The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-11
ARMY 0F 5O9,0OO : PROVIDED FOR IN ANNUAL ARMY BILL Army of This Size Will Be Necessary During Period of Consolidation, Says
 Committee
By Associated Press


 Washington, February 1O.-A
 temporary military establishment
 of 2s,57O officers and 5O8, ,9O9 enlist
 cd men Is provided for In the annual
 army appropriation hill reported
 to the House today by the military
 committee. The measure carries .
 total of S1,117. .2s9,4OO. The commit
 tee said an army of the size rec
 commended would be necessary
 "during the period of demobiIixa-
 tion.s
 Chairman Dent said the bill, which appropriates about SS 100000 less than was asked by the war department, would be taken up in the House as soon as the naval appropriation bill is passed O. about the middle of the week.
 Legislation affecting the national guard Is among the features of the bill. A na- tional guard organization of 106,252 men is contemplated Equipment and supplies would be provided without charge by the war department from the war stores. The total appropriations for the guard aggregate $lO,173.00o.
 OTHER PRINCIPAL FEATURES
 Other leading features of the bill are:
 Duel organization of the temporary ar my of 537.S8S men, so that part will be constituted as prescribed in the national defense act of 1916 providing of organiza- tion of infantry, cavalry and artillery units and the remainder so as to permit retention of new units--avation, tank corps and others the usefulness of which was demonstrated during the war.
 Return of the war fepa rtment orgauiza- ton to bureau chiefs. instead of center ing its organiza tion in the general staff,
 Restoration of recruiting, with provi- sion for one and three year enlistments.
 Abolishment of distinctive stripes for overseas or service at home during the war
 Continuation of the increased war pay for enlisted men.
 Provision for the promotion of officer: and men, recommended for such before the signing of the armistice.
 The committees report on the bill em- phaszes that by establishing a tenn porary army of 27,579 officers and 9s0) men no suggestion is made that such should constitute the permanent stand ing army.
 Tn other words" the report says. ''un- der the bill we may have more than 100000 men in the service at the be- ginning or the next IlScdl year dHu ptl = haps not more than 100000 at the end. URGE REPEAL OVERMAN ACT
 The committee also recommended the repeal of the Overman act as applied to the military establishments. Repeal of the act which gives the President au- thority to coordinate bureaus and de- partments is urged to safeguard the pro vision for return to the bureau orgall- ation plan. -
 ''The enlisted force for the regular army" declares the legislative rider of the bill prescribing the duel form of organization, shall be raised by volun tary enlistments for periods of three years and for the additional forces herein authorized by voluntary enlistments for the period of one year.
 ''All existing enlistments for a longer period than years," continues the rider. shall be terminated as though made for three years and after expiration of one years honorable service any enlisted man serving in the continental limits of the United States, whose company. troop, battery or detachment commander shall report him as proficient and sufficiently trained may, in the discretion of the Be- cretary of War, be furloughed to the regular army reserves. under such regula- tions as the Secretary of War may pre- scribe"
 The rider also authorizes transfer oi officers serving for the present emergency into the officers reserve corps at the rank of grade held by them during their service or at a higher grade.
 In the section on organization, provi- sion also is made that it shall apply only for one year, beginning next July, and tion corps, field or tactical units or con tinue such corps. including the construc- ton coprs, field or tactical units or or eanizations as he shall deem necessary to be organized as he may prescribe.