Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-18
The New Army Bill.

The New Army Bill.
The Joint committee of congress .ap-
pointed to take into consideration the
reorganization of the army, after care
full investigation of the subject, reported
a bill which Washington dis
patch Of December 18th thus sum-
marizes: The bill provides that
the general officers shall be reduced to
two ma Tor generals and four brigadier
generals for permanent organization, in
stead of IL as at present, but the re-
auctions are to take place only by cas-
ualtles. That the offices of general and
lieutenant general shall cease to exist
with the present incumbents. That the
adjutant generals department and the
Inspector generals department shall be
consolidated under one head, viz: The
general staff be composed of one briga-
der general, three colonels six heuten-
ant colonies and eight majors, making
a total reduction of SIX officers. That
the Quartermasters department shall be
composed of one brigadier general, two
colonies, five lieutenant colonies and
eight majors, in all sixteen, q re-
ductiOn of IS officers. That the sub
slstance department be composed of
one brigadier general, enc colonel. two
lieutenant colonels and five majors, in
all nine officers, a reduction of II off
GERS. That the medical department be
composed of one brigadier general, six
| colonies, 10 lieut-colonels, Is majors,
and $50 captains and lieutenants, in all
| 1S7 officers, making reduction Of II
officers. That the pay department be
composed of one brigadier general, one
colonel, one lieutenant colonel and
twenty-five majors. in all %, making q
reduction of27 officers. That the ordi-
nance department be composed of one
brigadier general, two colonies, two
lieutenant colonies and eight majors, in
all Is officers, making a reduction Of 40
officers. That the bureau of military
justice be composed of one colonel and
two majors, in all 3 officers, reduction
6 officers. That the signal service re-
main unchanged. That the office Of
post chaplain be abolished, but that one
regular chaplain be appointed for each
cavalry and infantry regiment, in all 80
officers, making a reduction s. That
the officers of corps of engineers re-
main unchanged. That the corps of
artillery shall consist of five regiments
at present and with a reduction of II
in the number of officers. That
the corps of cavalry shall consist of
eight regiments instead of ten as at
present. That the corps Of infantry
shall consist Of eighteen regiments IL
stead of twenty-five as at present, with a
reduction of 1876 in number of officers,
that each regiment OF the line shall con-
sist of four battalions, three of which
are to be differed and manned but the
fourth to remain unotficered and un-
manned till especially authorized by
congress; that three battalions of each
regiment of cavalry shall be manned
for the present, and that but two bat
talions of each regiment of artillery
and infantry shall be manned at pres
ent; that company officers of the line
shall be detailed for service in the staff
department as nearly as possible in 70.
tation. That prom otions shall be made
by seniority in the different corps and
departments, but that appointments to
rank of major. the lowest established
grade in the staff department, other
than the medical department, shall be
made from the captains and first lieu
tenants of the line in the order of merit
and service in said departments, but
such appointments in the ordnance de-
partment are to be made only from
the artillery. That when it becomes
necessary to officer and man the fourth
| battalion the auDOintm emf of officers
shall be made by seniority in separate
corps, and vacancies in the lowest
grade shall be filled by West Point grad
yates and meritorious soldiers. That
the present organization shall not ex-
coed $4,000 enlisted men, exclusive of
the signal soldiers. Under this bill for
the reorganization of the army, the
number of officers on the executive
list will be reduced by 333. ~.
Never Return.