Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-15
ARMY CHANGES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ARIZONA
MAY BE DISCONTINUED.
The District to be Divided Between the
Departments of Texas and California.
Steps to Prevent the Move.

About a month ago semi-oficial in
formation was received at army head
quarters in this city that with the
retirement of General Grierson from
the service, on the Sth of July, changes
would be made in the distribution of the
business of the department OF war that
would result in the dismemberment of
the military department of Arizona, a
portion of the force now retained at the
headquarters of that department in this
city being removed to San Francisco and
the remainder to San Antonio, Texas, in
the department of Texas, division of the
Missouri. This news came through pri-
vate, though entirely trustworthy chan
nels, and has since been corroborated by
other information received from two dis
tinct sources.
One of the causes of this rumored
change is the fact that there is preju-
dice in the mind of the commander of
the army against placing a colonel in
command of a department. Until re-
Gently the department of Arizona was in
charge of Colonel Grierson, but that Off
Ger has now become brigadier-general,
and with his retirement the army will be
left short one general officer. A bill is
now before congress to revive the grade
of lieutenant-general, and unless that
becomes law, which is problematic, a
colonel must command one OF the depart
ments under the present condition of
things.
There has also been a complaint made,
groundless though it is, that the main
tenance of department headquarters in
this city is an unnecessary expense. 1t
is stated that considerable saving will
be made by dividing the department of
Arizona between the departments of
California and Texas, and transacting
all the business at San Antonio and San
Francisco. The change also includes
the abolition of the department of the
Columbia, with headquarters at Van
couver barracks, and the transfer of the
business of that department to San
Francisco.
The rumor of the change first reached
the ears of Major Bonebrake last Tues
day, and he presented the matter to the
secretary of the chamber of commerce
That official, with Major Bonebrake, sent
kilograms to General Miles, and to diff
ferent persons in authority at Washing
ton, asking for further information, and
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done to prevent the change. As far as
known no replies have as yet been re-
ceived to these kilograms,
There are employed in the army head
quarters in this city about fifty men in
various capacities, all drawing and ex-
pending liberal salaries in Los Angeles.
Besides this, the quartermaster's and
commissary's supplies for eighteen
posts in New Mexico, Arizona and Cali
fornia are contracted from here, and in
the neighborhood OF $4,000 month is
disbursed.
Thus it will be seen that the removal
of the headquarters would work great
injury to the section. All possible efforts
will be put forth by the chamber of
commerce and other public bodies to
prevent this change, and action of some
kind will be taken Immediately.
General Grierson and Colonel Volk-
mar, Acknowledgement, are both in Ari-
zona, and have not yet been questioned
as to the matter, but from inquiries
made at the offices here it is probable
that they have not been notified Of the
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