The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-19
Army Appropriation
 Measure Passed By House Last Night
Army Bill Adopted By House Carries Total of S1,070,- 000,000 for War De-
 partment for Year
Qv Assoeiated Prrss

Washington, February IS. Legislation providing for a temporary military establish ment of about 540,000 officers and men during the fiscal year beginning next July was elim- mated from the annual army appropriation bill tonight in the House after passage of the Senate bill for resumption of voluntary enlistments in the peace time army, which would be restricted to the maximum of 175,000 men authorized in the national defense act of 1916.
 The Senate measure now goes to
 conference and wfl become effec-
 tive upon it's approval lay President
 Wilson. The army hill also wns
 adopted by the House without
 
 Senate with its completion there
 at this session regarded by many
 leaders as doubtfeut. 1t cnrris Il to-
 tai of SI.0TO,O .eGO for the war de-
 partment for the IF months after
 June 20.
 It was explained by members of tho House that the Senate bill did not affect the present war time army. which. under the selective service act must be de- mobiized within four months after peace is formally declared by presidential proc lamation. Decesion of the House to con- slider the Senate measure was by vote of l72 to 162. Craiman Dent, by direction of the House military committee, had asked for a rule to make the temporary army legislation in the regular appropri- ation bill in order. but the rules com mittee took no formal action on the re- quest.
 GIVEN RIGHT-OF-WAY Instead it voted, 2 to g. to report reso- lution giving the Senate measure the right of way. Ten republicans joined with 162 democrats in voting for the reso- lution in the House after a sharp debate Before adopting the Senate bill, the House amended it so as to provide that recruits should be enrolled in the regu- lar army for only one year without fur l ther service in the reserve, Their pas' 1 was fixed by another amendment at S,s 1 a month. the wartime basis in the army l Republican Leader Mann, in explaining | the votes of 155 republicans against adopt : 1 ing the rule to consider the Senate bil, f said opposition was not against the bill but was protest against the failure to l consider a temporary programme that 1 would enable the quicker return of troops | from Europe. The recruiting bill ttser ! finally was adopted without a dissent ! ing vote.
 l 'If the democrats" said Mir. Mann. l refused to let the House consider legisla- I tion that will bring drafted men home the ! responsibility is with the democrats. The i responsibility for such a condition will be with a democratic administration under legislation of the democratic ma- | jority and against which republicans protested"
 BRINGS SHARP REPLIES ! Mir Mann's declaration brought sharp retorts from the democratic side. Rep l resentative Humphreys of Mississippi de- clared that mo demagoguery can make 1 the boys in France believe we are trying | to keep them there. His declaration 1 for q small army was vigorously ap- l plauded by the democrats. as was also 1 his assertion that the soldiers should not ! be held abroad for police duty.
 "A good deal of political camouflage
 is being indulged in herc,' said Repre- f sentative Gordon of Ohio, democrat. This legislation has nothing to do with bringing the men back No one ever sug- gested that anyone of the proposed army | of a half million was to go to France l Such talk is political material to meet the exigencies of the occasion. The war /, department is returning the men as fast l ? ' rnr find shipping for them"
 When the rule was being drafted, MT. Mann prpdicted that it would not be | possible to enlist 175OOo men if "they were to be tied to the army for sever i years" three years active service and four years in the reserve. Such plan,
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