Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-01-19
.LAWMAKERSF FOR
U. S. ARMY Bill
Senate and House Accept 49,
600 Plan-Pershing for
100000.
EXPECT WILSON 10 SIGN BILL
Members Of House Declare Re.Appor-
tionment Measure, Increasing Mem
bership In Body to 4ss, Will Be
Defeated.
EXPECT WILSON TO SIGN BILL

Washington, Jan. 19.-Only minor
differences Of language between the
senate and house measures remain to
be Strengthened out to send on its way
to executive action joint resolution
Of congress limiting the size of the
army to $4,000 enlisted men.
Adoption by both houses Of joint
resolutions cutting the army to that
figure came almost simultaneously on
Monday. Ten minutes after the SEN
ate voted al to 33) to set aside its
decision of last week to reduce the
army to 10000 and approved the
higher figure, the house adopted (2S5
to ~ the joint resolution sponsored by
Chairman Kahn Of its military affairs
committee directing the secretary of
war to stop eniistments until the army
is reduced to 10000.
The resolutions adopted by the two
houses are almost Identical In their
provisions, each providing that the
175, 600 limit shall not prevent the re-
enlistment of men who have served
one or more enlistment in the military
service. Either ,the senate or the
house will send Its resolution to con-
ference for Encouragement.
Ignore Pershine- Baker Advice.
The action of the two houses was
taken against the recommendations of
war department. heads and General
Pershlng.
Secretary Baker advised against an
army of less than 100000 men after
the present necessity Of economy had
been relieved" General Pershing de-
clared an army Of 100000 men consti-
tuted a safety margin.
The vote in the senate showed that
several senator's who last week went
on record as favoring an army Of 1907
600 had changed about. Some senators
said privately that they believed Pres
ident Wilson would sign resolution
placing the future army at 10000
men, but would not approve a smaller
number.
Predict Defeat for House Increase.
Although the house is ready to 60
through the formality Of voting the re-
apportionment bill. increasing the
membership from 1876 to 4S3. final
checkup by house leaders showed. they
said, that the measure would be de-
cisively beaten.
Adoption Of substitute plan hold
ing the membership down to its pres
ent number was generally predicted,
members from states which would lose
under the substitute
bill, declaring they would support it
rather than vote for the bill reported
by the census committee, adding forty
eight members at total cost of APP
s1,5OO.OO0 a year.
Heads of the three government
agencies who would be charged with
administration of the measures were
before the senate manufacturers COM
mittee at the opening of hearings on
the Calder bill, proposing federal reg
ulation Of the coal industry with Off
cial publicity for cost figures.
Three Agencies Would Function.
The witnesses were Chairman Clark
and Thompson of the interstate COM
merce and federal trade commissions,
respectively, and DIR. George Otis
Smith, director of the geological sur
vey.
Although final power to fix prices
and to resort to government distribu.
ton of coal In emergency would be
lodged with the President under the
bill, these three agencies would be re-
quired to function in connection with
the proposed system of regulation.
Mine operators and wholesale deal
ers will be heard later. The commit
tee plans to vote next Friday on re-
porting the bill out.