New-York tribune., 1870-02-04

1t would effect tn tho Goyerenmcni OF nearly million OF
dors the pay of the -upcrnumerary officers to he mus
tered ont hut on account OF the principle that VIII be
established II it becomes law respecting the tenure of
occ IN The regular army principle entirely dhereh'
from the theory maintained by the army ITSELF aud 'acy
aCQuirSced by gress. This arpy theory Is hat AN
army officer In tho peace establishment holds his coln-
c unless lie voluntarily resigns 1t or IS de
prved of 1t by sentence Of court-niartal Whe IL ms
bad the express sanction Of law, Tie GONefhncH'
has acted upon It Tor the past % years. ara cuStou '
given the Of law III the eyes o! tue "eeis "o
are unanimous IN the OPINION that to muster them OUT
without cause would he gross piece Of Injustice ana
viniatlon Of the faith Of the Government to""ru
them. they claim 1t gave them 10 unaei-
stand when they accepted their positions, that
they were to be permanent The Military Com
mittep, composed OF who served win dlSthc'loh
as volunteer officers during the war; take al entirely di
frrcnt view Of the question They hold that the only
reason for the employment OF officer Is that the Gov
eminent has need Of his services, aud that when that
need ceases he has no longer any claim be continued
In Office The fact that has held commission ana
drawn pay as au army officer for five, ten twenty
years furnishes reasOn, according to the theory OF
their BILL why he should continued IN the service for
OF his c WHOM there is nothing for him to do
TO earn his pay.
The proposition 20 reduce the number OF generals Is
likely with opposition than any other part
uent To officers Is adopted 1t VIII DO much
get rid uf the 800 supernumerary majors cap
tains, and eutcnauts than OF single general; III he
first place because Ii Is an ungacOus thing to 90 I" diS
miss from the army who have recelvedh p"so"
as the reward their great services In crushing ihe ~
beliou aud in the second place because the generals
have mutually considerable personal political ana sooiaI
Influence to bring bear upon Congress II IL Is just
however to muster out lieutenant because MS services
are no longer II qured Is equally just TO muster OUT
major. general for the reason. The army Is o'ei
loaded with generals. Before the war there "eio
one Maior.Genera aud four BugadierGenerals for an
amy of gbont 5000 men, general officer 10 apoh'
eeoO men, Now with an army $1,000 strong the law pro-
v,des for one General one Lieutenant-G General, five
Maior.Generals and sixteen BrlgadierGenerais OWo
Brigadierteneralships are now Naedhu'oT ono soH''
officer 10 about Loco men.
The following is list Of the general officers now in SER
vice with the total annual compensation received by
each AS pay aud allowances: Gen. W. l. shefihah'
s1s7so; Lieut. Cen T. H. Sheridan. 1iso3; maJOrGens'
H. W. Uallock $500; Geo. c. Meade. S9,3i2; Geo. H.
Thomas 50 52i; W. g. Hancock, t9.735 ]. 81. schoheid
s7ls2 Esig.Gens. J. Mcdowell. S7,A?s; T. 3D. George
Cooke 1862 John Pope S7oo2; o. o. HoTard 5000
A. H. Terry S6C65 L. o. c. Ord, $500 T. r. s. Candy
s5gSG; C. c. Augur. $685. l.. d. Townsend s'''V@'
Joseph Holt, S5SS2; ~ c. Mess, $500; A. b. Eaton,
$6llO: j. X. Barnes, sj,7os; b. W. Briee s'oS4 a. a
Humphreys, 5000 A. b. Dyer. $500
The Committees bill is likely to pass the Honse wlt'
ont serious modification unlessI be in the sections re-
duiry the uumb,r OF generals It's fate IN the Senate Is
donblful however, the military legislation OF tHat pouy
being usually pretty accurate reflection ~ INC NicMs
the War Department. Tie House Committee WIN. u -
reported, II this bd passes &c once relNl otner ~, 81
iu,r The bumtrr Of officers In the stan dep"fchls@ @ oi
of the Army Those departments were organized IN I3o
tc basis ol army OF luOtp men, &uG Nie be"t1
disprOpOIt.Onate 10 the present. army