Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-07
Secretary Proctor Wants to Make a Sol
dier's Life More Attractive.

Secretary Proctor Wants to Make Sol
dier's Life More Attractive.
WASHINGTON, September 6th.- The sub.
ject of desertion from the army will be
treated at length in the forthcoming report
of the Secretary of War. 1t is one that has
had Secretary Proctor's earnest considera-
ton from the beginning, as well as that of
the Adjutant- Generals staff
Various changes in camp and barracks
life, with a view to increasing the soldiers
comfort ard interest in his command, has
been instituted, notably the consolidated
mess and canteen systems. These have
worked well wherever tried. and the result
has been that the percentage of deserters
has been decreased. Since 1883, of the de-
serters 95 per cent occur among men serv-
ing their first and second years of enlist
ment.
In May Major Theo. Schwan, Assistant
AdjuIant-General, under instructions from
Secretary Proctor, made a tour of inspection
of the recruiting de OTIS at Davins Island,
New York; Columbus, Ohio and Jefferson
Barracks, Missouri.
The Major is himself soldier who came
up from the ranks, and his report to
the Adjutant General contains numerous
suggestions, including the draft of bill
prepared by him last winter after close
VI Tue Is u,
in his opinion, to lessen the evil of deser-
ton.
Msjor Schwan SAYS: Whatever causes
of discomfort may at one time have existed,
such as lack of provision or care for the
physical comfort and needs of the enlisted
soldier or unreasonable demand upon, and
unfair and harsh treatment of him, has
been removed so far as it is in the power of
the military authorities to do so, and cases
are rare where failure of the Government
to make good its obligations can be truth
fully alleged as affording even the SEM
blance of justification for desertion."
Among other things Major Schwan's bill
provides safe guards against readmission to
service of "repeaters," or professional de-
| serters. Another provision of the bill is
that one-third of the soldiers pay for the
first year shall be retained, until the dis
| charge, and forfeited if he does not serve
| out his term.
1t also provides for the adoption of the
| British custom OF permitting enlisted men
| to purchase their discharges.
Acting Adjutant- General Mckeever and
other officers of the staff, have, at Secretary
| Proctor's request, submitted memoranda on
| the subject of Cesertions. Acting Adiutant.
| General McKeever says, in his opinion, the
! causes of desertion are disappointment al
| the realities of military life. Employment
| o. soldiers on labor work without extra
pay, inequality of punishment as inflicted
| by Court martlals, by company administra.
| tions, the tyrannical conduct sometimes
| toward enlisted men by officers, more es.
pecially the First Sergeants, and above all
the too-often unnecessary restraints i'm,
posed on the soldier. He also believes the
largest number of desertions are American
| born.
The following remedial measures are
suggested: Limit the term of enlistment in
| first enlistment to three years. Re-enlist
ment to five years. Grant discharges OF
payment of certain sums, graded according
to length of service. Discharge men found
to be incoIrigibly bad and without char
acter, and thus bar their re-entry into the
service. Have a graded code of punish
ments for. the guidance of Courts martial
secure better class of non-commissioneC
officers, and especially First Sergeants, by
increasing their pay. Make the arrest anC
punishment of deserters more certain thar
at present by increasing the reward.