The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-06-02

be memorable as the day on which a great peo-
plesunited TO p~erpetuate the memory OF the
soldierpresident, who died at the post Of duty,
where he had been stationed at their COM
mand."
The judiciary committee will act next on the
Texas Pacific land grants. It Is understood the
majority, as In the case of the Northern Pactf-
ic, will be in favor Of the non-forfeiture OF the
lands, although the minority will be larger
than in the other case. Judge Poyson will
ably prepare the report representing the views
OF the minority. He VIII present the minority
report on the Northern Pacific, holding that
the government retains the right Of forfeit
ure. He Is not clear upon the question OF
policy, but does not go into the discussion OF
this point because the attorneys for the rail-
roads confine themselves to the argument of
the question of the power to forfeit the grants.
The Texas Pacific case presents other compii-
cations. In this case the right of a road to sell
its grant before It has earned 1t is involved,
and at least six of the committee are said to be
of the opinion that such a transfer Is not legal;
that a company not building its road forfeits
its grant, and can not turn over it's franchise
to another corporation Ah ~ y,
Dist. Atty. Corkhill, speaking of the Gut
teau case to q Star reporter, said there was on
ly one move which Mr.. Reed could make be-
fore the COURTS, and that was to apply for a
writ of habeas corpus. He said that no court
could grant q writ de lunatico inquirendo, as
had been suggested might be done. Guiteau's
appearance has changed considerably within
a few weeks. He has lost color, and his beard
has been allowed to grow. Just now he seems
to put his entire dependence upon Mr.. Reed,
his counsel, and he seems to be confident that
Mr.. Reed will succeed in securing a respite,
and, perhaps, a communications Of sentence; but,
like Mr.. Reed, he never mentions the name of
Scoville, and seems to have dismissed his rela-
tives from his mind. He is beginning to show
signs of breaking down, fulfilling the predic-
tions that have been made about him by those
in charge of him ut the Jail. His left eye is at
present very much infiamed, and the opinion
of the physician is that this Inflammation has
been brought on by great mental and nervous
excitement. He spends most of the time now
lying upon the cot in his cell, and talks very
little with the guards.
All winter long the subject of compulsory
retirement has been the uppermost topic in
army circles. In the navy compulsory retire
ment was established several years ago, and IL
has worked admirably for the younger men.
In the army promotion has been 30 slow that
young men have grown old as second lieuten-
ants, and many have gone out of the army the
latter part of their life as mere captains. Then
the slowness Of the promotion has been great
ly aggravated by bits of favoritism-promo-
ton outside of all rule or right. Before Gen.
Logan went away to Hot Springs, 1t was pref
ty evident that the compulsory retirement
clause of the army appropriation bill would
be insisted upon, and that some rule of equit-
able retirement would be adopted, so the in
justice and favoritism governing promotions
in the army should be abolished. Gen. Logan's
absence from the city for some time gave the
opponents OF compulsory retirement quite an
advantage. The friends of leading officers In
the army subject to retirement have made u
powerful canvass against the measure. They
used such argumen as these. They would
say: "Why should not an officer be required to
perform work so long as he is capable of doing
il? The retired lists are already too large.
Why should you put men capable Of doing
work in the position of drawing pay from
the government, doing nothing, particu-
larry when these men are more than willingt to
hold the positions they now occupy?" These
arguments have had a great deal of weight.
But since Gen. Logan's return there has been
q change in the situation. He has gone to
work with his customary energy, and to-day
the subcommittee of the senate committee
on appropriations, of which he is chairman,
charged with this subject, has outlined a plan
of retirement which will probably be adopted
by the full committee and reported to the sem
ate. This makes the retirement of army Of
ficers compulsory at the age of 81 years. In
addition to this, officers who have been forty
years in the service, but who have not arrived
at the age of g., may, at their W request, be
No exceptions are made to the com-
retirement. There are two exceptions
o be made in the pay of the officers to be
placed upon the retired list. The general of
he army and the lieutenant general are to be
'etired upon full pay.