Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-23
THE MILITARY BILL.

disposed question the correctness OF
To our notions il would be better called bill for the
ncrease Of the army for its organization for the
desruconof approved and systems and the
ton Of confusion and for the creation Of Executive pa
tronage."
The first section provides for increase Of the army
This is no doubt good and necessary measure.
The second section destroys the present organization OF
the artillery and for what purposes? The artillery was
combined with the engineers also great extent
once combined with the ordnance; also at time had
kid of battalion organization. All these systems
found defective and from the experience and the
opinions Of old and able officers the present organ-
cation adopted and it is now proposed to 90 back
to old and exploded organizations
Section three changes and adds ten first ieuten
ants to each regiment for what purposes cannot d.
vne unless it be TO supply places for the destroyed
staff.
Section four increases the corps Of engineers the
exgences of service may require But who is to Judge
of these exgencies It dsbands the corps Of Topographic
cal engineers recognized and enlarged with much
in 1888, recommended by the able report Of Mr.
Poinsett This corps Tor some Of its of6cers) be
transferred to other corps. Will this lessen numbers
Some viii without doubt be disbanded but where do we
find any provision for disbanded oficerss
Section five reduces the ordnance, transfers officers
other corps the discretion Of the Executive Some Of
these will without doubt be disbanded Where is the pro-
vision for disbanded officers? Would it not have been
well to have studied the history Of this corps, the defects
Of former arrangements (now proposed to be adopted
and the reasons for the present organization
Section six increases the brigadiers destroys the staff
as now organized Cm bono? Quartermaster's Depart
ment destroyed by this BILL also the Subsistence Depart
ment for what purposes Were not these departments
created because Of the defects Of the old SYSTEM the y
tenn proposed to be adopted? And in reference to
AT a.
any officer Of adequate experience and knowledge
compare nodes qualities adequacy and economy Of sup
plies the army in the with Mexico to that Of the
army in borders in the Of 1872. We appeal
the abe talented and experienced heads Of those
partments for information on those subjects.
Section new exhibit Of inexperience and of o
desire of control.
Section eighth All the generals are to be by selection
except the general Of engineers who is to be taken from
corps Who Of the old generals be retained and
where the provision for those who may and doubt
will be dsbanded Promotions to colonel by seniority
the present common law of the army with all corps and
regiments But this bill destroys that law with infanty
and cavalry except to the rank Of captain beyond this
rank captain Of infantry may be made major Of
airy and vice What similarity is there in the du
ties drill Of those services to justify to such
o recommendation? Majors Of ordnance may be taken
from engineers artillery This is seductive for the
engineer and the artillery, but for ese is it
for the benefit Of the service
Section nine Useless This power already possessed
Section ten repeats part Of the rules and articles Of
war; Upon what considerations and after what nvest
/ cations!
Section eleven Well enough, and agrseably to exist
| ing laws.
Section twelve increases the pay Of such officers
1 may be retained. good move, but rather limited
Il Secfio l;ot
modes Of dismissng officers by department authority
Sections fourteen and fifteen refer to the mode Of put
ting officers the retired list, and to their pay.
The great and valuable principle, the dvision Of la
bor, eminenty respected in the present military
ganzaton is utterly disregarded in the proposed BILL
The bill is adapted to make officers Jacks Of all trades
but masters Of none"
In the organization Of the staff we do not see much
difference in this bill to the proposed and rejected
during the last session, except in the appointing and
Letting power.
The proposed bill will turn about seventy officers from
the staff and from staff corps into the line unless those
officers should be dsbanded.
The duties now performed by officers Of the staff and
Of staff corps must be done by one, be left
done Which Of these duties can be neglected without
public injury? And which is the better plan that these
duties should be attended by those experience
of practice in Them by those who know nothing about
| them?
4 Have all who preceded the present time been such
FOOLS negligent of duty, not have seen any Of
the evils to be cured, not to have proposed
remedy The bill destroys all the Bureaus Of the War
Departments system much approved in the manage
Of various Details endeavored be initiated in the
late laws for the Navy Department far as the differ
ence of the two services will admit
The bill is bill Of policy, by holding out hopes
to all in the hope Of being Of the selected by the in
of pay and by the retired list system and by the
proposed four regiments But it destroys the exist
ing systems will create great confusion and adopt sys
heretofore tried and abandoned because Of their de-
fecs defects proved by experience is also we'll
adapted to encourage sycophancy and intrigue in the
army and to destroy the elevated manly and patriotic
feeling by which it has heretofore been distinguished 1t
adds much to the consequence by adding the
patronage of the War Department II will not benefit
promotions unless discharges should be numerous
We do not deny that there good hngsin the BILL but
think these much ovcrbaanced by the evils Of its pro-
visions We win among its good things the add
ona four regiments and the increased pay but we think
these should constitute one bill. Also, among Its good
things is the retired list but think this should be
bill by itself.
We know nothing about the origin Of this bill, or who
were consulted in the forming of it. All that wc have
heard is, that it drawn up in the War Department
and sent to the committees Of each House. BROWN.
:, =.