The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-11
REWARDS LONG DELAYED.

Indian Campaigners will not Get Brevet
Commissions for some Time Yet.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-It was hard work
to bring congress to the point of recognize
ing by the award of brevet commission acts
of unusual gallantry or services Of excep-
tional value in Indian campaigning; and
now that at last this recognition is accorded
the system has made an unfortunate start.
The act passed last February provides
that the brevet rank which it confers shall
be given to officers recommended for gallant
service by their department. commander,
with the concurrence Of the commanding
general of the army. Accordingly, after its
enactment, the duty of reporting list Of
the officers entitled to this brevet promotion
was turned over to Gen. Sohofeld as COM
manding general Of the army. The list WAS
delayed month after month with the inten-
tion of making it perfect. It was expected
that there would rather be more than hum
dred such names, but when they were ac-
tually forwarded to the war department for
nomination by the president the list had
come nearer 200, and according to one re-
port it was even in excess of that number.
The brevet, also, was based not on the rank
which the officer held at the time OF his
making it q grade above. This was for the
purpose Of giving the honor a more COM
plete present value, since man who was
recommended for brevet while a lieu
tenant, and who has since been made major
would hardly derive much benefit from re-
ceivinR the brevet Of captain now, however
delighted he might have been with it years
ago. As brevet promotions for Indian
service ceased great many years ago, some
who were captains then may have become
lieutenant. colonels by this time. In some
cases, also, Gen. SchofIeld has marked Off
GERS for brevet promotions of two grades
instead of one. Taking all these facts
together, a large aggregate amount of
brevet rank was represented on the
list--an amount rather surprising to the
president by no means approved all the So
Iections that had been made. OF course
nothing is officially said as to motives, but
the facts remain that the nominations
under an act passed no longer ago than last
February could not be sent into the senate
before its adjournment on the first of Octo-
ber, and that the president has returned
the list to the secretary of war for revision.
Tho latter officer will now accordingly un-
dertake it himself, and will endeavor to
make it such as will stand the test of any
criticism that may be brought to bear in
the senate. Possibly the existence OF SO
large an amount of what is virtually patron
age makes it necessary to guard against
imputations. In short, this is not very
promising start for the long DELAYED meas.
ure, which is nevertheless founded in JUS
tice, and will doubtless come out all right
in the end.
In the navy conspicuous reward for
gallantry. which has also been delayed
many years, has been contaminated by the
passage of the act signed by the president
conferring on Chief Engineer George Wall
lace Melville and other officers and men of
the Jeanette expedition rewards for their
heroism and fidelity. Melville is advanced
q grade and medals suitably inscribed are
given to the survivors of the expedition and
to the heirs of those who perished. The
committee that reported the bill contrasted
the neglect of congress with what England
had done for the survivors of the Mares ex-
petition. Still, it is fair to point out that
Arctic services do not go unrewarded in
this country, as the advancement of Greedy
to the rank Of brigadier-general will show.
while Melville himself had reached the
command of bureau, although, to be sure.
this was on his professional qualities. But
the present measure may furnish addition
al encouragement for the display of couI-
age and constancy.
Proposals for Great GUNS.
WAsHrNaroN, Oct. 1O.- Advertisements
for y,ronoaala have been issued from the