The New York herald., 1871-03-25
THE BRITISH ARMY.
Radical Onslaught on an Aris-
tocratic Stronghold.
Parliamentary Movement for o Reduction Of
the Force and Reform in the Command.
Premier Gladstone's Defence-The Cabinet
Sustained-Outl of the New Bill.
TELEGRAM TO the new YORK HERALD.

LONDON, March "a, 1871.
The popular agitation against the aristocratc sys
tenn of the purchase Of commissions in the British
army is maintained vigorously by the radicals The
movement for Its abolition gains strength daily out
Of DOORS and Is still more fayorably received inside
the walls of the Parliament.
am enabled to report to The HERALD by cable
telegram to-day that during the session Of tue House
OF Commons last night Mr.. Mundella caused deep
sensation by moving the following resolution
That while the House approves of the principle Of the
commission. the believes that the army and navy
can be made efficient without increase Of expenditure
from the ordinary estimates.
The Premier, Gladstone, in opposing the motion,
gave many arguments why the House should reserve
Its judgment on the antitness between the intentions
OF the government and Its past conduct and stated
that the habitual economy Of the government was
only suspended for time by the diplomatic pres
or the exigencies Of the late war on the Cont
nent
Messrs. George Dixon and Jacob Bright, both
members for Birmingham, made speeches In elo-
quent denunciatlon or Ministerial extravaganza,
and accusing the government Of having violated Its
pledges to the nation.
Mr. Cardwell, Secretary Of War, having spoken in
reply division Of the House was called for and
the government was sustained by majority Of 2O4
Mr.. Leatham, member for Huddersfeld, submit
ted o motion for the reduction OF the proposed
increase in the army to twenty thousand men,
which. on division, was rejected by $50 majority.
The Cost Of the Army-The Money Burden
Still Heavier ON the People.
The British army estimates for the support OF the
force during the military yearfrom June, 1871, to
June, 1s72-have been issued. They amount to
total OF els, ,s51, 700, but from this deduction must
be made Of fl l154,ooo as representing the estimated
exchequer extra receipts, leaving the net charge
f14, 697,7 700. The net expenditure last year was
ELL 6659s5 and in 1s697O 1t amounted to 812 49, 765.
The estimates tor the current year therefore the
heaviest Of any presented to Parliament since Mr..
Cardwell's appointment to the Ministry Of War.
With five exceptions there Is an increase in
every item Of expenditure on the regular forces.
Among the principal Items OF increase are f640,000
Tor regimental pay 9z5 800 for militia pay 1907 800
ike and other storeso s2ss 400 for experimenting
establishments, and 1900 FOR the volunteers. The
total vote for the effective services Is fl3 200
against f1o, ,e6s, 200 twelve months ago. The regu-
lar forces 10 be provided for number 133, POI, or
more by $50 than were included in last years
Inmates. This increase was voted upon an army
August last and the additional expense was pro-
vided for by vote OF credit for f0o0000 taken at
the same ume
Purchase Cnd sale OF Commissions Abolition
Bill.
For the information Of her Majesty's subjects
abroad we publish in the HERALD to-day the main
points Of "the Regulation OF the Forces Act 1871"-
the title by which the bill brought forward by Mr..
Cardwell WILL If passed, be known. It Is divided
into five parts The first part treats Of the abolition
OF purchase. IL provides that after certain day,to
be named by order Of the Queen in Council no sfte
shall be made OF the commission OF any officer In her
Majesty forces 1t appears that by the 5th and 9th
King Edward VI, chap. 16, and by 49th King
George ILL.,, chap. 126, an exemption was made
against the penalties named in those acts in favor Of
persons concerned in the case OF purchase and
exchange of commissions; but by the new bill these
exemptions are to be repealed and the penalties of
those to be put in force against all offenders
After the said day no ofcer shall acquire any pecu
mary interest in any commission, but every officer
holding salable commission shall, on his retire.
ment be entitled to receive. on application to the
commissioners appointed under the act, such prce
or sum as follows:-Where such officer is permitted
to retire from q regiment In the army under circum-
stances IN which, il this act mad not passed, he
would have peen permitted TO retire py sale OF his
equal to the estimated price. at which the
commission held by him on the said appointed day
would have been salabe II this act had not passed
Provided that the number of officers OF each rank
and branch Of the service entitled TO retirement
ceed the largest number who have retired in any OF
the preceding five years, deduclng those who have
exchanged from haif-pay to sell. The estimated
price at which commission would have been saa-
Die If this act had net passed" snail IN this act be
the regulation price OF such commission together
WitH tHC ONcI-IcSudllOH PRICE, duy 'lue TeRulH-
tOn price OF commission shall mean the Price
authorized to be given at the time of the passing Of
this act and, in the case Of an officer holding on
the said appointed day commission, the full price
OF which Qf such commission were sold on that
day. he would not be entitled to receive, shall in
clude any allowance made In respect Of such CON-
mission by the said warrant and regulation on ac-
count Of service, whether performed before after
the said appointed day. The rate at which the value
OF such service as aforesaid shall be calculated shall
be fifty pounds for every year of home service, and
f10O for every year Of foreign service except the
case OF service perfOrmedgn the ranks the value OF
which service shall be calculated at the rate of
twenty-five pounds for every year Of nome service
and fifty pounds for ever year OF foreign service
'The over regulation pricen OF commission In any
regiment shall be the customary sum, ir any, pay
able In that regiment beyond the regulation price
on the occasion OF such commission being vacated,
and shall be determined by the commissioners as
nearly as may be, according to the custom preva-
lent Ia the regiment prior to January 1, 1871.
WEATHER REPORT.