Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-08
Tie ScM Army Hill.

is the army bill going 10 pass asked
STAR reporter OF General sherman yesterday.
B." You ought to answer that question. was
the Generals reply. Whether ii is 10 pass or
not. viii have 10 be settled by Congress. am
through with il. | have furnished all the papers
and documents bearing on the subject to Con-
gresS, ana have no more 70 do with it. viii
make no effort TO have it pass, although am
In favor OF 1t. AS far as am concerned il will
take its course, without any effort on my part
before Congress in its favor"
Nd,:-" Has the early consideration OF the
Oil attracted many officers to the city,"
Shermda:-''It 1t has not. There are no more
officers here now than usual. The impression
that they intended to flock here, and the state
ment that they are already here in large num-
DerS. are both incorrect"
SfGr:-HThe staff Is principally opposed TO
the bill, fs it not? =
SheJmaa:-"Yes; they are making the prin-
clpal fight against it., The provision of the bill
for an interchange Of line and staff duty is their
principal objection to it. | believe. They do
not | suppose, like to give up their positions in
the centers civilization for active duty on the
frontier in rotation. There are plenty of young
officers on the frontier who see years and years
of duty In the toughest places and in the rough
est climates without ever a days duty in the
cities, where they can comfortably live. They
think it nothing but right, and fair play that
they should have turn about With the more
favored officers OF the staff. I think so. too
and besides it would familiarize line officers
with staff duties and staff officers with line
duties, which would be found of great advan-
tage in cases OF emergency
.StdT:-"The point most frequently made
against the bill is that it places the general OF
the amy above the secretary OF War; that it
makes the Secretary OF War somewhat of a
clerk to the general OF the army
ShefmGn:-"l know it; but there is nothing
TO sustain that point. The bill does not place
the secretary OF War under the general OF the
army. The President OF the United States Is,
by the constitution, commander-in-Chief of the
amy. The Secretary OF War is his lieutenant.
and his powers cannot be abridged except by a
constitutional amendment. The bill in this re-
spect merely provides how an order OF the Sec
ret3ry of War shall be conveyed. Whether IL
shall go through the general OF the army or
whether through a corporal. to speak some
what figurauVely Ii orders 10 the comIniS-
Saly general, the qlarternaster general, the
chief OF ordnance, DC, go through the general
OF the army, that does not abi1dge In any way
the power OF The secretary Of War. 1t merely
gives the general OF the army a more complete
supervision Of the entire service. He knows
what is going on. and is given authority over
those branches OF the service which | think
would bring the army under more complete
scrutiny. supervision and discipline. The gen
eral OF the amy is not put above the secretary
of War by this bill. He is merely given more
complete control OF the forces under him"
StGg:-'' Do YOU think the bill is without de
fectS?'
!SheJ1aon:-"No: there are a number of minor
defects in it that could be remedied. Some OF
the smaller details could be changed greatly for
the good OF the measure
STAFF OFFICERS OPINION.
The reporter also entered into conversation
concerning the bill with one OF General Sher-
Hail Sjdll. / Ills Officer HAS spent nearly all
his life on the frontier, and has had about year
and a half STAFF duty. The bill would put me out
on the piairS again." he said; ''Dut | am in
favor Of it. It's passage would be for the benefit
OF the army, and personal considerations should
be dropped While discussing it. The relations
OF the staff and line, which 1t clearly defines.
should be established. Under the present cir
cu1nStanceS do not eNaggerate when say that
II the general OF the army should drop in upon
any arsenal, a first lieutenant who might be in
charge could kick him out, saying that he had
no authority to allow him TO Inspect the arsenal
flom his corps commander. That's just it. The
different corps have advanced to where they
are almost separate from the executive organ
Zatl0n OF the army, and recognize no general OF
The army: only the commanders OF their diff
felcnt departments. |, for one, think that this
should be changed as this Burnside bill does
change it. Gen. Hancock is 100 well known for
his business and integrity to suppose for an
instant that he would favor any measure that
had for its intent the harming OF his brother
officers. and he favOrS the bill. l am perfectly
satisfied with it, although, as have said before
1t puts me in the field in turn. / am glad that
the army is dealt with so fairly. The next time
as in the last, we might not come out so easily"