New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-08
PERFECTING THE ARMY.
EXCELLENT MEASURES FRAMED BY SECRH
TARY PROCTOR AND PASSED
BY CONGRESS-
HOW TO PREVENT Observation-Disclosures
rIoS OF JrsTIcE-PRoMoTION
FOR OFFICERS.
Rr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

| lpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rklBrNs.1
Washington. oct Few secretaries OF War since tho
time Of Stanton have done much for tie Army as
Secretary Proctor has done during The shO time he has
been the head Of the War Department. From the
termination Of the late Civil War the incoming OF
the present Administration there were hut fcw clahgcs
| made In the laws governing the Army. The entire
system OF rigid rules and service regulations 20 ncces
sAry 10 time oi War had not been abstcd or modified
during tho peaceful times following that struggle
Everything connected with the proper command OF the
| Army conducted In the same manner that had
been observed when its number was swcllcd into hun
dreds Of thousands. Now the authorized number of
| enlisted mon Il limited to $4,000. and this con
parsiivcly small army is scattered over the whole OF
| this broad country Thcre l. seldom post Of cnoagh
| importance to have more than 500 men and the mi"
jorty VI the posts arc garrisoned with not than
$50 soldiers
The dearth Of activity that pcrvadcs most OF our
| military posts has bccn conducive 10 dc-crton IL
IL notable fact that thew more de'ertlons from
| the artillery than from the infantry and that thcFo
urc more drscrons from the latter branch than from
the cavalry In tho cavalry the duty Of taking caro-
of the troopers orses sufficient relaxation from TIE
| t.dum 0f dlcncSs make that kind OF army iuc
bcarahle Most Of the posts are Rarri+on"d with s"'h
II small number Of men that II Is u hard matter u"
| got out enough to have even company drill. lIo
Inability to drill and keep the enlisted men properly
tent generally resulting in dcscr'ion Another sermon"
ci~c Of dcscrtion la. the great degree OF dscrc
ton vested III martalf and the nIudcious way
| III which that discretion has been exercised.
II has lccn the desire Of the secretary to overcome
these obvious dctrmcns 10 the good OF the service
and carly IN the paot session Of Congress h" recon-
ncndd the passage Of bills dealing with these par
ticar subjects. lie considered that the term "f en-
Ii>tmcnt va, too long and therefore recommended
that 10 reduced from five To- three years
with the right given To- the SOLDIER I" servo
tive, Years LONGER In addition o. this provision a
system ~ banking authorized nv which tie pay
master was to reserve each month from each soldier
tho sum Of ~ During the term Of enlistment TINS
money l. NOT given I" the soldier. and VIII u"
sacrificed I, tho Government N the soldier dc
,cr,. Both parties 70 IN" contract would DC bci'h'"i
hv This arrangement Tho ti"v"rnm"nt viii get "a"
nil hricn: - tl" soldiers enlistment ard III" soldier
VII have fit 81 money at Nv! Npr,tI"n o' III
term Q; Another provision "f I'll" bill l. I"
80 effect HAT soldier may huy hi tim" and rr""iv"
al hnrln,ll di-ch,rc" h' pawn. fr ~" "N"n>"- T.
whlc. he Id, put the Go'crhm"'. II" a''o NUT
rr.nrd ,h. uo,cv that hr hn> r,''.lvrd. TN, bill lr'
broom" \ Law.
TIC n:!cr iii. which has al.n hrcon" a law. deals
WITH III" a,ir i,'ra'i"n IT justice. Of u" t't" '"ur
ar, clc. Il war under wlrh enlisted NAV b: ':1"i
,hirt, ESQ authorize prrshu""t IN tr discretion o!
the cour, martial. ~ All Illustration o: TIE pm IN
" ,
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