New-York tribune., 1870-04-09
ARMY LEGISLATION.
SENATOR Wilson's BILL

WASHINGTON, April G.-SenatOr Wilson enter
peculiar opinions upon the subject Of Army legisa
ton, and often appears TO have in view the convenience
and profit Of the officers rather than the efficiency OF the
service economy TO the public treasury He has framed
a bIll which lie designs substitute in the Senate for
the Army reduction bill which the House passed unani-
mousy about three weeks ago BY this he pro-
poses to reduce Army but he reduction is to
at the wrong end-with the rank and le of which
it is by means certain that we have too many.
IL is certain however that have too many officers,
and have had since la Spring, when the army was re-
duced regiments leaving the officers Of those regi
meps all in the service and drawing pay, with not SIM
gle enlisted man for them to command. They were in
the position of judges without courts to hold
without taxes to assess, posmasters without post
Offices to attend to- They were In word, supeix
res Their salaries and still costing the people
about 10000 per annun and in return for this amount
OF money the country gets valuable service from them
when Congress met In December there about 500
OF these officers whose salaries ranged from ST. 1850
each Their position anomalous, and there was no
warrant for in law, or precedent for 1t In the history OF
the country. At the first opportunity Gen. Logan, from
the House Military Committee reported bill providing
mastering out the identical 500 officers whom the
chances Of consolidation had left without commands but
whatever 500 carefully organized board might deter.
mine could be best spared. These officers not like
the volunteers at the end Of the to be sent adft
with but three months pay proper from $50 to $780, ac-
cording to rauk but to receive, on their muster
out the generous gift from the Government Of years
pay aud allowances TO commence civil life upon. The
muster these officers would leave the army with
the proper number of officers fixed by law command
the companies and regiments OF which it consists.
The bill passed the House with remarkable unanimity.
II received the Endorsement OF hepes OF the country,
and its passage was strongly urged upon the Senate
Everybody approved OF it except the officers whose
vices IL proposed dispense WITH and their personal
No
surprises every by scheme to still further increase
the disparity between officers and men by reducing the
line Of the army to OOO leaving all the officers our
hands except such be hired to resign by the in
ducement o. from TO Is months pay as a premium
therefor The army, already topheavy by its excess OF
useless officers is be made by reducing the
rank and file. II this process should continue, our mill
tary force will soon resemble inverted pyramid,
single private soldier furnishing the apex upon which
will rest vast multitude OF shoulder strapped gentry Of
every grade Tie only for maintaining standing
army in Republic, in time Of peace, is absolute neces
sty IT, therefore, the country needs but $4,000 men, in
stead OF 80 Co., people will be thankful to Mr.. Wilson
for asceraning the fact and Congress WILL no doubt be
II the pryate corpOas and sergeants can be mustered
out what the Of the euenants captains, and
colones who have nobody to command. and nothing to
do but TO draw their pay. Those VINO have no duties
assigned them are to be fnrlougned on half pay.
pecaons the country by relieving the treasury OF the
burden OF paying salaries to useless oicers but h ac
y proyides the appointment OF more officers In the
corps These were fixed In 1860 Oh basis OF
$1,000 men when the army was reduced year ago TO 70
about 35,OO0 immediate reduction was made IN the
staff but the law then passed prohibited the flng OF
vacancies might In order that there might be
a gradual reduction by casualty. number OF vacan-
ces have occurred but the staff STILL according TO the
statements many prominent general officers out OF all
proportion to line Of the army IL ought to be re-
duced fully onethird more Instead OF reduction Mr
Wilson proposes an increase His b1l contains section
repealing the law prohibiting new appointments ana
promotions far applies to the Corps OF Enghees
the Quartermaster's Department. and the Medical DC
partnent which will make places for about 20 new ofi
GERS and WILL IL passes be the wedge that will open up
the way filling all the nine staff corps up to the fu
number Of officers provided for In 1866. Our military
establishment, II Mr. Wilson's bill should become aw
would present the remarkable spectacle OF an army OF
as epens with officers enough for so regiments, and
2 enlisted with staff officers sufficient for 10000
Mr. Wilson has adopted some excellent features OF
Gen Logans BILL He retains the section abolisnlng
allowances and establishing fixed salaries which II Is
estimated will save half million dollars also the pro
vision repeating the law which makes the General little
sovereign independent OF the President and the section
prohibiting army officers from holding cvll olces Inc
need of this section Is made apparent by the TACT that
there are geadyOcates paynasters, commissarlcs
and line officers who draw " 900 5000 year from the
United States for doing little or nothing ana as ueh
more from the Of Virginia for aching as judges,
auditors, sherifs. DC.