Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-01-22
THE COMMANDS R-IN-cHiEF.
How Ear the Presidsnt Controls thu
arn,y and tire Navy.

How Ear the President Controls the
Arn,y and the Navy.
The President of the United States
is made BY the constitution comman-
der-in-chief Of the army and navy.
Curiously enough. his control over
the two branches of the service differs
materially. So far as the navy is
concerned he has comparatively little
executive authority, but his power in
army matters is very great
For example, he might, If the Sem
ate did not object take any fresh
graduate from West FONT and make
him the general of the army. In fact
with this condition granted, he can
turn Gen. Schofield Out Of his place of
command, drop him from the list
altogether and replace him with
whomsoeyer he chooses. Indeed, more,
implying no contradiction from lthe
upper house in Congress- he has the
power TO take any private in the
army and make him the general.
The law in this regard seems to be
a. very curious one, inasmuch as no
like power is vested in the President
with regard to the navy. Mr.. Harri-
son. however willing the Senate might
be, could not take sailor in the SER
vice and make him an admiral,
Neither could he promote midship-
man just out of Annapolis to such a
position. Nor would 1t be possible
for him to advance to the dignity even
captain. For it is only the senior
commodore on the regular list who
can legally become an admiral. and
throughout the entire navy promo
tions must follow this invariable rule
of seniority.
That is one advantage possessed by
the navy over the army. A midship-
man entering the service at given
age has the absolute and comforting
assurance that with reasonably good
conduct. he must arrive at certain
time In the future, supposing that he
survives. at definite rank. If he is
graduated with high rank in his class
he may count upon being at the head
of the service before he is retired as
If If 1t It we're a. mere matter of mathe-
NAUTICAL calculation.
On the other hand, after the grade
of colonel in the army has been
reached, appointments are made by
the choice of the president, only re-
stricted by the Senate's Endorsement
Greedy was made brigadier general
over the heads of considerable num-
Der of those atop of him on the list
In like manner the chief execut1 e
turns things about as he desires be-
yond the rank Of the colonies, though
he usually picks out for preferment
the men whom he considers best quail
fed for command But twill be seen
that the young soldier in the lines has
no certainty to anticipate such as is
held by the junior naval lieutenant
from the start
1t has been maintained in conten-
ton that has been carried as lar
as the supreme court that the Presi-
dent is granted authority by the con-
stitution to appoint ANYBODY to any
place, though he should choose to
make a hod carrier admiral Of the
navy. and that Congress has no
power to restrict the chief executive
in this regard. But 1t was held, on
the other hand, that Congress is
given authority to make regulations
governing the land and sea forces. and
the supreme cours decided according
to the latter proposition. One officer
may be promoted by Mr.. Harrison
over the head of another, even in the
navy. but the man SO overslaughed
would simply lose one place on the
list The practice however, has
always been to follow the rule OF sem
iority. In war the President is given
very much expanded authority. His
functions as commander-in-chief OF
of the army and navy then become
active, and he can dismiss officers or
give them rank pretty much as he
likes, without even referring to the
Senate for consent.