Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-26
PINE PRoPOsED ABDUCTION OF
ExPENeEs IN THE ARMY.

+. FINE RBoPO0ED REDUCTION OF
EXPENSES IN THE Army.
In last Sundays Issue We published
IN article in reference to the proposed
reduction Of expenses in tho army.
Our remarks were based upon such in
formation concerning the proposition
~ had been furnished us by telegraph,
which was but little more than the
mefe statement that there was indica-
ton Of . general feeling in the present
Congress to cut down the expenses OF
the army to the lowest possible point,
andato S6ulish al useless Offices, not
only in the army, but in the civil SER
vice also. Al that time We had not
been informed Of any definite steps
that had bsen taken in that direction;
or Of any proposition embracing the
particulars Of the proposed reduc-
ton; but yesterday we received
among telsgraphic dispatches the
synopsis Of . bill, which has been pre-
pared by General Banning, Chairman
Of tho Military Committee, which ap-
psars to US 80 fully Il cove the ground
IN the correction Of abuses at present
sanctioned by law, and At the same
time retaining, at least at its present
standard, the efficiency of our regular
army, that we r more satisfied than
eve Of the jvstness Of our remarks, al
though made as they were with no def
mite knowledge of the proposed rem
sdy for the abuses complained of. The
principal features of the bill are the
provisions cutting of extra allowances,
and Communication to officers not in ac-
tive service in the field; combining those
officials to monthly or yearly pay, and
repeating the law allowing commuta-
ton, but permitting, under certain cir
c~umstances, extra allowances to oftic-
ers In active service for extra duty per-
formed. This will strike at a great
abuse and ave q handsome sum to the
Government. 1t is estimated that the
bill will effecx an annual saving of
$4,000 in the matter Of quarters and
forage. In tho case OF general officers
all combinations Of quarters, rations
and fuel, are cut ID, sad each officer is
len with his pay proper alone. This
will give the General of the army $751;
500 per year; the Lieutenant General,
tll,5Oo; Major Generals, $500; Briga-
der Generals, $500; salaries which
no one can dsny are sufficiently liberal
considering the remuneration allowed
for services In equally high positions
in the civil services. Tho proposed law
cuts of the number OF horses allowed
. Major General from five to three.
while . Brigadier General is allowed
but two, which Is the number allowed
70 all field officers; and all mounted
officers below the rank of Major
are allowed but one. There is
no change made in the pay of
Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major,
Captain or First Lieutenant, fortbe rea-
son that none Of those officers can,
even after twenty years service, uu-
less promoted, receive more than s 4 $500.
Tho pay Of Second Lieutenant is re-
ducad tn d, 900 for . mounted officer,
and $1,000 for one unmounted. The
evident reason for this reduction is
that, with but few exceptions, they are
young men, unmarried. and fresh
from the academy, and tie sums indi-
Gated are deemed sufficient for the
short period during which they erv
in that rank, eve extending be-
yond i've years. The saving in the
pay Of 9ecoud Lieutenants alone will
amount 70 5000 annually. In the
item Of forage alone It Is estimated that
yearly saving to the Government Of
. million and . half will be made. In
the matter Of Communication ofquarters,
81 Officers arc reduced one-half.. But
the most important charge that is
made and the greatest amount saved
by . correction ola most radical abuse
the present system. Is in the
Of details Of officers for staff
duty. AT present IL Is possible, and it
,ftsn occurs. that . Lieutenant, or even
! Second Lieutenant, IL detailed upon
he staff Of . general officer, receiving
he pay and allowances Of q Colonel;
but by the proposed act all staff ofd-
cers are 10 receive only the pay aud al
|owAnces of their actual rank. which Is
right AID proper. In re-
gard to the matter of reducing the
army, 1t Is probable that the force will
rs it is and that the committee
will be satisfied With the correction of
abuses which will save the Govern
msnt an amount almost equal to the
sntire pay OF the p~rivates aud nom
commissioned officers. There Is no
to cut down the size of the
srmy, or in any n to impair its
,ficiency. but to reduce tho expenses