The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-09
The reguLW circulation Of The SUN for The
week ending March 8. 1879, uds;
Army Reduction.

Army Reduction.
Ever since the year 1875 Congress has
been engaged on the task OF army reduc-
tom and now four years Of toll at every
session, regular and extra, OF two Con-
crosses, together with arduous vacation
labors by military committees and joint
commissions, have resulted in utter failure,
the army being still substantially as it was
before the prodigious work began
And yet this problem so burdensome and
battling to modern legislators, was solved
by Congress, under like circumstances,
threescore years ago, with ease, and in a
way whose simplicity was a guarantee OF
success.
The close OF the war with England, in
1915 left the regular army, Independently OF
State militia and volunteers, with an actual
strength OF about $1,000 officers and men.
President MADISON issued his proclamation
declaring that peace had been restored,
Feb is, 1915; and on the Sd of March he
gave his approval to an act OF Con-
gress which declared that tho mill
tary peace establishment should con-
sist OF due proportions Of artillery in
fantry, and rilcmen, not exceeding, In
the whole, 10000 men. At the date OF
that proclamation of peace the army con-
tanned forty-six regiments OF infantry, four
of riaemen, four OF artillery, and one OF
Dragons. Had these regiments been filed
TO their authorized limits, the entire mill
tary establishment would have been up
ward of $1,000; but as fact there were not
more than $1,000 enlisted men and about
1920 oficers-the latter, by the way, being
about the number now in service for our
present army OF $4,000 men.
Congress, fixing its maximum at 10000.
and making some specific provisions, such
as that the engineer corps and the artillery
regiments should be retained provided that
President MADISON should cause the officers
and men TO be arranged in the different
arms as might be bost for the service, and
that all supernumerary officers, non-com-
missioned officers, musicians, and privates
should be discharged from the service Of
the United States from and after the ensu-
ing list OF May-two months distant-or as
soon as circumstances would permit.
II was done as Congress required. The
1900 officers. general, staff, and regimental,
were reduced to 400; out OF the large crop
OF general officers only two Maior-Generals,
Brown and JACKSON, and only four Briga-
diers, MACoMB, GAINES. SCOTT, and RIPLEY
(all previously INDEPENDENTLY were re-
tanned, and their first work was to help the
Secretary uf Wal TO carry cut tho will OF
Congress in the way best suited to the de-
mands of the military service; finally, the
army was reduced tc eight regiments of in
fantry, four Of artillery, one Of light artil-
lery, and one OF rihemen, making in all
$3.50 enlisted men.
Congress in 1879 cannot, for obvious reasons
conflde discretionary power to RuTHER-
FORD b. HAYES like that which Congress In
1915 confided TO JAMES MADISON. But the
simplicity Of that earlier method is to he
noted in contrast with the interminable
wrangle over professional details which,
after four years, has resulted in doing abso-
lutely nothing at ALL In 1915. instead Of
confusing itself with a multitudinous array
OF documents, arguments, protests, Pc
titions, and counter petitions, regarding the
particular number of lieutenants in one
bureau and the particular number OF majors
In another, il concerned itself first with fix
ing the number to which the officers and
men should be brought down. 1t left the
details TO be arranged by men whose bust
ness it was to arrange them, and to make
the best army possible according to the size
II allowed. Had not this intent been prop
erly carried out, probably Congress would,
at its next session, have interviewed and
caused it TO be carried out. But there was
no such trouble.
The reorganization OF 1915 was not accom-
plished quite 50 soon as Congress prescribed
Its date was TO DO May /, "or as soon as cir
cumstanccs shall permit" The board OF
officers had their report ready before the
middle Of May, and on the 18th the orders
were issued from headquarters prescribing
the new establishment. They were at once
carried into effect, and the army remained
substantially as so fixed for half dozen
years, when, by the Act OF March 2, 1921, in
like simple way. further reduction was
effected to 5,642 enlisted men, the total OF
officers and men being little less than six
thousand.
The curtain which rolled down on the
Forty-hith Congress dropped also, 1t is 10
be hoped, on the final scene OF the four years
performance entitled How Not u Reduce
the Army" When the curtain is rung up
again, it should arise on a different and
ehoTv Ger performance.