New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-14
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
RFT,RfMENr OF ARMY OFFICERS.

RETlREMENl OF Al(M1 Of flCEiS.
URGING THAT n BE MADE OBLIGATORY AFTER \
CERTAIN AGE OR PERIOD OF sERvicf-riiE
s,,rr LAW SHOULD GOVERN ARMY AND NAVY.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: The officers of the line Of the regular
Army OF The United states form body OF men not m
crIor in intelligence and professional ability TO that At
tached 10 any other army in existence. very large
proportion Of these men served during the Rebellion ana
have deserved well OF their country. From per'oi
antedaiing the War promotion IN our Arnly mas peen
extremely slow owing large measure TO the waht OF
just and equitable law regulating the reuremen. VI
superannuated md useless ficer' and especially ms
mis- boon noticeable since the close OF iAe war lh'
accncy and esprit de corps OF an army will always d'
mend greatly upon the in,e.encc activity aud interest
exhibited by It's junior officers the development oi
which qualities almost solely upon the prospect oil
carly advanc" In time Of war opportunities are
frequently onecng whereby gallant and mentorous
conduct b. at rewarded by promotion or by the
eonferrug OF SPECIAL houors but 10 the ppinE times Of
peace The iron rilc Of promotion By seniority only
and the inoqu'able operation o: a defective and
Insufficient Law regulating retirement. in time
dull the arlOr OF the most energetic. AMER
the novelty or shout Ter straps has passed Az
bnt the more enthusiastic Of our younger 'ihcS ere
ant 10 fay in their efforts for sHlfimproVemeht OF ~
look for opening, In other walks OF ne where en''u
ments and honors atterd She diligence ana INDUSTRY
fhpV NOuiNt glGtJ nave urNot'N y" t"'
their choice
A largo number Of Army officers marry young
and. a. crscoueucc. frequently fad them
selves au!fathcrs before attaining tn rank OF
field Off ,er some officers have served twenty ana
even twcntydve years when promoted 10 tAelr major
tv Instances might be multiplied but 1t IA suH'i'n
asre TO say that the Army Register shows Captains
oat,n,. from the wear 1852 aud FrstL,ucnauts from
196GG The want OF due influence az tn seat OF COY
einmen; and through the press The lmp'Ssioillb. OF
united action by those most nearly coneer"e" c'lse
orcnt upon their wide dispersion and the iea oil giving
offence to superiors having almost auiocrltc ro"cI
over them have prevented, and, IN fact prccuded su u
concerted measures would have secured 10 TINS class
of public servants the redress OF tins very Substantial
cr,evaucc Ada 20 these mpcdlments tho active per-
en,,ll and interested opposition Of large number OF
the spcranuuatod stationed at and near Nashhs'ol'
and it may easily D, why reform ID TINS matter
has not already obtained.
Almost without exception the great captains OF tAe
,r,rd have conquered their fame uudcr fotyyc years
Of age. And everywhere the WORLDS WORK It's haiu
knocks I'm business lis gigantic schemes OF industry ana
commerce are borne and sustained and executed by the
nerve and sncw OF forty rejoicing in the ray not ny
the rresou,lou the elaboration, o. If you please Inc
wisdom OF slXty-itye. .,,-. a..
what then does the Army wantl Briefly mis-: mat
the limit oil, eIs active service be mar on hi- Plou
of sxty-two, after forty years o. honorable service
he paced upon the reur"d list taiet having Si92yed
hiph rank and ndeYcndcnt COmmand), WIN DIS chufeh
educated aud settled in life and with ample pay 10 Ss
tam him In manner COMFORTING WIN IN, ulsll} .. tic
po,ltion be will then occupy. The young lieutenant mGY
hcn on entering the service, be assured that win o
gence and devotion he may fary none 10 OoS"in tn
rank of field officer before his ell cncy ana enthusldT
are impaired and dulcd by the intrmiues OF age; az ,
Some years since 1t was provided by section l4i4 o,
the Jnied States Revised statutes that IN ne Uhlteu
States Navy when oficer below the RANK OF vice
admiral sixywO years old he shall except H. the se
provided In the next section be retred ny the fesu
from active service" This statute. II VIII be observed
is peremptory. The President snail retlr not may ~
- a., IL,
ment in the army. The consider an ns Nn'Gh
the passage of the law embodied ~ section
mad tnelr origin in Just conception OF the ne ISSUES
of service the Of the Navy and the preslge on
| pbe Notion m home and throughout the world. The
event has Tuy proved the wsd m OF the law under us
operation naval officer may cOnuueuuy eAPeot ~
rise to the rank OF rearadra, 9nu VII he bnst ycors
Tney can look forward to the hour or their ler
VIII he absolute convection that that event will be
overrrJ by fhc law of the land and not by the ca
prcios exercise of the discretionary power OF hr
aacn,ve They feel and know that those who pIectde
d foiro,v tIem viii receive like consideration with
themseves-nO more. no less Iher ueclniH- 49, h
e nosscd I'm cOntentment and peace unemblttered DJ
,ho ssnsn,con that Injustice intrigue has attended
their retirement and uuruflled by constant appreneh
SONS ON 81 be n eontaTy he situation the army officer
he nears the age be may be retired al tn'
| discretion Of the President is uDc0mlOrlaDle, uh
| dicnified and sometimes pltlable the moro self
seeking exhaust every means TO postpone tI u
yearn FOR what they may easily learn TO regard as an ac
Of Injustice And 1t Is scarcely Impossible Or the frcSi
dent 10 his lawful discretion IN any case WIN
ont arousng the bitter resentment OF the fancl VIC
tim and Of ali his personal ana pOhtca acquahl
The inevitable consequence has been thas during c'ra
nerols through q natural reluctance OF the Ilesdeh
10 discriminate, and for other reasons easily hesihtu
officers have been borne on tue active list long ale
their utter aud payable inehclency nave become 'n
| bywOrd OF the army ,
bill has recently been introduced in the Lower HOUSE
at Washington by Nj Butterworth to assimate the law
of retirement in the Army to that in the Navy eVerl
consideration Of right Of justice and or expectancy de
mands that It should speedily become law Inc nS
war found the gular army pased and IorDund az M
ton: let the next which may arise as suddenly nuu DOT
servic, led by i'll their prime ha6ituaed TO lnde
! pendent command. and physically aud mentally capa
BILE Of filing their several stations acceptaOy 10 'hei
| country and nOnorably to themselves . -
| 'f APPLETON D. PALMER.
! Ne,c- York, March IL, 1880.
| CATECHISING A DELEGATE.