National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-12-24
ARMY RETIREMENT.
Compulsory Retirement az - Fixed Age
AdNocntrd by Prnnlincnt Onlccrs.

Asst. Paul journalist has been interviewing Gen.
cral Terry aud the other most prominent army
officers ON duty Mt the headquarters of the Depart
mcnt Of Dakota, with the following results: Gen
eral Terry said "There is no doubt that mnny
men the age ofsixty two are tit for the perform
RnCc of all military duties except active duty in
the field. Some men Oithat age are nc even for field
service but the object of retirement Is not simply
to Withdraw from the service men Whose
Of duty; 1t Is also TO keep up current of
promotion. This is the more important
object of the two, Without promotion the army
stignntes and grows hopeless and inefficient. An
men must have something TO look forward to-
some objects of ambition such objects arc
vice. Other nations have found the system of com
pulsory retirement necessary, and have adopted
systems which are far more radical than the one
which is proposed for our service. When retire.
mcnt Is not compulsory room Is left for the ex-
crcise of iavoriism and ntrgues, which are prelu-
dicial in the extreme TO the morale of the army
l think that every officer whose retirement win
promote his Juniors should be retired when he Il
| sixty'two and the hgherthe rank thcmore reason
Is there for his retirement for greater Is the num-
Der of those whom his retirement viii promote.
| General Samuel Breck, acknowledgement of the
department, expressed limselfn iavorof compul.
sorry retirement ut a fixed age, and thinks that
sixty two Is probably the best age in our service
The strife for place that observation-disclosures optional
with the President has most demorHli2lng inau'
ence OH the military service, concentrating ntIen'
| ton more on Washington thano the performance
Of duty, with strong disposition to adhere to tina
Colonel w. ". Sanders. acting Inspector general
| Is in favor OF compulsory retirement ut siXty.two
but prefers to have the thirty clause embodied
IN the present law retained, If there shall be al!
| legislation on the subject.
| General William Myers, chief quareTmaster
favors compulsory retirement at sixty. two years
| In so small an army as ours rapid promotion Il
| one Of the best means Of yitali2ng the military
| establishment, The retired list should be withOu
| limit All officers, without discrimination or favor
should be placed on the list as soon they aItaiI
| the prescribed age.
General NJ X. Morgan, chief commissary, is II
favor Of compulsory retirement at sixty, siNty.twu
or any other age that may be deemed best. On,
feature of the present law which is especially un
Just and injurious TO the army is the power whiCl
Il places In the hands of the President to fix upoI
| one man TO be set aside and for personal or polit
iCal retain another who Is older, higher II
| rank, and really not so well fitted for duty
Colonel W.. A. Rucker chief paymaster be
lieves compulsory retirement al sixty-two II bcne
fetal not only TO the Government, but TO the office
| himself for In most instances man Rt sixty hA
| reached an age when his usefulness in active ser
vice is practically at an end,
In this connection IL Is proper to state that cir
culaT letter addressed 20 the Hon. Benjamin But
terwOrth, OF Ohio, who has charge OF the matter II
the House OF Representatives, has been prepared
embodying In general terms the sentiments enun
clated In the above interviews,