Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-23
The New Army Bill.

The Conference Committee of the SEN
ate and House of Representative have
finally agreed upon compromise in re-
ference to many propositions for the re-
duction and reorganization of the United
States Army. The House has already
agreed to and adopted the report on their
part, and there seems to be no doubt but
that the Senate will concur and thus. set
at rest this question which has so long
been under discussion.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Logan, of
Illinois, has been entitled to the most con-
sideration, but there were several objec-
tions to 1t, among which, the principal
were that it ruthlessly cut off deserving
officers of the army, who had spent years
and strength and possibly blood in the
country s service, is greatly relieved in
the final measure, which absolutely dis
misses but very few officers, while it pres
ents such variety of temptations and
pcrsuasions as are likely to result in the
rapid reduction of the number of officers
to AN agreement with the body of rank
and file.
The bill as reported by the Conference
Committee, and adopted by the House,
besides fixing definite rate of pay for
all officers, and providing that after July,
1871, the size of the army shall be 10000
men, its chief feature is that of reducing
the number of officers. The number OF
major.g generals is fixed at 8, and of briga.
der generals at 6, and no appointments to
these grades are to be made till by death,
retirement or resignation the number is
reduced below these figures. The retired
list is fixed at 300, and till that number is
coached officers of thirty years service
may be retired on their own application
and at the Presidents discretion. Officer:
who desire may be honorably discharged
prior to next January, with one year's'pay
and allowances. The offices of military
storekeeper and medical storskeeper ceases
on the 1st of January, and the incumbents
then are Ia be mustered out, with one
years pay and allowances. The regimen.
tai commissiary in cavalry regiments is
abolished immediately, and ineumbents
are TO be assigned for duty in their regi-
ments, and shall have the first vacancies
in the rank to which they now belong.
The grades of regimental commissary
sergeant and regimental hospital steward
are also abolished. and the oorporals in
each company are reduced to four. All
these officers may elect between assign
ment by the Secretary of War to other
grades or honorable discharge with full
pay. Worthless or incompetent officers,
designated by the general of the army or
commanders ot departments, are to be
sent a. soon as possible before an examin'
ing board of five, to be appointed by the
Secretary of War, and, on its recommend
alton, are to be mustered out with one
years pay, and all such officers are to be
board Vacancies in either arm of the
service are to be filled until next Jenua-
ry by appointment from the list of super
numeraries, having reference to present
rank and seniority, and at that time all
apernumeraries are to elect between
going into the grade of second lieutenant
or being honorably mustered ont with one
years pay and allowances Retired Off
GERS have seventy-fve per cent. of the pay
Of officers on the active list. The offices
Of general and lieutenant general are to
expire with Sherman and Sheridan.
Brevet rank is not actually abolished, but
it might about as we'll have been, for it is
not to give any privileges of title, uni
form or command. No army officer,
whether on the active or retired list, is
allowed to hold civil offices.