The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-12-17
The Army Reorr.ni...Ion Bill.

The Army Reorganization Bill.
Washington, Dec. 15.-Opposition to
the new army bill is daily gaining in
strength as the details of the measure
become more generally known, and the
opinion now prevails in Washington
that the joint committee will fail to get
their bill through both branches of con-
gress, II, indeed, 1t passes either house.
1t will be fought in congress from at
least two diametrically opposite stand.
points, both by those who think 1t aims
at doing too much, and by those who
believe 1t proposes too little in the line
of reduction. Many democratic men,
bers of the house already denounce it
In private conversation us u plan to
saddle upon the country in perpetuity
what they characterize as an overgrown
standing army. This class of members
say they will not be satisfied with any
thing less than reduction of the total
force to $1,000 men, and sweeping re-
duction in the pay Of all except the
@O"NA aaCo VI OluCGl5.
They also earnestly condemn those
features of the bill which aggrandize
the functions Of power of the general
OF the army at the expense of the pres
ent direct au hority of the secretary of
war, as being calculated to subordinate
civil to military power. On the other
hand, a large number Of conservative
representatives and senators are firmly
of the opinion that the radical changes
in the military system of our country,
both as regards the staff and line or
ganizations which are proposed by this
bill, are of more than doubtful expedi-
ency, and that at all events they should
not be undertaken without much full
er consideration than can possib y be
given to them during the present short
session OF congress.
The bill is compromise measure,
which probably does not completely sat
isfy more than one or two members of
the joint committee. Surprise is ex-
pressed in army circles that the COM
mittee's report in 30 many particulars
betrays ignorance of the practical du-
ties of the military service. Thus. for
instance, it is recommended that the
Inspector generals and adjutant gen.
erals departments be consolidated,
although the duties of the officers in the
former require them to be continually
travelling from one part of the country
to another. whereas an adjutant must
almost always remain in one place. 1t
is discovered also that the bill If enact
ed, would bear with extreme hardship
upon a very large proportion of the
officers on the retired list, especially
thoSe who entered the army at the sac
riiice of their business interests at the
outbreak of the rebellion as volunteers.
Such officers when retired under this
bill will receive annual pay thereafter
only at the rate of two per cent. of
the present pay for each year of service,
and all officers already ON the retired
list will have to submit to "a great re-
duction In their present pay unless by
reason Of wounds they have been total
ly disabled. These officers and their
numerous influential friends throughout
the country will undoubtedly prove to
be very powerful element of the COM
bined opposition which the new Matched
and unfiedged creation Of the Burnside
ocm nittee has yet to encounter, and
which from present appearances it is
not likely to overcome.