The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-13
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December l2-
The bill reported by the joint committee
on reorganization of the army provides
that the general officers shall be reduced
to two major generals and four brigadier
generals Tor permanent organization, in
stead OF eleven. as at present, but the re-
duction is to take place by casualties; that
the Offices of major general and lieutenant
general shall cease to exist with the pres
entincum bents; that the adjutant generals S
department and inspector generals de-
partmeut shall be consolidated under one
head, viz, the general staff, composed of
one brigadier general. three colonels, six
lieutenant colonels and eight majors,
making a total reduction of six officers:
that the quartermaster' department be
composed of one brigadier general, two
colonels and eight majors, in all sixteen,
reduction of forty eight officers; that the
subsistence department be composed of
one brigadier general, one colonel, two
lieutenant colonies and FIVE majors, in all
nine officers, a reduction of seventeen off
GERS; that the medical department. be COM
posed of one brigadier general, six colonels,
ten lieutenant cOlonels, f0rty-eight majors
and l20 captains and first lieutenants, in
all 1877 officers, making a reduction of
eleven officers: that the pay department
be composed of one brigadier general, one
colonel and twenty-five majors, 10 all
twenty Eight, making a reduction of twenty
seven officers; that the ordnance depart
ment be composed of one brigadier gen
eral, two colonels, two lieutenant colonies
4 -Lxk III
GERS, making reduction of forty
pine officers; that the bureau of mili-
tary justice be composed of one col
onel and two majors, in all three Off
GERS. a reduction of six officers; that the
signal service remain unchanged; that the
office of post chaplain be abolished, but
that one regimental chaplain be appointed
for each cavalry and infantry regiment, 10
all thirty-hve officers, making a reduction
of eight; that officers of the corps of en-
gineers remain unchanged; that the corps
of artillery shall consist of FIVE regiments
as at present, with reduction of twelve in
the number of officers; that corps OF
cavalry shall consist of eight regiments,
instead o! ten, as a present; that a corps
| of infantry shall consist of eighteen regi
ments, instead of twenty FIVE, as at pres
eat, with reduction of l36 in the number
of officers; that each regiment of the line
shall consist of four battalons, three OF
which are to be oficered and manned, but
| the fourth to remain unofficered and un.
manned until especially authorized by con.
gress; that three battalious of each regl-
ment of artillery and infantry shall be
manned for the present; that company
officers of tie line shall be detailed for ser.
vice in the staff department as nearly al
possible in rotation; that promotion shall
be made by seniority in different corps anC
departments, but that appointments to th'
rank OF major, the lowest established grad,
10 the staff department, other than tht
medical department, shall be made from
captains and first lieuteuants of the line
in order OF merit and service 10 said de
partment, but such appointments in tht
Iordinance department are to be mad,
only from the artillery: that when it be
Icomes necessary to officer and man tn
fourth battalion the appointment of officer
chail be made by seniority 10 seperat
corps, and vacancies in the lowest grad
shall be filled by West Point graduates an
meritori)us soldier; that the present or
gauization shall not exceed 25 900 enliste
! men, exclusive Of signal soldiers Tn
number OF officers on the executive lis
will be reduced to 333.
The bill for the payment of invalid an
other pensions for the next fiscal year as
passed the House to- day appropriates $29
: 366. 900. being $250,O00 less than th
amount estimated and $500 less than th
appropriation for the present fiscal yea
The bill contains provision that any I'll
expeDded balances from former appropr
ations may be expended for similar objec
, 10 the present invalid pension bill, Tt
: bill as reported yesterday was in preci:
accordance with the estimates, but it ha'
ing been found that there was an unexpeI
ded balance, the committee on appropr
ations accordingly prepared substitu
, for that bill making apparent reduction
: as above noted,
The October returns to the departme
E of agriculture did not materially chanI
the aspect of the wheat crop as foreshat
: owed by the monthly reports of the CO
dition. The December returns, includin
= the estimate of the yield per acre, confr
n and somewhat enlarge the previous est
i mates. A computation from all retur
q shows an aggregate crop Of about 425, ,00C
= 600 bushels.
i The senate confirmed Thomas Hillhous
: of New York. United States Assista
= Treasurer at New York.
4 1t can now be stated positively that the
i is at least no present proba bility of Alto
i ney General Devens retiring from the cal
net The president and other members
"a the cabinet consider it Of advantage to I
a government that 20 change shall occur
n present, and while General nevens has b
i an offer oil the position of the frst circl
- judgeship he will defer his own wishes
? regard thereto and remain in his prese
n Office.