Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-17

BY the act of October / 1890, promo
tions below the rank of u general officer
are hereafter to be made lineally
throughout each arm OF the service. The
operation of the law is postponed in the
case of present first lieuteuants only
Whatever advantages there might have
been in the old system of reglmental pro-
motion, they were such as would prevail
in Large army rather than in a small
one and in war than i'll time of peace. On
their present basis it certainly could not
increase the esprit de corps of individual
regiments. The change is one eminently
just to officers aud is fittingly uaugurated
IN connection with its companion meas
uTe III the same act.
EXAMINATIONS FOR PROMOTION.
That measure provides for q system of
examination for ell officers of the army
below the rank of major, and makes
their right to promotion conditional on
them. They are exceptional provisions,
however, In the interests of officers who
came in from the volunteer service.
The measure as whole is one of great
importance to the efficiency and high
professional standing OF the officers of
the army. Although In keeping with the
practice of all the great European pow
ers, 1t is thoroughly American in theory,
based on d recognition of merit and
capability. Heretofore officers have been
entitled to promotion IN regular rote,
without any regard to competence or in
competence, efficiency or iueflicency.
The new law makes no change in the rule
of promotion hb seniority, and the ex-
amlnations are in no sense competitive,
but they do require an officer TO show al
ha uIt
ment 10 which, if qualified, the law en-
titles him. 1t is believed that its ten
dency must be to increase the zeal and
industry of young officers.
COURTS-NIARTIAL.
There have been three measures of
particular Importance to the adminlstra-
ton of military justice. BY the act of
April / the time within which person
can be prosecuted for desertion has been
limited to two years. The act of October
l, iustituting summary courts for the
trial OF certain petty offenses, provides b
prompt and very satisfactory method for
the adjustment of such matters. 1t will
Oftentimes save the soldier from long
precedent confinement in the guard
house and relieve the investigation OF his
case from the cumbrous machinery of a
formal court The interests of
the accused are carefully guarded by The
terms of the law, and the right is
especially reserved to him to demand and
receive trial before court martial if
he so desires.
In tins connection l may remark that,
in view of particular cases called to my
attention where there seemed to have
been q failure of justice in the trial of
enlisted men, L caused au order to be
issued on March IS last directing that on
the request OF any prisoner a suitable
officer should be detailed as counsel TO
defend him.
The nl-defned limits OF punishment in
the articles of war have been corrected
by the act of September 81, authorizing
you, when punishments are left by those
articles TO the discretion OF the court
martial, to prescribe and define limits
which III time of peace they shall not e1-
coed. AS thirty-two of the thirty four
articles of war under which enlisted men
can be tried leave the punishment en-
tirely to the discretion of the courtmar-
tial, the only check heretofore upon
their variableness and the disparity of
punishment prevailing in different de-
partments has been the executive Glenn
ency 1t has been the aim of the de-
lhTllltul, Dl u sNsl6Ll VI TeIulSslOu OIL
sentences deemed excessive, to partially
remedy that evil, q course only defen-
sible on the ground of its imperative
necessity, since il tended to impair one
of the most salutary elements of all pun
ishmeut, its certainty, and to pervert
the proper use Of the pardoniug power.
The act places the whole subject upon q
very proper and satisfactory basis. 1t
l.
though the legislation referred to was
enacted too late to have had effect dur
ing the present year, still the number of
courtsmartial was reduced TO 1882 the
past year from 1899 the year before, a
decrease of Ply, or Il per cent. This in
itself is indicative of the improving tone
of the army.
COAST DEFENSE.
1t has been our traditional policy from
the first to avoid entanglng alliances.
We are separated by an ocean from the
powers which maintain great armies.
The military resources Of the nation have |