The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-04 00:00:00

GI NEHAL OFFICERS IN THE ARMY.

Colonel LINDSAY moved for • select committee to in-
quire into. and report upon, the claims of seven major
generals to the pay of general officers, who were now
receiving only the half-pay of brevet-majors, and who ac-
cepted the substantive rank upon half-pay upon the terms
and engagements contained in the Horse Guards memo-
randum of the 25th day of March, 1826, and general order
of the 25th day of Aped, 1826.
Colonel NORTH seconded the motion.
General BUCKLEY thought the house to grant
this committee of inquiry, am there a to be some
doubt about the question. It seemed to s tsez2in rather an un-
fair thing that these old officers, having taken their promo-
tion at the time they did, should find themselves no better
off when they arrived at the rank of general officers.
Mr. 3. HERBERT would entirely assent to what the
honourable and gallant gentleman hail laid down,
assuming this to be a question of bargain. If a
bargain had been made, it ought not to be
set aside ; and if justice required that these ofScers should
have this increase of pay, they ought to have it. The
amount involved was not such am to MUM any difficulty, for
it was only the difference between paying 9a. 6d. • day and
Vs. • day to seven old officers. There wan no consideration,
therefore, which could bias his mind upon this case, except
his sense of duty, and the feet that upon examining
the claim, he did not think it was justified
by the facia. The honourable and gallant officer
had said that them officers went on half-pay
fee the benefit at the service ; but he (Mr. S. Herbert) did
net see what that had to do with the matter. Of course it
wee optional for them to script that arrangement, and
when they accepted it they did so. not for the sake of the
service, but for their own sake. They went on half-pay,
reedy* at the same time • step of rank ; they had been
brevet major., and they became substantive majors. An
example of this bad occurred of late years, when some of -
errs, who had got breed rink for services in the Crimea,
accepted the substantive rank of major instead, and thought
it was • good bargain for them to go on half-pay with that
step, expecting of course to exchange back on full pay, and
so realise the benefit of it. But they did so at • tisane when
the lists were full, and the malt room for promotion
that existed made it difficult for them to get
back. The old officers referred to in this motion
had made a more advantageous arrangement, for
whilst they went on hslf.pay at their own
request, they were not to suffer the disadvantages attached
to half-nay with regard to the provision for widows. It
might be said they were not married men at that
time, but they were not then too old to have wives,
who would be entitled to pensions. The rule had been laid
down that no man wee to be deemed fit to rise to be a
general officer, with certain advantages, unless Le had
served six years as a rank and file officer; and • man
could not become • colonel unless he had served
• certain period as • heuteuant-colonel It was to ensure
the efficiency of the higher rank of officers that these rules
were made. But it was now proposed to make an excep-
tion in the case of these half-pay officers, who had never
served since 1826. Pot these reasons, acting on the best
judgment he could form, he bad declined to accede to their
request ; and now, with regard to the hon. and gallant
geotlernan's motion, he would frankly say that he did not
think the Howe of Commons was • proper tribunal to de-
cide this mendies.
°enema PM said that for his own part his judgment
was quite se her from bias in this matter as that of the
right hem preatlenne. He had lever known these officers
er hoard of say of them until their case was brought before
Ma whoa his held office. Brit he had no doubt whatever that
they were addled to be placed in the same position as that
is which they had reasonably imagiLed they would be placed.
He thought it would be far better to let the officers have
the committee they asked for. It was a bad bargain for
Use country. hut they ought to keep to it.
Colonel SYKES said it appeared to him that government
had not kept faith with these officers. A good case required
only a plain and complete statement, anti the very elabo-
rateness of the argument of the right hoc. gentleman (Mr.
a Herbert) showed that his case was • bail one. If the
gallant colonel preened his motion he should go into the
lobby with him.
Colonel DUNNE was always unwilling to submit a mili-
tary question to a select committee of that house ; but ,L 1
the present and the late Secretary for War bad given differ-
ent opinions, what were they to do ?
The house thee divided when there appeared :
For the motion
Against it
The announcement ofj the numbers was received with
cheers by the opposition.