The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-14
Doomed to Defeat.

The latest information from our CORES
pondents in Washington, to whom we have
given instructions to watch every move
ment of the Sherman Burnside>Imperial
Army Bill, is that it will not pass-that it
is doomed to defeat. Tie persistent oppo-
sition it received from the West has been
taken up by every paper of any note in
the country, aud it may be considered GER
tain that the Sherman family's vision of a
military autocracy will disappear when a
vote is taken on the bill Not only its objec-
tional features, but the bill as whole will
be vigorously opposed by some of the
ablest members of both houses, on the
grouud.that it tends to subordinate the
war department and even the president
himself to the general of the army and to
establish sort of military autocracy, which
is not in harmony either with the wishes
of the.people or the spiritofour Institutions
Some of its leading opponents do not hest
tate to say that the authority which it
gives the general of the army is not only
excessive but wholly unconstitutional.
The conviction is that thesbill, in its pres.
ent shape. or in any shape which it is like
ly to assume, will fail to receive the ap-
prevail of congress.
1t is also evident that some reforms are
necessary in the army, and, to accomplish
this, Representative Atkins, with the coun-
sci and suggestive cooperation of some of
the ablest officers of the army, has pre-
pared another bill, as a substitute, which.
although it has the same general object
as the Burnside bill, differs considerably
from the latter in its methods and details.
Its principal provisions are as follows;
The army is to be reduced to its desired
strength, not by summary dismissals or
enforced retirements, but by lie slower
operation of natural laws. ~ acancies
created by death, casualties and resigna-
tons are to be left untitled. REGIMENTS
are to be consolidated as their effective
strength decreases and the whole army,
EIine and staff alike, allowed to gradually
shrink to tho desired numerical limits.
The retired list instead of being restrict
| ed as now to 400. is to be made as large
as the necessities of the service may re-
quire, and all officers, without exception,
are TO be placed on that list as fast as they
become incapacitated for lactive duty or
reach the age of sixtY-two. In the meantime
1.-THE supply of new officers from West
Point is TO be cut of. The bill provides
that members of the next two classes gra-
| Il Il.
81 desire. receive $3.50 each upon compile
ton Of their studies, and be permitted to
return to their homes, subject 10 recall at
the expiration Of two years if their servl-
ces are required.
The provisions Of the bill with regard to
reduction OF the number Of regiments in
the army are similar to those of the Burn
side Dill. The army, however, is placed
under supreme control of the secretary of
of war, subject only to the higher author
| ity of the president as commander-iu-
chief The power of the general of the
army, instead of being increased as by the
Burnside bill, is strictly limited to its pres
ent bounds The bill provides for the
adoption of the battalion system Of regi-
mental organization and makes a change in
the present rule OF promotion as regards
first, aud second lieutenants. Lieutcnants
can now be advanced only 10 regiments to
which they are are attached. while caDtuins
and msj)rs may be promoted to higher
ranks in Other regiments belonging to tho
same army service. This diff renee the
bill proposes to abolish by giving lieuten-
ants the same eligibility to promotion ia
other regiments that higher officers enjoy.
The general features Of the proposed re.
organization OF the staff department are
similar TO those attached to the army ap-
preparation bill by the house ut the last
session and subsequently abandoned. The
1nterchangea bility of line and staff officers
which is a much criticised feature of the
Burnside bill, is not included Fin this sub
stitute.
| Other changes of greater or less import.
ance are made in the details of army or
organization, but the above are the salient
features Of the proposed law. 1t is nov
under consideration by the committee on
the army appropriation bill, and it is be-
lieved the latter will recon- mend to the full
committee the adoption of at least it's more
important provisions If, however, i,
should not be incorporated 10 that bill it
will shortly be introduced either by Atkins
or Hewett, of New York. Cd its own mer.
its as a substitute for the bill of Generals
Burnside and Banning, and the Sherman
family.