The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-04
Saturday. January 4...ls7s.
The 81. Louis Republican ON the New
Army Bill


Army Bill
The St Louis Republican, Of the End
gives q somewhat lengthy review Of the
Burnside's Army bill, in which ii says:
An ordinary unmilitary mind might
study this ponderous document for month
without getting clear comprehension OF
the innumerable details embraced therein;
aud, as the large majority in both branch
es Of congress are entirely destitute Of &C.
curate military knowledge, common-sense
would seem to dictate that they should
have ample time for the examination and
discussion of subject so vast and SO I'm
portant. Yet the bill was introduced on
the 18th of December-by Burnside in
the senate land Banning 10 the house
congress adjourned seven days afterward,
and il is to be put upon its passage two
DAYS after the session is resumed. We
leave the reader to determine how much
legislative wisdom may be expected under
such circumstances Work which might
proftably employ the national legislature
until the 4th of March will be crowded in
to a few days, or a week or two at most,
and the country must suffer the conse-
quences.
Stripped of all verbiage and technical
observation, the bill is simply a PROPOSE
ton to abolish the war department for the
benefit of the general-in-chief, whoever he
may happen to be. Section rs says:
"That the general OF the army, or other general
officer assigned by the president as commanding
general shall, under the direction and during the
pleasure OF the president have command OF the
entire army, line and staff"
1t is true that by section 70 the chiefs
OF the staff departments-now exclusively
under the orders Of the secretary of war
are not taken away from him altogether.
But ii he be compelled to divide authority
with the commanding general his occupa-
ton is practically gone, and the result
must inevitably be concentration OF all
military power 10 the hands of one man;
which, we hardly need say, is long and
strong step toward military despotism.
Moreover, section "a provides that the
geographical divisions and departments
shall emprace all officers aud troops
within their respective limits. whether of
line or staff, when special exception is
not made by the president" The logi-
cal meaning OF which is that the generals
commanding in these divisions and de-
partments shall have absolutely control
over the Notifications, arsenals, depots,
&c, within their respective jurisdictions
thus thrustiDg the secretary OF war
completely out OF doors. The people will
never sanction an arrangement which
savors more of Prussia than America, and
is hostile to the fundamental principles of
free government. Under the present sys-
TEN the secretary OF war represents the
people, ard manages military affairs for
their interest, Under the new system he
could and would be checkmated at every
turn by q military chieftain who might be
utterly indifferent to the interest of the
people. The present system undoubtedly
has its defects, but it has one cardinal
merit which the new one lacks, aud that
merit more than counterbalances the de-
feets, 10 popular estimation.
OF minor importance, but still of serious
consequence, is the reconstruction of the
staff of the army. ln bis speech advoca-
ting the bill, Senator Burnside said:
The interchangeability between the line and the
staff s established by making all the officers OF the
stan department below the rank OF major detala-
BILE from the line Of the army heretofore indica-
ted, and reducing the number Of fed officers OF the
stan departments to the number absolutely requir-
ed Tor the service"
Which may be Offset by the opinions of
Gen. Sherman himself:
"A staff system that has admitted Of an increase
OF the line OF the army from the mere nucleus Of
loOO TO lOOOUOO men, and the reduction back to the
present stan ard without confusion and with the
most perfect accountability rs to property and
money-at all times providing for the army album
dantly-is entitled to our respect. To change a
well-9stablshed system for another system is al
ways OF doubtful WISDOM
90 the same subject Gen. Pope remarks
as follows:
Ito say that staff should consist OF officers TEN.
poraiy detached from the line and to be inter
changed a. short intervals docs not appear sound.
except IN VERY limited and for the
ton OF the mere local business OF military posts
70 extend such system generally would be as IN
wise as to apply the same rule to railroad, and to
Interchange conductors with locomotive engineers,
Train d.sDachers with freight agents, or brakemen
with porters, OF superintendents with civil engin-
eers' &C. unfortunately Such q proposition
carries no greater absurdity its face in railroad
than IN army matters. | donot consider any propo-
slllOn 10 90 without stan and to depend upon de-
tails from the line for staff duties at all tenabe,
except IN the limited sense this practice is and,
pracucally has always been in operitIon.'
The house committee on military affairs
OF the Forty-second congress, discussing
aproposed change 10 this department,
said truly that the present division of du
ties is The result Of long experience, and
very recently, in the struggle against re-
bclioD, was found to work successfully in
the widest sphere Of action" We fail to
see either the economy or the sense in
cutting of a small body O. officers, thor
NNShD FCiScu III tu6 uutleS assignee tnem
and Filing their places with other officers
comparatively ignorant of these duties.
aud of 10 practical experience whatever
The public business would surely suffer
by such an Improvement" and 10 the
long run the public pocket also. We
should let we'll enough alone" at least,
until 1t Is certain we can do better-and
there is no such certainty in this case.
1t is rumored in Washington that one
OF the main objects of the bill is to break
down and destroy the ordnance department
OF the army, close up all the arsenals and
government establishments, and turn over
the business of manufacturing and sup
plying material of war to Eastern contract
ors. A bold and impudent scheme, but
one which can DE easily carried out under
the new programme. This of itself ought to
Kill the measures which permits it. Add.
ed to the arguments already presented, it
completes and crowns a list of objections
that should give the army bill final a uietus.