Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-17
POSTPONE J ACTION
ON ARMY PLAN,
CONFEREES AGREE
Reorganization Bill Will Go
Over Until Next Session
of Congress
By associated Press


Washington, Jan. 17.--The House
military committee virtually has
reached an agreement with Secretary
Baker and General March, chief-of-
staff, to postpone the War Depart
ment reorganization bill until the
next session of Congress and with
it a large part Of. the prospective
debate over the future military poll
icy of the country.
A suggestion yesterday by Chair
man Dent that legislative rider on
the army appropriation bill contin-
uing the existing war Organization
of the department and the regular
army for another year, be substituted
for the reorganization measure, met
with the approval OF Mr. Baker and
apparently with that of a majority
of the committee members.
The proposal grew out of a con-
ference at which Secretary Baker
and the chief-of-staff explained to
the committee the reorganization
measure framed by the department,
providing for a regular army of 50O,-
600 men to be raised by voluntary
enlistment on nat three-year basis.
The bill also would have made per-
manent the absolute control over all
branches of the army now exercised
by the chief-of-staff as a wartime
necessity.
Impossible This Session
Chairman Dent said it would be
impossible to get such a bill through
Congress in the six weeks remaining
of the session. Committee members
agreed with him, pointing out that
the War Department bill on it's face
| appeared to be a military policy
measure which abandoned the theory
of universal military obligation. Mr..
Baker insisted that this was not the
case; that no attempt to fix the ma
TONS policy as to a peace time army
was involved, but agreed that the
substitution of continuing authori "
appeared to be the wisest course in
view of uncertainties of the situa-
ton abroad and lack of time for full
discussion III congress.
Plan of Rider Unknown
The exact form of rider is to be
studied out by the general staff. 1t
probably will leave the strength of
| the force to Presidential order with
| in limits and subject to appropria-
ton limitations. The committee will
take up at once hearings on the reg
ular appropriation bill which pro-
| vides as drawn for, 500, 600 men.
Secretary Baker would make no
declaration in regard to universal
military service suggestions, saying
he would submit no proposal of that
| nature until the peace conference
had finished it's work and the obliga-
tions of the nation could be guaged.
General March said the army now
was organized under Presidential or
der and the plan included in the staff
bill was practically that organiza-
tion. A total strength of $4,000 men
is provided for, he said, to be organ
lied into twenty divisions grouped in
| five corps. The total annual cost he
fixeG at $1,1S5, 100000, estimated on
a return to a base pay of SIS a
month for privates and exclusive of
S6,000,000 carried in the fortifica-
tions bill.
All of the existing wartime organ
transportation and motor transpor-
tation corps, independent air service
and the like are to be continued,
with the exception of the chemical
warfare service.