New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-12
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
WHO WILL BE PAYMASTER.GENERAL
CANDIDATES FOR THE VACANCY CAUSED BY
GENERAL ROCHESTERS RETIREMENT.
o the Editor Of The Tribune.

OADLDAIES FOR THE VACANCY CAUSED BY
GENERAL RoCHEsTER's RETIREMENT.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; great deal Of interest is manifested in Army
circles relative to the appointment Of Paymaster
General to fill the vacancy which February
10 by the retirement, in accordance with the statute
Of General Rochester, the present incumbent Under
existing law the President may select any officer Of
the pay corps. whatever his rank. TO fill this vacancy
1t is argued by that what IS called the rule Of
seniority should govern. which would limit the
President TO the appointment OF the oncer standing
on the list next below the retiring chief. thus defeat
Ing the intent Of the law applying To- all the stan de
partments, which enacted for the purpose Of
protecting the Government against tho possible drift
ing 10 tile head Of these important bureaus OF the
War Department Of incompecnts. who. by virtue Of
longevity, had reached the senior place. The law
does not prevent the selection" Of the senior but
he has no more claim 10 the place than The junior
As matter Of fac the socallcd rule OF seniority has
never been observed In such On the contrary
most Of the appointments Of chiefs all the staff dc
partments and corps OF the Army since $500 have
been made from officers who not the seniors In
rank. and In many instances the appointees stood
quite low on the list
The object Of the law is TO enable the appointing
power 10 select the best and most capable officer Of
the corps for It's head For the coming vacancy
there several candidates. the most prominent Of
whom are these Rodney Smith. the senior colonel.
who went into the Pay Department IN 1854. his first
entry into the service. and by the rigid rule Of pro
motion obtaining up 20 the grade Of colonel, has
reached the head OF the llst and whose claims are
chiefly based that fact; Lieutenant COlOncl @. VI.
Terrell, whose service dates from led2, and whose
claims that he IS Indiana man. PERSONAL
friend Of the President and brother to our Minister
TO Belgium Brcvct Lieutenant Colonel y. Is. Carey.
who Is the senior I'm total length of Army service
Of all the officers Of the Pay Department. He entered
the Military Academy from Connecticut In l-3i. wa
graduated I'm 1-5- served iu the line lu the nics OF
lieutenant and captain until 1857 when he Wa APP
pointed 70 the PAY Department He has had thor
Ourh military education. nine year experience ~
the line. with much service In the Comm>>arv and
Ouarcrmastcr's Departments and with rs good a
record Of duty done I'm the Pay Department as any
officer TN IL. II has been prominently put forward
that Colonel Carey married New England lady; who-'
uncle. some twenty YEAR aitcrWard hl- become
secretary Of War II this Is the only objection to hi
appointment, aud the gentlemen In whose interest ti'
arrumcHt is Used have better grounds ior opposing
h; candidacy and 10 thus advance their own. there Is
manifest wisdom iu tlc law which enable, the prc,i-
dent 20 make . selection. RETIRED OFFICER.
New York, Feb. II. 1890.