The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-21
THE GEOGKAPHICAL CoBMANDs

the estimate for the work up to S6Ou0O0
THE GEOGRAPHICAL COMMANDS.
The Three Military Divisions Likely 10
| Give Way 10 Uniform System.
WASHINGTON. July 2G-There are three mill
tary divisions, comprising eight military do
partments, In the country. In one Of them
the Division of the Atlantic, there ia rather an
absurd Pooh Bah arrangement, as it contains
| only one department called the Departm mt
of the East, whose territorial limits are exactly
! like those Of the division. and which is com.
manded also by the same officer. Major Gen.
.. y. Howard, who can accordingly issue orders
to himself in one capacity and take orders from
himself in the other, till thoroughly satisfied
with the performance. The Division OF the
Missouri, on the contrary. has four depart
msnts, the Platte Dakota the Missouri. and
Texas and extends from the Canadian border
to the mouth Of the Rio Grande. The Division
OF the Pacific Gen. Miles commanding. has
three departments. California which is also
under his immediate command. the Columbia
department, and Arizona
There are three Maior-Generals and six
brgadiers IN the army, besides the chiefs Of
stat corps. SO that the natural and correct in
ference is that it was the primary intention to
make each division the command OF a Major
General. and each department, counting out
those OF California and the East. the command
OF u BriGader. But alter the death OF Gen.
Sheridan that arrangement became somewhat
broken up. The senior Major General was
called to Washington to command the army
and had himself relieved OF his former military
division. That left one division under the COM
mand OF q BrGadier, when not temporarily
assumed by Gen. Schoheld himself. and one
depnrtment in charge of A Colonial
In casting alb nut for the means OF making
better arrangement the military authorities
struck urou the Fundamental question: What
Is the use OF u iniiIar division. anyhow
about much use as q li1th wheel for II couch
1t Is costly anu 1t ID cumbersome. Tho mill
to be detailed to the divisional stan eSpfa
quarters TO bh hired and maintained, and
extra messengers anu clerks. Its main tunc-
and transmit orders and ,o!her conlmunica-
tlons going from the HashinGton au.horities
to the department 8, aud requests. rep ,rts. and
headduarterS TO tho national capital 1t is
Asked whether a. this cost and red tape are
worth While Tor the pui pose oil furnishing the
MaIor-Generals with commands different in
grade and character from those Of the BrlGa-
dlers. My not have eight active deparmeuts
or course the two Junior Major Generals NAV
not Ike It this prInosgd change. which would
ably Gen. ohoheld himself would not have ad-
nired it were he still i9 cha'ge OF military
division with Gen. Sheridan ~ the head OF tho
army. But ho looks AT tho matter now from
smother point OF view N his consultations upon
1t with tic President and Secretary Proctor
Ono effect. so far a he Is concerned. would he
TO give him immediate conf ol OF all the DEPART
meuts. whose commnrdlnG olicer' would
through the medium Of divsiol commanders.
as now. Besides. such duties ami rosI ,onsibili-
10 retaim would be al iei 10 his own cummand,
which would thereby he Increased in impor-
tance. lie would probably have Il larger STAFF.
and his own establishment would become more
A. to the other Major Generals they would
schoi!eld'c Increase, Their Stalls would be cut
down. probably. 10 the numher prescribed for
reduced TO department headquarters. Instead
OF having control ~ yRat areas. comprising. In
Two u t OF nM tn re- ensSs several
would also have to 20 back TO the miuutia' and
drtai.s Of GspGri ment control Aud yet there
ihrn, decided conn en-a,ons Gen Miles to
begin with. Will surceed nsn. SchoAold five
cordinEIy. all the additional power and pros
tige added to the latter by the peud NJ pian
would be accumulated for him IN turn to on
rank and pay it Will DO his harvest in time.
As 10 t,en. Howard i is understood that his
now command would he tho Dcuartmcnt OF tho
Atlantic, which would DO cot"rminOus with |
the Division Of tho Atlantic. his resent com
mand thus leaving MIN u Charge 81 II" snme |
with the increase OF tho artillery. his actual |
forces will. no doubt. be, strengthened, aud |
In tho case Of DO Ii the Major GsncraIs, tho |
plan would undoubtedly no TO make or them |
sxtcnt in order hat these might always be roe,
ogniaed as tho cOmmanis duo 10 thei. g,ade.
Al % th% other o SIX Eo SGnStme'nt their limits
Is finally detrrminel thai tho divisions .ball
disappear. While the Washington authorities
minds on this main y int. no doubt there will .
he some onpo.i,inn 10 II. Some critics may
lnlii lua interests that Il Ihe raio Of Ma or
Ie erai Is II be- ietHired Ia tho army. n dis
linrtye command SHOULD be Arranged for 1t
CerlHin advantage j, having The opinions acts.
and reports OF DEPARTMENT commanders pNs"od .
by tho authorities at Washington since tho
former are q duty ~ 'h NJ I'm. emo general iIell
as these differences in grade are maintaInsd ,
lie full tcneiit OF them should be enjoyed in
The chances are That whntover may he the
degree Of constderati II duo 10 such views, tho |
gain in economy; "imnli'ity, and despatch to (
greater woi"ht: and tIR' unless sOue l".isia- /
liyO act OF Cong css shouId iuIrr.rrp. tho new /
w!ll "a into object b. autumn.
S,v"n Steers In Dru- store.
rHLADELpHIA July 2n-Seyen biz Texan
steers walked into IIewellyn's drug store on ,
hestnut street yesterday aft0rno n. and. after
making Il tour OF the premises, withdrew with I
out doing any damage whatever. A car Lad
Df the animals had been unloAdod az Thirty
second and Market streets. The leader of tho
seven wnlked boldly IN followed by the others
n Indian file; Down, towad the prescription
10 L they stnlkei with ads ere l. 4 no uro-
icripiiO clerk WAS there, aud wave them out
WIN ihTeo''E Gtd stool The steers Mel0
'prrn,led whom tucy ren"hal tine street IhcY
80 the stone. "hi.h WAS Md wa mi roTs .
ID gao ware. WiEOu' having bgOkru even u
on" - immense crowd Ma attracted bY
lac IHclQeni.