Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-13
Reorganization OF the Army.
REPORT OF THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL CONHIs


SION.
The report of the joint commission on the
reorganization of the army, appointed under
act Of Congress approved June Is, lS1s, which
was submitted 10 the Senate yesterday by Mr.
Burnside, after quoting the law governing their
prOce, dingS and giving an account OF their Sev-
eral sessions says: - IL is not deemed necessary
to give in this report minute details Of the
changes made in the laws touching the army,
as the bill agreed upon explains itself. Many
of the sections OF the bill are Identical with
these now in the Revised Statutes but as many
changes in the present law have been recon-
menGed by the committee, ii was deemed wise
10 make a new arrangement of all the sections
TO replace all the laws upon the statute -bGo IS
toGchlng the army, except sucn chapters as the
ccmmisslon recommends to leave unchanged.
50 that this BILL ii adopted. will. with the un-
changed chapters referred ID. make Il condensed
and complete code"
prcVlGeS that the general officers shalt be re-
duced 10 major generals and ! brgaier gen
elas ior the permanent organization, instead OF
II, as at present, but the reduction is TO take
place by casualties that the offices OF general
and lieutenant general should cease to exist
with the present incumbents: that the Adju-
tant Generals department and the Inspector
GeneralS department be consolidated under
one head viz: 1.-The General Staf,a comprised
OF bl1gadier general colonies. lieutenant
colonelS, and majors, making a total reduction
OF officers; that the QuartermaSter'S depart
ment be composed of brigad.er general, col
onels, 3 lieutenant cOionels and majors, in all
l6. d reduction OF Is officers that the SubSist-
eDce department be composed OF ! brigadier
general, colonel, . lieutenent cOlonels and
majors, In all officers, Il reduction OF Il Off
GERS: that the Medical department be composed
OF brigadier general, 6 colonels, IN lieutenant
coloneS, Is majors, and 120 captains, first
neutenants, in all IS. officers, making reduc-
tlon OF II officers; that the Pay department be
composed Of l brigadier general, / colonel
lieutenant colonel. and 25 majors in ali 2S.
making reduction OF p officers: that the ord
nance department be composed of 1 brieafier
general, c0lOnelS, lieutenant cooneiS. and 5
majors, In all Is officers. making a reduction OF
40 officers: that the Bureau of Military Justice
DE composed OF colonel and 2 majors, in all
o1flcers, reduction of officers; that the
Signal Service remain unchanged: that the
ofltce OF post chaplain be abolished. but thatI
reglmental chaplain be appointed for each cav
AIRY ana infantry regment-in all. 35 officers.
making reduction OF 5; that the officers OF the
corps or engineers remain unchanged that the
corps OF artillery Shall consist OF regiments as
at present. with reduction OF i in the num-
Der OF officers; that the corps OF cavalry Shall
consist CT regiments. instead of TO- as at pre-
sent; tlat the corps OF infantry shall consist OF
Il regiments instead OF q, as at present. with
reduction OF l36 in the number of officers; that
each regiment of the line shall consist OF / bat
taiOnS, 5 Of which are TO be Oncerpd and
manned, but the fourth to remain unof1icered
and unnamed until especially authorized by
Congress: that battaliO,iS OF each regiment OF
cavalry shall be made for the present. and that
but batteries OF each OF the 5imentS OF artil-
lely Shall De manned for the present; that the
company officers OF the line shall he detailed for
service in the staff department, as many as pos
SSibie in rotation; that promotions shall be made
by seniority in the different corps and depart
ments, but that appointments to the rank of
mlalCr, the lowest established grade in the staff
department (other than the medical depart
n.entl. shall be made from the captains and ttrSt
neutenants Of the line in the order of merit and
service in The said departments, but such an
pointmehtS in the ordnance department are TO
be made only from the artillery; that when
1t becomes necessary to officer and man
the fourth battery, the appointments OF officers
shall be made by seniority in the separate corps
and vacancies in the lowest grade Shall be filled
diers; that the present organization Shall not
exceed 2S, 600 enlisted men, exclusive of signal
soldiers; that the limit to the retired list be
removed for the present, and that certain Off
GERS, not provided from the new ORGANIZATION.
be placed upon it; that a reserve list shall be
created. upon which Supernumerary officers
made so by the new organization, are TO be
placed for period not to exceed three years,
unesS otherwise ordered by Congress: tha
necessary boards shall be ordered and organ
Kcd TO make recommendations for the proposed
reductions and that the reductions shall be Tin
on the Isl OF July. 1879, and to be completed by
the 1St OF January, 1SS0 that in the assignment
OF officers retained in the new organization,
seniority of commission in the army shall gov
ern the order; but assignment shall be made
without reference TO corps: that the manufac-
ture OF ordnance and ordnance stores by the
ordnance department be prohibited and that
all purchases of arms and ammunition be made
in open market or by contract. Remaining
sections of the bill provide for the adjustment
OF the office OF post trader, the retirement of
officers at the age OF 62 years the pay OF retired
officers, and the reorganization of the present
retired list upon the principles of the bill.
INTERESTING NOTES By CABLE-Prince Gorl-
Schakof has formally resumed the direction of
the foreign Office at st. Petersburg. Much ex-
citement IS reported in COnstantinople over the
conspiracy against the Sultan. Romer, the
hungarian American conSpratOr, has been
turned over to the United states consul. An
Afghan official. it is said, has arrived in Gen.
Brownies camp and invited him to Cabll. 1t is
also stated that the Ameer has sent a message
TO Major Cavagnari. begging for peace and ask
ing no conditions. 1t is further reported that
the Amcer has blown the commander Of Ali
MuSifd from a cannon'S mouth. Chinese en-
baSsieS are going TO Russia, France and Eng
land. 1t is understood that only the Russian
Envoy has left Cabul, and not the mission. Sir
stafford Northcote declares that England would
not acGuiesce in Russian interference in Afghan
iStan. Dissatisfaction with the French cabinet
continues. The French chamber of deputies
has adjourned sine die. empowering NJ. Grevy
TO call meeting in the event OF a necessity.
ADMIRAL JuareZ is officially announced as
French ambassador to Spain