The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-31
A l.Ovsb SYSTEM.
Retired onlcors Who EpIoy slnecuros-A
Matter tor Investigation.
,.,trtoJ D,snntnh 10 he IUtsLliJeac.r,

Retired Officers Who Eploy Sinecures-A
Matter tor Investigation.
sSteiai Dispatch 10 he INteIiiOeaetr.
WASHINGTON, Jan. S0-The discovery
q short time since that large number
Of men on the retired list OF the army
are drawing salaries from the Govern
meut in civil capacities and therefore
violating the spirit of the Federal stat-
ute which forbids any one in civil life
drawing more than one salary from the
Government at one time, has brought
about considerable discussion Of the
proposition pending in the House to in
crease the unlimited retired list of the
army by 0 transfer from the limited list
The unlimited retired list OF the army
Is made up officers who have attained
the age ot.sixtv.four years. There is
limited list OF 400 men who have been
retired on account OF incapacity, bat
who at the time OF retirement had not
reached the aga Of sixtV.four. The lim.l
fsed list, it appears, Is more than full
Upwards OF thirty men are eligible to
retirement to the limited list who are
drawing full pay and rendering no Ser.
vice to the Government, but they are
kept on full pay, instead Of two.thirds
pay, because they cannot get on the list
which is more than full. It is proposed
to reduce tue limited list from 100 10 $50
aud transfer bodily the limited to the
unlimited list.
Inquiry on tte part Of members Of the
House has had the effect Of iDiuring this
proposition. Thc men VINO are on the
retired list from disabilities growing out
OF the volunteer service have the sym.
pathy Of Congress; but the disabilities Of
men from the regular service are sus.
peeted upless they are apparent. It 10
tiiscoYered that not only do Inen draw
ing the pay Of retired army officers get
into the service Of the Federal Govern
ment in civil capacities aud draw sec.
ond salary, but they seek the retired
list for the purpose OF drawing retired
pay and having opportunity 10 make
money by engaging in business in civil
life. It Is stated that nearly every one
OF the men who have been PLACED upon
the retired list before attaining tile age
OF sixty.four has Utmost Immediately en-.
gagged in private busiutss. The question
naluTal!y arises: II these men are
capable OF performing duties for them
selves which are far mora onetous than
they have had to perform in the army;
Why sEs they placed upon the retired
list? Why do'they H0t simply resign z
a couple Of years or so ago membsr
OF the Iudge-Advocate-G sneral's corps
came over from Bsw York and applied
for examination and asked to be placed
pnon the retired list, at the game time
| he opeRly sHn0gnced to bis friends that
II he got retirement he would enter upon
the practice Of law In New York, where
he baa been stationed 80 long for the
army. He alleged dyspepsia, or some.
thing Of that character. Why he could
| not I'll Q aipecnrs in the army with .
stati0H In New Work, but could com.
4 mann n 90 - law prs3IiQe IN tue sane
place-if only placed upccn" the retired
list, no one knew, except he wantea tut
pay Of 10 retired officer. He got the re-
tirement, enjoys the two.thiEds pay from
the army and is pTaotiCinR law in New
York. This went without saying. There
were men undsr him who wanted hia
place, and Of course they urged his "dls'
abilities"
its an open secret that cadets retiring
from the Military and Naval Academies
at West Point and Annapolis, either
knowing their disabilities remain q short
time to get on the retired list, or having
no disabilities conclude to remain in the
service till they can get upon tue retired
list by some hook or crook. II begins
to look as though the retired lists OF the
army snd navy would be fruitful obi scts
for q Congressional investigation.