Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-17
ARMY REFORM FAVORED.
important Recommendation Of the SEQ.
rotary Of War ssfor Good Of Service"
A CHANCE FOR PRIvArKs TO CLINE UP AND BErrKR
PAT FOR SoN-coMMIssroNrD OFFICERS FAVORED
REORGANIZATION OF ZEE Aanr-rHE ANNUAL
IsrINArHs

In the line Of the more domestic matters per-
tanning 70 the army Secretary Proctor In his
annual report notes several interesting facts
In the effort to reduce the evil Of desertions
the Secretary would like TO have something
done to make the service more attractive, and
amoug other things he recommends that the
pay Of non-commissioned officers be increased
IScRHlsKD PAY FOR NoN-CoxMrssroNED oTFIcKRs
He says: 1.-The pay Of second lieutenant il
S116.67 per month, that Of . first sergeant
only S22, and unfortunately this difference in
pay largely regulates the actual distance be-
tween their relative positions. That distance
is too great. The individual elements Of the
army are separated by too large gap for the
best interests Of either. The pay OF nom
commissioned officer il but little more than .
private, and the chance to rise above that po-
sition very slight There is little inducemont
for a bright and energetic man, in a country of
SO great possibilities as ours, TO either seek or
to desire to remain In the military service. II
would be step in the right direction 70 in
crease somewhat the pay Of the non-commis-
service may find in 1t the possibility of mod
est future"
PROMOTION YoR PRIvATEs.
Further, he proposes to oil the machinery BY
which enlisted men may climb into the higher
grades. He therefore remarks: "Any enlisted
man of two years service, who is q citizen Of
the United States. should, under certain fxed
rules, be permitted to compete for . commits
sion. By this means the operation Of the law
every man entering the army would be i'm
pressed with the fact that he had an exact and
even chance for q commission. This informa-
ton extensively disseminated would, it II
hoped, further recommend the army to desir-
able men. With your approval bill embody-
respect to this matter, will be submitted to
Congress at an early date"
THE ARMY ''FoUR HUNDRED"
The Secretary talks freely about the army's
flour hundred" meaning the limited retired
list He thinks there should be some legisla-
ton that will open up the limited list to other
officers, by transferring some of the -four hun
dred" to the unlimited list, and thus relieve
the army of its large stock of officers who at
present are useless to the service and prevent
promotion.
ARMY REORGANIZATION FAvoRRD.
The Secretary approves Of the change Of the
army organization to the "three battalion for
and asks for legislation ON the SUBJ
ject in order that the system may be made
uniform.
He reports that up to date forty five books
OF the rebellion records had been distributed
up to June 80 Seven more had been stereo-
typed and twelve indexed, bringing the Official
accounts up to the end Of 1868.
MILITARY sIaNALrNa.
He notes the growing attention throughout
the army to the matter of military signaling,
and says that it is evident that the division of
the weather work from the signal bureau will
result benefcially to both. During the past
year 393 line officers, representing for the first
time in many years every regiment Of the line,
have been under instruction % well as 1900
enlisted men.
1t has been the policy to concentrate troops
at larger posts as rapidly as possible, and six
teen posts have thus been abandoned and the
reservations turned over to the Interior Depart
ment for private use by the people. During the
year forty-two post traders have been disarmed
OF their licenses, two new ones being granted,
leaving but thirty-four in the service. The
recommends legislation that will
allow the detail Of seventy-five officers for the
purpose Of giving military instruction at col
eyes, this being at least one for every million
OF inhabitants at the last census.
THE ESTIMATES.
The estimates Of the department for the next
fiscal year ending June 30. 1892, are as follows:
Salaries and contingent expenses. e2,O74, 4SO 90
Military establishments; support Of
the army and Military Academy. &c, l60, 991 "a
Public works. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10, 709, 288 SO
objects. ........... 4,805, 226.0T