The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-12
TIE LIE ARMY.
A GlaI zee at It's History and
Organization.
The Log .islatiye Tinkering Which Has
Ma le It Military Anomaly.
Logan ssNew General Supply
Bill.
TheGFs' for Reform and the Com
ing Struggle in Congress.
L rN.E AND Taft
AND STAFF.
Suggestit ,nS for the American Army
of the Future.

WASHINGTON, JAM 10, 1871.
The appoin kment OF John Coburn, OF Indiana to
the chairma nshlp OF the House Military Committee,
was in itsel matter OF little sgnl1canCe; but
when 1t Is remembered that the committee is CON-
posed OF a We Western and the three Southern
Representatives, only one place being gwen TO
Northern me IN, 1t assumes a new phase Before the
reassemblin Of Congress 1t was understood in the
best inf0rme d circles that this course would be pur-
sued. and 1t was even asserted that General Logan
wanted to succeed Wilson aschairman OF the Senate
Committee. The latter committee, 1t Is at
present constituted includes, besides Wilson, Its
chairman, Cameron, or Pennsylvania; Morton. Of
Indiana; Ames, Of Mississippi Logan, Of Illinois;
West, of Louisiana, and Blair. OF Missouri AS
matter CT course BAR don't count, and Ames and
West could not be made TO count on any account.
All the active Senators the committee very
busy men. Morton has accepted the place which
Sumner refused at the head OF the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. Besides this Cameron is
Oh ntrman OF the Committee Fore Ign
Re taLions, and Morton OF Agriculture, and
bot these Senators serve on both these COM
NIT tees, as well as on the Committee on Military
Ana ars, Thus Wilson is left to manage his commit
tee retty much as he pleases and ne mas managed
II mt Mt sadly, for the interests OF the country at
!. least As chairman OF the Military Committee of
the l0nse Logan was able to get the ear OF the peO
pie, b ut his pyrotechnlcs only MADE Wilson and the
Senat all che more stolid. Now even his oratorIcal
power may be dlssipated. As Wilson'S brother
senate " and fellow member OF the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs he will be chilled by the
cold Ell kuetle which pervades the north wang Of
the Car tto, and become powerless ana perhaps
stupi as country schooi boy In the hands OF al
Old-fasn ioned pedagogue. No one Is better aware
OF all thi b than General Logan himself and hence
the efors OF Western and Northwestern senators
for the re Organization OF the Military Committee OF
both onlv toilv fDI
The army, it Is at present organized, is a
OF great extravaganza and 1t Is understood that
TINS move, nent for reorganization intended TO
be prel,mlI larry General Logan's hopes OF paving
his was 10 the Presidency in 1876 bv becoming the
CHAMPION MILITARY Reform.
To ths end he will support In the Senate the
',generalcupply BILL the main purpose OF which will
,ybe consolidate the Quartermastcrs, Subsistence
srnd Paw departments into single bureau Quar-
xermaster General Meigs under him three
mt queasermaster generals, eight deputy quarter
, Master generals fifteen quartermasters, thirty
even assistant quartermasiers and twelve military
:, orekeepers. Brigadier General Eaton Commits
sa " General OF Subsistence, has department
M ysd OF four assistant commissary generals OF
an, eastence and Jwenty-three commssares OF sub.
s,st snce. Paymaster General Bricc. VINO has just
gon, '~on '"e 'e''eu is'' 'elo'ceo LII TWO ass'san'
pavn Naster generals, two deputy paymaster gen.
eros aud, not counting the lost Major Hodge, fifty.
two AYmasters These three venerable officers,
whose united terms OF service count 1855 years. have
each so"cien' S'au W uo TIC "orh VI al LUG oe-
partme sSco"oneo anu ho' ic"er Juan hihe'y' ana
perhaps nunufeu omcers are rc'alheu III Tue army
An tbcse departments alone, who do little
xvort for their pay. The country Will be surprised
70 learn q atit requires nfty.cight officers to pay
on forty 'kimeh's' oesiaes hine.yiour others 10
snnnv onr little army. Not only has each OF these
,enartment seXpensive oflces in Washington, New
YORK and NJ her cities, but In the capital at least
thew have 81 eadiv avoided going into the same
hni,d,n0 and though at great expense, they have
ont no for IN. wt from each other possible that
,nev p,,oh, no be more independent. Many OF these
,acts were bron yht out General Logan's famous
uneecb loe, uv,p, w. but In way rhetorical and at
Pho CANA ume 80 reckless that the Army bill,
which wac rusned Through the House, failed utterly
In tho sonata an fs ras its important features were
and All tnat could be saved from the
,racr onlv added :, the evils which the In
,ended RI cnre 7 We expense Of maintaining the
army has hcen ,ncrc, ssed and openings have been
moda for ahuses wi tere no door existed before.
Tnis was nartlv the a lit OF General Logan and his
honhayord attemnt nj legislation, but Senator VIII
ron and the Senate ver e,even more to blame.
THE SENATE ksD ARMY.
Tho re,at,ons of the Sc and the army are very
peculiar. These relation can only De undetstood
v,en II ia known that tie leaders OF the Senate
and of our prntorian gu; Eds are not only in full
accord and alliance but u's oou are uammeiied
by etiquette and both are seeking 10 make them-
selves q sort OF American ass'ocracY. IL Is true
Senator Wilson, who mas bee ''ic cuair'han Oh the
cono,o Corom,,tee m Militia ~ Affairs for SO many
years, Is Not much OF an arr nvcia'' ou' hc'her Is
he much OF q soldier. No oil ue' "ah cou'o nave
been so useful In promoting Se seinshhess Vi tue
army esnec,alv OF the STAFF a t.tne expense OF the
,,ro ana NJ tho countrv le,ause mo other could
Long
little OF the military necessities OF 'ne naion: IL ~
safe assertion and ono I'll 1t VIII hs asseneu 70 py
every general oficer the army hlat senator VIII
son has acquired Just emo ugh OF military Know
ledge stand IN the way OF al sens'o,e rero ~
instrument. nevertheless. " nhout sunicient com;
prehenspeness ograsp subj 20 w mn, M cuv ,ye ~
the mysterious relations when exist between tne
senators ana the soldiers OF the repuone W NC easily
frightened Ia every emergency. hu reauy 10 inter-
pose his inert committee agalns, every propos ION
Tor retreDchment and reform IL vas t uu ,s a r ~.
ne intends making in Pie senate demanded mo
rough reorganization OF boh comri nes als
no done and great knowledge OF the subject u re.
quired from those who are ~ uhle, M ~ ire conn
try a The people are getting impsnent VIII we
army and army legislation ana shu ~ ~. The organ,
20 have been 50 strong TO have maa. 'ne sr
zation of both Committees in the INTERESTS OF reform
necessity Bal Logan cannot cemmittee in any
swant The same influences which defeated ms
Army bill last winter Will defeat ana San Wison
lions al any time, either now or mere. nv Also and
suifs the senate and he suits the ar "sv, anu
wien these things admitted. the wlk'ie vaso,
far as General Logan's aspiraons are couceneu' -
as plain as It Is possible TO make IT,
GENERAL LOGAN. -. .,a a
Despite some rude natural gifts OF 2ra.ory a an,y
great deal OF obstinate pluck and beliHerent aIs
ity General Logans career has been pecnaiZ ps n
ren OF results. Hc wants higher honos re snd
has yet attained and though he sees the P!esae,hI
dimy In the distance he u well aware that neltDs,
his military nor his civic achievements are sn nyso
burning with recruitment against Wilson AND tns
army for the pucNng his Army bill was compe.eu,
10 undergo In che Senate last March, after nc DEu