Show L t. t t t t t MM MM M M t M M M M I II M MM S THE STAFF BILL I J M M M M M MM I M H M 0 M M M M M I M M I M Fresh trouble has broken out in Washington S over oyer tIle the army general staff reorganization bill bilI inS introduced in in- S by Senator Hawley of the Senate Committee Com Corn mitt e of Military Affairs General Miles was before be fore the committee and yesterday vigorously proS pro'S protested protested pro pro- S 'S tested against the measure declaring as reported that if it were to become a law he would resign al aI alS although t- t S though its most obnoxious feature would not affect 5 S him personally since by bj a carefully inserted pro pro- S 2 L f. f j viso it would not go into effect until after his retirement re rc- re- re I next August Reference is had to section 7 iV of othe the proposed act which reads ends as follows S. S That from and after the passage of ot this act the tie senior general general general gen gen- eral of the tie army shall be officer assigned to command such por por- tion of the army as ss the tho President may direct or be bo detailed to toS S dut duty In t the e general start staff corps All duties prescribed by law S for the She Commanding General t of the army shall be he performed by 5 the the- chief cHef of ot the general staff starr or other general officer designated S 7 Wn tre by the Secretary i of lf War provided ri that so O long lone as the present e nt Lieutenant General of or the at r ny continues e eo o on tie the ea active list he gi be the chief of the general eta staff and upon th the tha separation S I i f. f 4 J st. t I o JM S1 fr from r active service of the said Lieutenant General of the army mine n ce S except as herein provided shall cease and deter General Miles ass asserts that the enactment of the I above aboyo section would destroy the unity of the aimy and deprive it of a recognized head It would do more th than n that it would i seduce reduce the military establishment to the condition of the K Naval t al service I in which the great Admiral of the Navy y is a mere gilded figurehead and the other flag officers must kotow lotow to a subordinate bureau chief for the pr privilege liege of breathing sea air ail or 01 drawing s sea a pay pa Under section 7 of the Hawley hill bill as print printed d dabove above t the le duties S now pet performed by bJ the Lieutenant Lieutenant- t- t General Commanding the Army Aimy could be delegated to any general officer at the discretion of af the lieS Pres ident Went The officer assigned need not be of the highest highest high high- est seniority or Ot of the highest rank tank The youngest brigadier would serve sene mel every J purpose It would be instructive to learn exactly what the real object ct of this strange measure is Perhaps it is sufficient to know that it is lil likely el to increase the discord in the Republican lan l'an camp at Washington which unfortunately is becoming more and more in hi u evi evidence every ever day dar If as is said aid Senator r Hawley introduced it at the instance e of Secretary Root Roof both Loth gentlemen may have thought it an an in excellent step to to take fake either eithel from a military or a political point of view But they ther will not escape criticism all the same The bill will not stand professional analysis for a minute and suld will create surprise among the military experts of other countries countries- 1 even of England Rugland where thc they are arc quite used to to astonishing as as- actions action on oil the part of their War Yar Office I |