The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-13
TINE BURNSIDE ARMY pILL,

1t seems TO be generally conceded that
the Burnside bill for the organization OF
the army cannot pass The bill, as 4 whole,
Will be vigorously opposed by some OF the
ablest members OF both houses, on the
ground 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 spirit Of our institutions. Some
OF its leading opponents do not hesitate to
say that the authority which it gives the
General Of the Army Is not only excessive
but wholly unconstitutional, and are nm.
der the conviction that the bill in its pres
ent shape, or any shape which 1t is likely
70 assume, will fail to receive the approval
OF Congress. Representative Atkins, with
the counsel and suggestive cooperation
Of some OF the ablest officers Of the army,
has prepared another as a substitute,
which, although it has the same general
object as the Burnside bill, differs consid-
erably from the latter in It's methods and
details. Its principal provisions are as
follows: W II :
The,army Is TO be reduced 10 the desired
strength, not by summary dismissals or
enforced retirements, but by the slower
operation Of natural laws. Vacancies Gre
ated by death, casualties and designations
are to be left untitled. Regiments are TO
be consolidated as their effective strength
decreases, and the whole army, line and
staff alike, allowed::to gradually shrink 10
the desired numerical limits. The retired
list instead Of being restricted to lonr
hundred, is to be made as large as the ne
cessities OF the service NAV REQUIRE. and
al othcers without exception are to he
placed on that list as fast as they become
incapacitated from active duty or reach
the age ot slxty.two. In the meantime
the supply of officers from West Point is
to be cut off. The bill provides that
the members ofthe next two classes
graduating from that academy shall,
II they so desire, recover $50 EACH
on the completion Of their studies, and be
permitted TO return to their homes sub.
iect ia. recall ut the expiration Of two
years, II their services are required. The
provisions OF the bill with regard To the
reduction OF the number OF regiments in
the army are similar to those in the Burn.
side bill; the army, however, is placed
under the supreme control OF the Secretary
oiWar, subject onlyito the higherautho
OF the President, as commander in chief
The power ofthe general army, instead OF
being increased, as by the Burnside bill, IL
strictly, limited to its present bounds.
The bill provides for the adoption Of
the battalion system and reeimental
organization, and makes change
in the present rule Of promotion
as regards first and second Lieutenants,
A Lieutenant can now be advanced only
IN regiments to which they are attached,
while Captains and Majors may be pro.
NOTED TO higher ranks in other regiments
belonging to the same army service. This
difference the bill proposes to abolish, by
giving Lieutenants the same eligibility Il
promotion in other regiments that higher
officers now enjoy.
The general features proposed in the re.
organization Of the staff Departments aro
similar to those attached to tho army an.
preparation bill passed by the House last
session, and subsequently abandoneJ
The interChangability OF the line and
staff officers, which is a much critjcised
feature OF the Burnside bill, is not inclnd.
ed in this substitute. -'''N
other changes OF greater or less import.
ance are made in the details OF the army
organization, but the above arc the salient
features proposed by the law. It is now
under consideration by the sub COMMITTEES
on the Army Appropriation bill, and Il ia
believed that the latter will recommend
TO the full committee the adoption of al
least It's more important provisions. II
however, 1t should not be Incorporated in
that bill, it will shortly be introduced
either by Mr. Atkinson Mr.. Hewitt (of New
York;, on its own merits, as a substitute
Tor the bill OF Generals Burnside and Ban.