss"d by Presiden, Wilson with Sena-
tor Chamberlain. of Oregon, chairman
of the Senate Military Committee At
the same time Secretary Baker and
administration leaders in Congress con-
sidered legislation needed immediately
for the military establishment
Senator Chamberlain told the Prcsi-
dent that he believed the executive
now has authority. without further ac-
tion by Congress. TO raise at once an
army OF more than 100000 men. BY in
creasing the regular army to war
strength. and calling out all Of the
National Guard. at war strength. with
co cooperation from State executives
There was no intimation that the
President was considering such step
Immediately. but the whole field Of
measures necessary to secure 4 larger
force was discussed.
VIRTUALLY SAME PROVISIONS
AS IN BILL WHICH FAILED
For the present needs. the War be-
partment, Secretary Baker said. has de-
cided TO submit TO Congress Il budget
containing virtually the same provi-
sions as the regular army appropriation
bill. which failed at tho last session
Estimates for the expense in conncc-
tion with an enlarged army or for any
emergency activities will be presented
later. This decision comedies with the
House plan TO rc-cnact the appropria-
tion bill without change, and send Il
at once TO the Senate.
Senator Chamberlain also agreed TO
expedite the bill in the Senate. To this
end. he said he would not again offer
his universal training bill as a rider
If II would delay prompt action on the
supply measure.
The conference between the President
and Senator Chamberlain. at the lat
ter's request. was primarily TO discuss
the Senator's universal training plan.
He asked the President to indorse the
general principle of compulsory train
ing in his Forthcoming message to
Congress. The President, IL was said.
gave no indication of his probable
course.
After leaving the White House the
Senator said he was still hopeful of
administration Endorsement OF his
measure. and also expressed increased
optimism over prospects Of passage by
the Senate OF some form of universal
training measure.
EXPECTs TO MAKE SEVERAL
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS
As result, of his talk with tho
President, Senator Chamberlain cX-
poets TO make several important
amendments TO his bill. particularly
with the idea OF increasing the num-
ber Of trained soldiers It would produce
in short period. To this end he
proposes to raise the age limit of
youths subject to training from nine
teen 10 twenty years. to secure more
periods sooner than provided in the
tentative bill. which proposes that
about 100000 youths he trained an
nually with SIX months continuous
service.
Another amendment. Senator Cham
berlain said. would be to create thirty
six divisions in the country for the
segregation of the training work, with
facilities for training an army di-
vision of from $4,000 to 1900 men in
each divisional camp. lie believed at
least 100000 young men would be thus
secured. The Oregon Senator i'm
pressed upon the President that his
plan would not entail the enormous
expense OF the army general staff
training bill.