The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-02-19

. Ussss. Psspsslslsa ersa > nso..l,san
- vsrshss Dsaas shs Mseieaa1 xssas-
~.
The success Of tho army in procur-
ing Law for the compulsory retire
mens o. officers on reaching the age Of
sixty-four seems 10 have over-ssimu-
lated ingenuity in devising schemes
for further swelling the retired list
One Of these projects appears in the
bill Of Senator Cullom. which declares
that any ofIicer now on the active list
Of the army Who served in the war Of
the rebellion. either in the volunteer
or regular forces. shall. on his applica-
ton 70 the President. be put on the re-
tired list with the rank and retired pay
q the grade next above the one which
he holds at the time Of his application.
This il an extraordinary measure.
and il necessity i in no respect OBJ
viouS II full advantage should be
taken Of il. the entire military estAh-
lishment would 60 20 pieces. Every
general officer in the service. every
Colonel commanding . regiment and
nearly every field officer served in the
civil war. and hence would be able to
demand retirement The war ended
only little more than twenty years
ago. and il is therefore evident that .
very large part Of the higher officers
Of the army would be included in the
privileges Of this bill. and nearly all
those occupying the most responsible
.<~.:ss>~. ~. >~r.- .~o:n.~. - ~,..,I
not retire under its authority would be
the younger ones, who have taken
part in no war on . large scale In
doubtedly such scheme would in
crease the flow Of promotion. but il
would make no account Of the inter-
ests of the country.
1t may be said that there would be
little anxiety to give up full pay and
active service for three-fourfhs pay and
retired service. and that this bill IS only
designed to open the retired list. now
limited by law. for the benefit Of
small number Of officers But it really
does much more 1t offers : premium
on applications for retirement Ii gives
the applicant the pay of the grade
above his own There is much COM
plant Of the length Of time that elapses.
during peace. between one promotion
and another. Hence there Is good
reason TO suppose that while an officer
who Is within few years Of an ex-
pected advancement in grade might
prefer 70 wait for it. officers who have
just received a promotion may be glad
TO take three-fourths Of : rate Of pay
higher than the one on which they are
likely to remain for years. especially As
they would get this paw with absolute
freedom from active duty. and the full
command of their time. Thus each
set Of promotions might be followed
by temptations 70 retire. and these. in
turn. BY others 80 keeping the service
constantly unsettled
But even were as little advantage
taken Of the privileges of the scheme as
it, projectors seem to expect. il is none
the less based on an unsound principle
Why should the most experienced off,
GERS in the service be invited to leave
il, and be even tempted BY the pros
pect of retiring on higher rank and
paw? The knowledge gained BY the
actual command Of large bodies Of
troops in long war will disappear
from the ser-ice fast enough by natural
casualties and by the enforced retire.
ment for age. There are many officers
in The army only q little more than
forty years old. who served during the
civil war. and are now in the prime Of |
life. Being thus full Of the possibility |
Of usefulness for many years TO come.
and ia sound health. such officers sp-
should no; be allowed 10 step
aside. enjoying thrce-fourths Of an in |
creased pay through the remainder Of |
Life. even should they desire to do 50.
~ y. SUN.