The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-05
Weed OuIthe Army.

Our readers must have noticed of late the
frequency with which courts martial dis
miss army officers for drawing their pay
twice for the same period. This offence, now
apparently on the increase, was formerly en-
tirely unknown to the service. At first sight
it might appear that the corruption notori-
ously injecting so many channels of public
employment had at last laid it's fostering
hand upon those who were, only as late as
last summer, described by distinguished
divine asa body Of men more largely in
corrupt than any other in the community"
But to those acquainted with the circum-
stances, the number of these convictions, so
far from being an indication of a low tone of
moral sense in the army, is a healthy sign of
its disposition to rid itself Of unworthy mem.
bers who have been thrust into it through
favoritism.
Since the war many good appointments
If volunteers Of proved ability and integri.
ty have been made in the regular army
but at the same time some men have been
commissioned whose subsequent conduct
casts an undeserved reproach on that class
known as civilian appointments. These I'M
worthy men the better disposed officers are
striving to weed out, and in their efforts they
should have the encouragement of the Execu-
tive, and the moral support of public opinion.
In this work of reform the majority of the Off
GERS perform their part, but the Presid Mt
has not hitherto sustained them. For, as a
general rule, no sooner docs a court martial
expel man, than his name is sent to the
Senate for confirmation to the very grade of
which he was deprived; and in nearly
every instance the complaisant Senate has
restored the dismissed officer, in the face of
the probable summary muster out OF ovor
four hundred unassigned officers against
whom no charges have ever been made.
Last week two more officers were court
martialled in this city and cashered for at.
tempting to defraud the Government and
already efforts are making to restore one,
If not both, TO the profession they have dis
grGced. Lieut.. b. L. RYER of New York, for.
mcrly Captain of volunteers, was aprC,i, urod
q Second Lieutenant in the Second United
States Artillery in 1866, and was tried and
dismissed the service for conduct unbecoming
nm officer and gentleman, In his remarks
upon the sentence of the Court Gen. SnER-
MAN says with reference to Lieut.. RYER +:
Previous breaches of discipline on the part
Of an officer on trial, especially when each
misconduct has already been suitably pun.
ished, cannot justify the enforcement of a
-, 81 10
II appeared that Lieut.. RIVER had more than
once before incurred the dsapprobation Of
his superiors for breaches Of discipline. lie
was finally brought TO trial for presenting
fraudulent claims, and found guilty Of
four distinct attempts to draw his pay
twice for the same time The Court
sentenced him to be cashered and TO be
confined for three years in a penitcntiary
The part relating TO the penitcntiary was re-
mittcd by the President, and the taxpayers
Of the country will hope that the Executive
slcmency will extend no further
Lieut. j. A. A. RoBINsoN's record, if more
brief, in not less varied. Formerly First
Lieutenant of volunteers, he was appointed
from Massachusetts, u Second Lieutenant in
tho Seventeenth Infantry in October, 1867
aud was Transferred TO the First Artillery in
July, 1860 Joining this regiment in August
last he was tried by court martial for alb
sence without leave" convicted, and sen.
fenced "to he suspended from rank aud com.
mand, and to forfeit pay proper for three
months. and TO be confined to the limits Of
his post for the samo period" This sentence
was so far mitigacd as to infict fine OF
only two months pay proper, equal to 500
and yet ROBINSON is already again brought
before a court martial. and this time for the
m