Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1920-04-23
TO KEEP THE
ARMY At 100000
Senate Adopts Wadsworth's
Motion Against Decrease
REED LEADS OPPOSITION
Senator Frelinshuysen Wants 1880
Men Stationed Permanently
To Protect Cap
ital.
REED LEADS OPPOSITION

Washington. - Vigorous opposition
10 any reduction OF the permanent
army below $50. 900 enlisted men and
5000 officers proposed by the Senate
Military Committee was voiced in the
Senate by Senator Wadsworth, New
York, in charge OF the Army Reorgan.
ization bill; Senator Frelinghuysen,
New Jersey. and others
Senator wadsworth had moved to
eliminate amendments providing for a
gradual decrease in the size Of the
army. He explained that these de-
creases had been agreed upon by the
committee after proposals for com.
pulsory military training had been ap-
proved and that since the Senate had
voted against such training the amend
ments should be eliminated.
Senator Frelinghuysen said there
should be no reduction in the size OF
the army when we know the forces
that are working at this time in the
country" He declared that one diyi-
sion Of approximately 27.500 men
should be stationed in the vicinity Of
Washington
Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri,
wanted to know the reasons for this,
and the New Jersey Senator called at
tention that 1000 men had captured
Petrograd and said that he believed
the American capital should be pro
tected at all times against any possible
emergency.
Senator Wadsworth's motion to
strike out the provision providing for
a reduction for FIVE years of per
cent. Of the commissioned and s per
cent annually of the enlisted person
mel was adopted, 35 to II.
Senator Reed, Missouri. moved to
reconsider the vote. He declared that
II the Army bill was approved it would
cost every man, woman and child in
the United States nearly IS for the
support of the army alone in 1921"
"A family Of FIVE persons" he said,
will pay $40 for the land forces. not
counting the stupendous naval appro
priations proposed ! estimate that at
the expenditures are authorized It will
cost every family of five persons in the
United States at least $50 for the
military establishment in 1921
Senator Reeds motion to reconsider
was defeated
The bill. which will be offered by
Senator Chamberlain, Oregon. as an
amendment to the pending Army Re
organization bill. would create board
Of review in the Judge Advocate-Gen.
erals office with power to modify or
annul all court-martial sentences.
Other important notifications, rec.
commended include;
Death sentences must be by a
three-fourths instead of two
thirds vote Of the courts
Courts must have members with
legal experience and be composed
Of officers having at least two
years service.
Defendants may have counsel.
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selection.
Civil rules Of evidence shall apply
and evidence gathered in prelimi-
nary ex-partre Investigations shall
not be admitted without consent OF
accused
verdicts of acaulttal may not bs
set aside.
Punishments may not be heavier
than under civil procedure.
Disciplinary punishments shall
be preferred to courts-martial
Junior officers, as well as enlist
ed men, be made subject to dis
ciplinary punishment
Not more than two-thirds Of a
soldiers pay may be forfeited in
fines.