Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-11-22
THE RET RED LIST.
New TsIie in the Cases of Generals Pleas
anton. Smith and Aver,il,

anton. Smith and Averll,
The increase. OF late years, in the ap
preparations requ red for the army re
tired list has led 10 a more careful scru
/ tiny of its uses. Ole OF these uses
that of furnishing rank and pay for ex
officers whom for one reason o. anoth-
er Congress, desires to restore. Just
after the war some officers of the regu.
lar army voluntarily withdrew to civil
life whose meritorious careers would
have justified their rema ming in the
service. They, perhaps, became rest
less when the excitement of long
war had been succeeded by the inactiv.
ity Of "a peace that promised to last for
many years; or. in some cases. dissatis-
faction or wartime controversies with
officers who had come into high com
mands or influence may have caused their
designations, or the contrast in being
reduced from the command Of divis-
ion or "A corps in the volunteers to that
Of company or battalion in the regu-
lars may not have been agreeable. For
any one of these or dozen other rea-
sons designations were offered when
in subsequent years the desire to get
buck TO the army. either for the honor
or pay became very strong.
Yet to restore such officers to active
command would be AN injustice TO those
already in the army. since all below
them would be thrown back to that ex-
tent in the path Of romotion. In some
eases. also, the restored officers have
boon We along toward the age at which
withdrawal from active commands is
compulsory Accordingly it became
the custom go - ie-js ate that such otli-
GERS could b9 tpaoia.cl and then i'm
mediatoy retired itbalng providelthat
the retired iist ~Aoald be Increased to
that extent. Then the question arose
a. 20 what rank should be given to Off
GERS thus restored. Bills introduced
for this purpose showed a great variety
of views on this subject, ana bar:ln to
assume the form of favor or caprice.
During the present session, however.
the Military Committee of the Senate
has adopted the rulc Of not recommend
ing for any restored officer a higher
rank than the one ne held in the regu-
lar army at the time OF leaving it.
Sometimes this rule seems to work
rather hardly, and to confer rank low
or than many Congressman would like
to give. But il has the great advantage
of uniformity, and ofputting an end to
solicitation FOR a higher rank. Under
this rule General Aveaill was restored
to the army with the rank OF Captain
on the retired list, when the original
PROPOSE ion was to give aim that of Col
onel. The House bill. also appointing
and rotildng General 4. J. Smith with
the RANK OF Brigalier-General. has lust
been amended in the Senate so as to give
him the rank OF Colonel. since he was
Colonel OF the Seventh Cavalry when
he resigned. Now it would seem that
the rule may also work with the House
bill appointing aud restoring General
lieasanton, which has at various STAGES
given him various ranks. but is likely 10
settle on that Of Major. in the conference
which now has charge of il.
since it was while holding that rank
that he resigned about twenty wears
lgo. ~ Washington Letter.