Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-13
OBJECT To ARMY
EXCEEDING l75,OOO
House Has Debate on Army APP
preparation Bill which Provides
for Force of $4,000 During
DemObilizatiOn Period
SOME OTHER CRITICISMS
One Representative Protests to rresi-
dents Receiving Valuable Set of
Books from King George--Pershipg
Praised During the Debate

Washington, Feb. 12.-General opposi-
ton to a standing army in excess of
175, 900, men as authorized in the national
defense act three years ago, was voiced
in the House to-day during debate on the
annual army appropriation bill. with it's
provisions for military force of $4,000
officers and men during the period of de-
mobilization.
Chairman Dent of the military commits
tee questioned closely as to the
future army with several members ask
ing if the force provided in the bill was
to be the permanent army strength The
chairman explained that it was not, and
there was general applause from both
sides of the House when Representative
Mckenzie of Illinois. republican, said the
military committee favored a small
army.
Mr.. Mckenzie said the proposal of the
army general staff for a permanent
peace-time military establishment of 500,-
100 had been rejected by the committee
ami Representative Kahn of California
-" lean, interrupted to say that not
2le member of the committee IA
voreG the proposal.
Discussion in the House continued
throughout the day with leaders Offering
no prediction as to when a vote would
be taken on the measure, which carries
total of sl,10O 100000 for the war de
partment during the fiscal year beginning
next July /.
Debate was not confined to the bill
| itself. There was criticism of the war
department, praise for General Pershing
and various American units which fought
in France. discussion of Bolshevlsm and
protest against President Wilson accept
| ing a set of books as Il birthday gift
from King George Of England.
Much of the discussion was given over
to the National Guard
Representative Mckenzie said that
whatever the future military policy
| might be. the National Guard should
| be retained and his declaration was
| vigorously applauded.
| Representative London of New York di-
verted discussion to Bolshevsm,, with the
declaration that Every new thought or
new idea is called Boishevism," which he
| declared was but passing stage OF
revolution common only to Russia" lie
urged repeal of the espionage law. declar-
ing that socialists had been unjustiy i'm
prisoned by it's application to throttle
| free speech and free assemblage.
Representative Walsh of Massachu-
sets, republican, declared that Mr.. Lon
don's interest in repeal of the espionage
law might be with the view of ''pre-judg-
ing the case of one of his colleagues
| Representaatve-elect Berger Of Milwau-
kee, whose utterances, Mr. Walsh de-
clared, were not toward uniting our peo-
pie during the war or to aid its prosecu-
ton"
I'VE do not need the urging and teach
ings of Lenine and Trotsky or the New
York socialist and his associates in i'm
1NI Nv
Walsh.
Republican Leader Mann criticised the
delay in casualties reports. saying that
the Red Cross, although having informa-
tion, was forbidden from giving it to SOL
diers' relatives unless the war depart
ment had previously announced 1t.
Charges by Representative Herzy or
Maine, republican. that regular army ofii-
GERS were unduly favored in France, re-
sultng in the demotion Of many compe-
tent National Guard commanders, We're
unanswered by Representative Shallen-
berger of Nebraska. democrat, who de-
clared that politics was out of the
army" Mr. Shallenberger in praise OF
; General Pershing, declared the United
States was the only country in the war
, to pick an army head who stood the
test" and added that Pershing was the
first general to declare that the German
: army could be beaten and that the Hin
denburg line could be smashed
, Representative Ramseyer of Iowa. re-
publican, protested against the accept
, ance of a set of books by the President
i, from King George, saying the action was
. unconstitutional because it had not been
approved by Congress. Suggestions that
a law permitting men of the army 10
receive gifts from neads of foreign states
, covered the case because the President
was commander r-in-chief of the army
brought a statement from Representative
Kahn that the law applied only to mill
itary decorations.