The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-19
BUrIXa THEIR DISCHARGES.
How Cur Regular Soldiers Can Hereafter
HoaorabIy Leave the Service when
They Don't Like It.

HoaorabIy Leave the Service when
| They Don't Like It.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-One OF the most i'm
portant changes ever effected In army admin
istratIon has Just been authorized by Congress-
The liberty given to the soldier to purchase
the unexpired portion OF his enlistment.
though familiar in some foreign services, Is q
novelty In ours. One objection to 1t has been
| its supposed tendency to unsettle the military
establishment by giving the Government
too little assured hold on the men. 1t
has also boon suggested that discharges
! by purchase might have bad effect
! on the discipline OF those who should remain
| On the other hand a cause OF depletion and
| Generalization much greater than could be
| imputed TO the purchase system has for q
long time existed in tho enormous drain from
desertioE. To discharge in an orderly way
under due process Of law those who are chron-
tcally discontinued with the service is certain
| ly better than to have them escape in violation
OF law. Besides, the pecuniary advantages Of
| the former system are great. since the Govern
ment can reimburse itself for its expenses in
equipping and transporting the recruit.
| At all events. under the act now passed by
! Congress- 1t is declared that in time OF peace
the President may. in his discretion and under
such rules and upon such conditions as he
shall prescribe. permit any enlisted man to
purchase his discharge from the army" OF
course, these conditions will provide against
the sudden and unwise reduction Of a particu-
lar garrison or command The first thought
to suggest itself Is that the worthless and
shitless, whom 1t may be most desirable to get
rid of.will probably have no funds with which to
buy their freedom, while tho steady and frugal
whom it Is desirable to retain. will find a
door thrown open to them In this measure
But u preceding section OF the bin provides
monthly pay of every enlisted man during the
first year of his service, which is not to DO paid
him M Until mis- IN rs ETG what sun
the price OF q discharge is not yet known; but
ii Is clear that this compulsory retention OF
wages will go Tar toward reimbursinG the Gov
ernment for those expenses which are to be
made the basis, Of the purchase price; and
easily lay aside enough more from his pay to
secure the rest.
It is the provision for a discharge that JUS
titles tho retention OF pay. which is also now to
be put in operation for the first time. This
retention will have an additional effect In
diminishing assertions, since the larger and
less ready will the soldier be to forfeit it; The
incommoding all for the sake OF getting a
hold upon a lew: and also OF making the soldier
BY dmnShRg the SUPPLY Of his
the smallest and when he needs 1t the most:
II might also operate as q bar TO the success Of
have more than an Offset in being able to as
sure the recruit that II he does not like tho
retention of 81 q month during his first year
Is for the purpose OF giving him sure basis
0t IKE io the s T 6s
Paymaster now so largely made.
The act Just passed contains other induce.
ments for the recruit to enter the service and
to stay in It. 1t provides that. although the
term of enlistment is five years yet at the end
shall be entitled to three months furlough.
and shall then in time OF peace. be entitled to
an AXE w9 onv Ss
soldier sure OF a long vacation. but practically
permits him at the close OF it to cut down his
option. All he loses Is certain allowances
made to men who fiji out their full term and
Still another concession is the addition OF o
pound Of vegetables to the present days ra-
tion as Xed 6y law The puTe6ase Of anything
or in other ways under the operation of the
cheney OF the rations has always been a cause
Of discomfort. and the change now made has
been urged by many officers.
Will these various devices decrease deser-
ton IN the army; II anything VII DO this, the
sheris and their deputies consta6es and po
lice officers the authority to arrest deserters.
hitherto. But the main reliance Is on its pro-
visions for removing the soldiers temptation
atable tho long furlough at the end of the
third year. the optional release at tho
end of that year, and the discharge by
purchase at any time under the. condi7
lions to be prescribed. no soldier will
quitting the colors. II he finds that the mill.
arc monotonous, If there are attractions for
him in civil life. II he dislikes the officers who
command him, with q little patience and lit
tie sacrifice he can obtain an honorable dis
anger or misfortune: perhaps also. the soldier
in the far West makes friends. who urge him
to Join them in mining, Gait 10 raising, or other
Industries. In these and in other cases his
relatives or friends can procure his release
by contributing their funds for the purpose II
his own are not sufficient.
How all this will work II is difflcult to sey.
The experience Of foreign countries, although
enough to show the general practicability Of the
system Is really no guido to our own. The
extraordinary proportions OF assertions here
suggests that many more tempting openings In
other pursuits are seen by men in our army.
But tho experiment Is interesting and I'm
portant, mud OF its ability TO reduce desertions,
which IL the primary purpose, there can be
very little doubt.
THE ALBANY BANK DEPALCATIOR.