Washington sentinel., 1853-12-13

hrst period OF live years after the expiration OF his
hrst enlistment, and a further sum of one dollar
per month for each successive period of five years
SO long as he shall remain continuously in the
army.
2. That soldiers now in the army, who have
| served more than one enlistment shall be entitled
TO the benefits of this provision according 10 the
length oil their continuous service, and that SER
| vice during the war with Mexico, although of
less period than five years, shall be counted as a
five years service.
.. That soldiers who served in the war with
Mexico, and received certificate of merit for dis
unguished services, well those now in the army
| as those who may hereafter enlist, shall receive
the ~ per month, 10 which that certificate would
have entitled them if they had remained contnu-
ousy in the service. Skill and experience in all
branches of business and departments of labor
| meet their appropriate reward, not only in civil
lie, but In all the departments Of government, ex-
cept among the enlisted men of the army, where
the recruit OF yesterday for services utterly dis
proportioned in value, receives the same compen-
satlon as the veteran Of thirty years.
Ihe absolute justice of increasing the soldiers
pay according TO the value of his services is appa
rent, and the economy of doing so is susceptible,
| II ~ believed, OF easy demonstration. With the
extension OF our territory the cost of sending re-
crults TO their regiments has enormously increased
and il is estimated that the expenses of the enlist
ment the transportation and subsistence, the loss
BY desertlon and by the deaths and discharges for
disability OF unaccmated recruits, will average
S9l for each man enlisted under the present sys-
tenn. II TO this be added the pay clothing, medi-
cal attendance, &c, of the recruit, from his enlist
ment until he Joins his company, the actual cost
| OF each man. from his enlistment until the period
when his actual service commences, will be 1921.
ii the suggestion above made for increasing the
| pay OF the soldier, according to length of SER
vice, should be adopted and should be as success
full as anticipated, is believed that il WILL in the
course OF six years, in connection with the other
measures proposed, reduce the annual loss in the
army from 80 to 10 or II per cent. The number
OF men now in the army, who would be entitled TO
the increased pay which this proposes is less than
| 200, but the number would rapidly increase by
re-enstment and the maximum number entitled
to the increased pay would be obtained in six
i years.
/ This number would be constant or subject only
TO slight fluctuations but as the greatest portion
l OF the men entitled TO increased pay would then
belong TO the first and second classes the expend-
iture on this account would increase gradually as
/ the men pass successfully from the lower 10 the
higher grades of increased pay, until in about
| twenty-five years, the maximum expenditure on
this account will be obtained That limit will also
be constant, and will not exceed $500 900 year.
If to this sum be added The cost of enlisting 1000
men, 10 meet the annual loss (say l04 per cent?
and the bounty for ,060, the estimated number of
/ re-enlstments under the proposed system will be
Sll9 per man against 1921 under the present sys-
tenn When the value of the services rendered,
the superior character Of the men, and the conse-
| quent diminution of offences and the expenses
| they entail, are considered the economy of the
proposed measure becomes apparent
These estimates are based, as far as practicable
upon known facts, and are conjectural only in that
which relates 10 the working of the proposed sys-
tem II will increase the expenditures for the pay
of the army only so far succeeds in restrain
| ing desertons and inducing re-enistments, and
this increase in The pay will be more than cores
pondlngy diminished in the expenditures of the
other departments OF the army. The proposition
| IN relation to the extra pay of soldiers who have
received certlhcaes OF merit, is an act of simple
| justice to men who by construction of the law,
were deprived of the benefit of the 17th section of
the act of March 3, 1917. Under the operation of
that construction which virtually reduced their
pay they refused to re-enlist but il is believed
that, 10 a considerable extent they would now en-
list if the benefits of the law should be extended 10
them.
To carry into effect the third measure proposed
it is recommended that the President be autho-
rized under regulations TO be established by law
10 confer the brevet of second Lieutenant upon
such meritorious non-commissioned officers as may
by examination before army board be found
qualified for the duties Of commissioned officers
and 10 fill certain portion of the vacancies which
may occur in that grade as now authorized by
law by attaching such non-commissioned officers,
as supernumerares TO the army, TO serve accord
ing 10 their breyet, and be promoted as cadets
under like circumstances, now are There is an
other class of non-commissioned officers of long
and faithful, and often highly distinguished SER
vices, who, from want of education, are not quail
hed TO become commissioned officers but are
eminenty fitted for, and deserving of positions of
subordinate responsibility and trust To provide
for the advancement of this class is respectfully
recommended that authority be granted 10 appoint
limited number of fortkeepers or barrack-mas-
| ters, to be employed at such of our permanent
iorthcations as are not occupied by troops, and
substitutes for the civil agents employed by the
quartermasters and engineers departments, re-
ceving compensation intermediate between that
of the highest grade of con-commissioned officers
These duties woud be as efficiently performed,
and ,.aIc
These suggestions, if carried out, will not be bur-
densome TO the service by increasing the number
OF officers beyond its wants, nor expensive beyond
commensurate advantages.
il has been the policy of our government 10
MAINTAIN only small army in peace, but il should
also be our policy 10 be prepared for the events Of
war, by making that army efficient as possible |
efficient not merely in the operations required of
It in the field ofbatle, but in all the various duties
OF campaign, including economy of life and |
health, and in its capacity for disseminating in
struction and discipline among those whom the |
exgences of war call into the field unprepared to
meet ITS hardships and ignorant of the means of |
guarding against its vicsstudes.
In all the operations of war, efficiency and eco
nomy, II not synonymous, at least correlatye
terms, and that army which is the most efficient |
will at the same time, be the most economical To /
attain this efficiency, il is essential that the per-
sonnel OF an army should be intelligent and capa-
BILE, but il is idle 10 hope that of this charac-
ter can be obtained unless their pay bears fair
proportion to that which they would receive in the
corresponding employments of civil life Patriot
ism or a sense of duty will not in time Of peace
fill the ranks of an army will pay alone be suf-
fcient 10 develope all the elements Of efficiency
The hope OF advancement is the foundation of pro-
fessional zeal and success, and this incentive |
should exist in the army in civil life. Its honors
and distinctions should be open TO all, that they
may incite the ambition and stimulate the zeal OF |
all. In making these suggestions, | have had |
principally in view the Improvement OF the army |
but il is my opnon founded upon the opinion
Of our past history that if adopted they would also
produce economical results. As indicated in
previous part of this report respectfully invite
your attention TO the necessity for increase of
The army. II may be instructive, in the consider
alton OF this subject TO refer TO the strength of our
military establishment, as it has existed at differ
ent periods, and to the circumstances that con-
trollcd its organization In 1S0S, the legal strength
OF the army was 1901, which was increased in
lSl2 for the defence of the Indian frontier 10
10,353.
The war with England followed soon after this