Arizona silver belt., 1889-12-07
The Army.

following suggestions in his first an nualreport:
 Unnecessary restraint should be re- moved and the soldiers fife in post be made as comfortable and pleasant as possible. The company IS natural unit of military organization, and in our present service oItentlmes the on ly possible one. Every captain should he to his company as 8 father, and should treat it as his family, as his children A check roll-eall has re- gently been substituted for tattoo. so that men are no longer required to turn out at 9 p. m. iD cold or sterm. It is believed that the establishment of canteens, which will soon, to great extent, take the place of the post-tra- der's store, will be salutary. Since the figures show that it is principally recruits CT new men who desert, great care and painsiaking IS required in the recruiting service itself It is ques- tion whether the location of recruiting offices in or near large cities secures the best material, and the subject of fegimental recruiting has been con sidered. As an experiment, the de- pertinent has authorized the llth In. fantry, winch now occupies number of posts in Northern New York, to do its own recruiting in the towns and villages within convenient reach of its respective stations, The department will. as far es possible, assign recruits from one section to the same company or regiment.
 With yiew 10 he improvement or the recruiting service, an estimate ior an increased appropriation for the aext fiscal year has been submitted. If it can be successfully improved thereby, however, many times the amount will be saved These and kin- dred questions, so far as they lie with in the power Of the department under existing laws wIli receive earnest con- sideratjon. The piih of the whole question is 10 make the service worth seeking, and tken enough good men will seek t and be glad 10 stay in t. It Is an instructive fact that the sol diers in the col0red regiments rarely desert, whereas the percentage of de- sertion in the rest of the army is 50 large. Their previous condition in ciyIl life largely explains 1t. To the colored man the service offers a career; to the white man too often only q refuge There Is now but little incen- tive for young and intelligent men to make a profession of soldering. The hops of achieving a commission is but slight The most deserving are made warrant officers; but even then they receive less compensation than the pri. vate soldier who Is placed upon extra duty
 WHAT THE SECRETARY RECOMMENDS.
 To a considerable extent, the reme- dies lie wtth Cong ess, and l submit  the following recommendations:
 l, Make the pay of non-commis- stoned officers ofiBfantry, cavalry, and artillery, tbe same as now established by law for like grades m the engin- cers. More bright and ambitious young men might be thus induced to enter the service.
 ?. Give the soldier an opportunity to 90 improve himself that when be leaves tbe service be may be better fitted for civil lie than when he en- tered It. Poet schools should be es- tablished where not only instruction by lessons and lectures should be giv- en in matters pertaining to military service, but also in the elementary branches of mathematics, science. me- chanics, surveying, engineering, draw ing, etc, All officers are qualified to supervise or do this work, It would have no tendency to relax discipline, but would establish new relation between the company officers, eSpe- the subalterns aud enlisted men, that would be beneficial to both and help to remedy some of the evils of the pres ent military administration. Some thing has already been done in this direction, and several schools have baen established. Officers who have served on college detall are especially fitted for this work. But an appro. priaton IS necessary for books, appar- atus, school rooms, etc, in order to give opportunities for fair trial of the plan.
 5. Authorize re-enlistments for one or more years at posts where soldier is discharged. A man will sometimes re-enlst for short time when lie will not for the full term. If the Govern ment is not subjected to the cost of transportation and inspection the great objection to shortterms of services IS removed. Men re-enlisted for short term would not desert.
 4. Make a code of punishment suit