The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-19

you will do the favor give it place in the "Unon
that it may be more generally known:
An act to increase the pay OF the rank and file Of the
army and to encourage eplistmens
BE enacted by he Senate and House Of Rerssenfaigese u
tke United States Of aaertea Congress assentid That
the pay of the non-commssoned officers musicians and
pyaos of the army OF the United States shall be increased
the rate of four dollars month and 70 continue for
the term Of three years and after the first day Of Jan
uary next and until otherwise liked 10y law.
SEc 2 lind be further enacted That every soldier who
having been honoaby discharged from the service of the
United States SHALL within month thereafter, re-en-
list shall entitled dollars per month In addition
ordinary pay of his grade fer the first period Of i've
years after the expiration Of his previous enlistment and
further Of dollar per month for each successive
period OF five years. long he shall remain continuous
~ in the army and that soldiers now in the army who
have served enstments, and been honoraby
discharged shall be entitled the benefits herein provided
/ for a second enlistment
SIC g. And Be Il further enacted That soldiers who served
in the with Mexico and received certificate OF merit
for distinguished services well those In the army
as those that may hereafter enlist shall receive the dol
lars per month TO which that certificate wond have en-
titled them had they remained continuously in the ser
wee, -
/ SEC A. indie further enacted That non-commssioned
officers who under authority Of the seventeenth
on Of the act approved March third eighteen hundred
and forty-seven, recommended for promotion BY
hrevet the lowest grade OF commissioned officer hut did
receive the benefit OF that provision shall be entitled
under condition reced in the foregoing section 10 the
additional pay authorized TO be given to such prvaes AS
received certificates of merit
SEC s. lind beh further enacted That the President Of
the United States be- and he is hereby authorized by and
with the advice and OF the Senate TO confer the
brevet Of second lieutenant upon such mertorous nom
commissioned officers may under regulations to be
tab,ished be brought before army board composed Of
four officers of rank specially convened Tor the purpose
aud be found qualified for the duties Of commissioned Off
and TO attach them to regiments OH
GERS according the of the fourth section OF the
approved April twenty NINTH eighteen hundred and
twelve entitled IAN act making further provision for the
corps Of engineers"
SIC Aid Be Il further enacted That the allowance
soldiers employed work forti6cations in surveys in
| ft.af,to
days authorized by the approved March second eeh
hundred and nineteen entitled An act to regulate the
pay of the army when employed on fatigue duty be in
creased twenty-five cents per day for employed
aboers and Transfers and forty cents per day when en-
poyed mechanics, at all stations east Of the Rocky
mountains and to hiryfvc cents and fifty per day
respectively, when the employed at the stations
| west of those mountains
Approved August 4 1854,
This is really a republican law, and is but common JUS
tice soldier and the wonder is why such lay
enacted many years ago. This law and those abolish
ing foggng in the army and navy, will do to i'm
prove the condition Of those branches Of tue public service
than all the laws enacted by Congress for them since the
first establishment of our government
In order give proper effect the provisions of this
law the Hon. Jefferson Davis Secretary Of War; has caused
the following general order be issued the army
| c, 49,, WAR DEPARTMENT,
"e"e.1' U,"eS Adlutant Generals Office,
- Washington, October 4, 1854.
The following regulations have been established carry
1854 relative the promotion OF noncommissioned Off
| GERS stN
An army board composed Of four officers Of rank, will
be convened annually, the first Monday in September
in the city Of Washington for the examination of such
no-commssioned officers may be ordered appear be-
! fore them by the War Department.
To aid the department in the selection OF proper
ddates for promotion company commanders will report to
their colonies NIL such non-commssoned officers IN
their opinion by edncaon conduct and services to
merit advancement In these reports must be set forth
description of the candidate his length of service
fidelity and sobrety, his physical qualifications and
mental abilities the extent to which his talents have been
cultivated and his fitness generally to discharge the duties
Of commissioned officer. If recommended account of
services the particular services referred TO must
be stated in detail On receiving the reports Of company
commanders the colonel will assemble board to consist
of four officers Of his regiment of high rank the
vencncc Of the Service will admit to make preliminary
examination into the claims and qualifications Of those
non-conssoned officers who may appear to him desery-
ing promotion Where the colonel has not authority
such board, the regmenta officers necessary G
form will application to the proper department com
mander be placed subject TO his orders. The board
siituted above will submit full statement in the case
OF each candidate examined and these statements the
colonel will endorse his remarks and forward them,
through the headquarters Of the army, to the Adutant
General, to be laid before the Secretary Of War.
The foregoing reports must be transmitted in time to
reach Washington by the LIST day OF May in each year. and
such non-commissoned officers the Secretary OF War
may consider suitable candidates for promotion will
eeve orders from the Adjnant Generals Office TO present
themselves for examination by the board to be convened
the first Monday in September following As general
rule oneoprth of the occurring annually In the
army will be filled from the non-commissioned grades
The persons thus appointed SHALL far practicable be
attached the regiments in which their mefiiorious SER
vices had been rendered. and will thereafter succeed
vacancies in their particular OF service according to
seniority.
No candidate will be examined who IL married who
is under twenty wenty-cght years OF age who,
il the Judgment of the board has not the physical ability
endure the exposure of service who has any deormy
of body or whose moral habits are bad.
The board being satisfied OF these preliminary points
will proceed to examine each candidate SEPARATELY
FIRST. In his knowledge of English grammar, and ability
to read and write with facility and correctness.
Second In his knowledge of arithmetic, and his ability
in the application of its rules to all practical questions and
ia his Knowledge OF plain and solid geometry vi
THIRD In his knowledge OF geography, particularly in
reference to the northern continent of America and in his
ability solve the usual problems the terrestrial globe
ALSO in his knowledge Of what is usually denominated
popular astronomy.
Fourth In his knowledge of history particularly in ref
erence to his own country. T
Fh In his knowledge of the constitution the United
States and Of the organization OF the government underi
aud Of the general principles which regulate international
intercourse. w 's 4 ~ e
6. After having completed the examination Of all candi-
dates who have presented themselves the board will then
submit their to the War Department in order Of rel
stive merit In determining this order the board will con
slider eight the maximum OF the FIRST fourth and Gfth
heads and ten the maxmum Of the second and third
heads and candidate will be passed BY the board who
shall have received least half of the number of
mum marks each head subject Of examination And
any candidate having passed. who is also graduate from
any college, shall be allowed five additional marks in his