The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-02-12
THE ARMY RE-ORGANIZA-
TON SCHEME.

- r.
The Banning army reorganization
scheme, minus its most Objectionable
feature, has been attached to the army
appropriation bill. 1t relntes to the re-
organization of companies, battalions
and regiments, and the mastering ont
of the service of su~pernumerary officials.
The amendment provides for the con-
solidation of the twenty-five infantry
regiments by reducing the number to
eighteen, and disposes Of one hundred
and thirty-six commissioned officers in
the line of the entire army.
The cavalry regiments are reduced to
eight instead of ten, but because of the
addition of another battalion there is
no reduction Of officers in this branch
Of the service, which is deemed import
ant in view of the extended frontier
that the cavalry has to protect and pat
rol. The artillery regiments remain at
five, as at present, with a reduction of
fifteen officers. 1t was deemed expedi-
ent not to reduce the number of artiIle-
ry regiments because of their necessity
in guarding and protecting our coast
defenses and as a nucleus for a large
increase in cast Of n wal with any for
eign power.
1t provides for the use of the artille-
ry and cavalry as infantry and for the
use of the Infantry as cavalry, as under
existing laws. 1t provides that no con-
tract surgeon shall be employed except
In cases of emergency, approved by the
general commanding the army.
The reserved list for supernumerary
officers was agreed upon as the best
plan to dispose of the large number Of
surplus officers, giving those who may
wish a chance to resign upon favorable
terms and those unHtoor duty either to
be mustered out with n liberal gratuity
or retired. This reserved list shall be
maintained for three years or until con-
gress shall otherwise direct. The retir-
ed list Of officers is getting to be a hea-
Wy burden to the taxpayers of the coun-
try, and the number of officers now try
ing to get on that list strengthens that
opinion. All of the officers upon the
reserved list, until finally disposed of,
can be used either as instructors in
colleges or schools, or they may take
the place of civilians now employed by
tue quartermaster general in investiga-
ting the claims at a salary Of 1925 per
month and expenses paid, or employed
In the pension office in working off the
large number of cases that have accu-
INFLATED there. The bill makes n large
reduction in the pay department. The
amendment makes large reductions in
the staff departments generally, be-
cause the staff is an expensive part of
the army, and in fact it is getting to
believe that 1t is the army. 1t increas-
es the number Of officers that may be
detailed to colleges MS Instructors to sew
enty-six instead of thirty, as now pro-
vided by law, to be distributed among
the states according to population,
when said officers are not required for
active duty in the field. This is n wise
provision. By a proper distribution of
these officers to the different states, IN
structing the youth Of the country in
the arts and sciences of war, many
young men would thus receive a militia
ry education that might in Ease OF wal
be valuable to the country, for expert
ence has proved that no country in the
world has a better citizen soldiery than
has the United States, 0 has any one
a citizen soldiery that will more prompt
ly respond to their country's call than
ours. Hence the advantages to be de-
rived from disseminating as much mill
tary knowledge in N schools and col
leges as possible.