The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-24
:
AN ARMY

The impaired morale Of the rank and
file OF our little army has proved OF late
a source OF considerable annoyance and
serious thought to the military authori-
ties. characterization has become prev
alent. Desertion has rapidly increased.
The class Of enlisted men has been serl-
ously deteriorating. Inquiry INTO the
causo Of these and other troubles has
elected the statement Of "a number OF
grievances from the private soldier and
his sympathizers. With some Of them
the general public will have little sym
patty. 1t does not seem to the enter
prising, self-educating civilian that the
private soldier needs a flow Of compass
passion, because he is compelled to pro-
coed with his education. Whether a
private soldier should do civilian work
for soldiers pay is Il matter that may
demand consideration. But in the mat
ter Of punishment for military offences
the soldier has, or rather had, a serious
grievance. Too much discretion has
been left to courts martial in such in
stances. Out OF thirty-four articles
authorizing the Imprisonment Of enlist
ed men all but two left its extent discre-
tIonary with the court. 1t might mean
q difference Of simply a few days, it
might be a matter OF years. The result
was, OF course, r~uinous to discipline.
The same court might award for exactly
the same offense two very different pen
alties. the one. say before lunch, the
other after. But if we can imagine the
members Of a court martial superior to
culinary influences and a bottle Of claret,
two successive courts in the same com
mand might well be. and indeed have
been, guilty OF the same mistake. The
soldier naturally objected to being made
the victim Of the cook or the luck at a
recent game Of cards, and general sore,
ness with the caprice OF the courts mar.
tial followed.
The new code Of penalties, which has
been the subject OF prolonged and care
full deliberation by military experts
sets this grievance right. Each of the
soldiers possible derslictions OF duty is
taken up in turn. and in nearly all of
them a definite limit OF punishment is
fixed. In IA case of desertion, for in
stance. the maximum penalty in time OF
peace will hereafter be dishonorable dis
charge, forfeiture of all pay. and i'm
prisonment for two years and six
months. This 10 for the man who does
not voluntarily surrender, and who has
been more than six months in the ser.
vice. A tenderfoot Of less than three
months enlistment escapes with a max.
imum prison penalty Of one year. Vol
untary surrender entities the abscoDdei
to a considerable mitigation Of the SEN
tence. varying with the particular cir
cumstances Of his case, but in every in.
stance a hard and fast maximum limit is
laid down. The change is d p~raiseworth,
one. and will effect a great deal in root
ing out the present sore feeling. Off
GERS are but mortal after all, and courts
martial vary in experience, sentiment
and condition with the men that com
pose them. The absence Of uniformit,
has proved q pernt.inus thing both fol-
officers and men. Even II the penal cod,
had been administered by permanent,
constituted courts. by judges fitted TO
the position by training and tempsra
ment, the objections to such unmeas
ured discretionary power would hay
been very great. As things stood, how
ever, caprice, and n uniformity, wa
the prevailing order Of things, and In
Gle Sans boys in blue suffered AZ th
result. Better luck will surely be- their
under the new regime.