Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-27
BILL TOREORGAN|zE
ARMY SUBMITTED
FavorabIy Reported by Sen
ate Committee, With Com
puISory Training Proviso.

The Army reorganization bill was
favorably reported to the Senate today
I by Chairman Wadsworth of the Senate
military affairs committee. He plans to
call 1t up for consideration at the
earliest possible day, probably some time
! next week
! BY vote of nine to five, the Senate
military committee yesterday afternoon
approved provisions providing for COM
puISory military training for boys be-
tween eighteen and twenty-one years
| inclusive.
Clause Meets Opposition.
The compulsory military training pro-
VISION which fixes the training period at
four months. was opposed in the com
NIT by Senators Lenroot Wisconsin,
and Capper, Kansas, republicans. and
senators Mcclellan of Tennessee, Shep-
pard of Texas. and Kirby of Arkansas.
democrats. Senators Wadsworth. New
York; Warren. Wyoming: Sutherland.
west Virginia; Frelnghuysen. New Jer-
Sey; Knox, Pennsylvania, and Spencer
Missouri, republicans, and Chamberlain
oregon, and Thomas. Colorado. demo-
Gratis supported it. Senator McKellar an
nounced that he would submit a minor
lty report in which a numb-- of the
senators who opposed the plan are ex-
pected to concur.
Provisions of the Bill.
As finally agreed upon. the bill is vir-
iuiiiy the same as reported by the sub
committed. but is radically different
from the reorganization bill submitted
DY the War Department to Congress
IN auultioh TO establishing compulsory
inlllSry training, the bill provides for
me establishment of one army to be di-
Nided INTO citizen army COMPOSED of
men who have received the COMPULSORY
training. standing army consisting of
2S0.OOO enlisted men and IS 900 officers.
ana national guard.
Specific provision is made in The bill
that the citizen army cannot be called
70 the colorS except in case of a decIara-
tion of war To accommodate the re-
serve force built up under the system of
nihtary training, provision is made in
the Dill for an annual reduction of 5 per
cent in the enlisted strength of the Reg
u!ar Army and per cent in the number
OF enlisted officers for the first five
years. This will mean. Chairman Wads-
worth explained, that at the end of five
years the Regular Army will be reduced
by 10000 men and 800 commissioned
officers, which will greatly decrease the
cost OF maintaining the military estab-
liShment.
Reserve List Created.
The bill also would place all youths
who have undergone the four months
military training on the reserve list
10 be subject to two weeks training
annually. Under an amendment by
senator Spencer, republican, of Mis-
souri, dependents of such youths dur
ing training would receive an allow
ahce the same as now provided under
the war risk insurance act
establishment of the office of un-
dersecretary of war. who would be
charged with the solution of the great
industrial and business problems in
VOWED in the procurement of mill
tary supplies, is provided by the
committee upon Secretary Bakers
recommendations eliminating pro-
visions which would work to make
Gen. Pershing chief of staff in place
of Gen. March, the present chief of
staff.
Reduced Expenditures Promised.
The bill, If passed as drafted, Sena-
tor WadSworth said, will reduce ex-
penditures Tor the military establish
ment by approximately one-half. Es-
Inmates for the War Department and
the Army for this coming year, he
said, are placed at S110O.000. 600.
while the proposed bill would not
require more than approximately
100000 900 Annually