The morning call., 1891-12-14
MILITARY JOTTINGS.
The Last of the POst.Traders.
Promotion in the Artillery.

On March 4. 1889, there we're eighty-fiye
poSt-traders at army posts. There are now
but twenty-five. and seven of these have
been notified that their licenses will be re-
voked within short time, at date so fixed
as to give them an opportunity to sell or re-
duce their stocks. Four of the remaining
fifteen are at posts whose abandonment has
been ordered, or soou will be- so that at the
end OF the fiscal year there will be only
eleven remaining. Speaking, however, of
the difficulties encountered in bringing
about Il discontinuance of this monopoly.
Secretary OF War Proctor says that these
traders had large personal and political in
huence, and it has not been an easy or
pleasant task to make this change. MANY
of them also had invested considerable capt.
tai IN these enterprises, and were therefore
entitled to consideration and a reasonable
time to close their business. But their
profits had been large, and | believe that no
injustice has been done them. 1t was q per-
nicious system, and necessity was the only
excuse for its existence at any time. 1t has
outltved whatever usefulness it NAV have
had, and its longer continuance is not for
the interest OF the service or for the public
good"
On the subject of the reorganization of the
artillery, MIR. Proctor has t. say that "from
purely military standpoint the organize
ton OF this arm is not detective, but two
First Lleutenants in each battery are an
unnecessary expense. There are now
twenty-siX First Lieutenants and thirteen
SerOnd LieuteuantS in each regiment of
artillery. The number of lieutenants can
be reduced without embarrassing the
efficiency of the organization, SO that seven
regiments OF two batta'ions of four-foot
batteries each and one battalion of two
light batteries will cost no more than the
present five regiments. and this form of
organization will be better nucleus and
more readily admit of expansion and the
necessary increase in case of war.
Promotion is slow during a long peace
under the most favorable conditions" de-
clares the Secretary of War;" and in re-
Spect to the First LieutenantS of artillery,
it is so great that the officers are beyond the
age of most efficient service before they
become Captains. Captains of infantry
serve' on the average four years longer in
that grade before promotion than do Cap
talns OF cavalry or artillery. while First
Lieutenants of artillery serve four wears
longer in the grade than do First Lieu
tenants of infantry or cavalry.
Major Edward Moaie. First United States
Infantry, has been promoted to be Lieu
tenant Colonel of the Third Infantry, vice
Jewett, promoted to the command Of the
Twenty-first Lieutenant Colonel Moale
will retain his staff position as Inspector of
Small Arms Practice in the Department of
California.
Captain Gustayus G. Doane, Second Cav
airy, and well known in this department,
was one Of the officers ordered to report TO
Brigadier General A. Med. McCook at Los
Angeles for examination for retirement.
The observation-disclosures will expert
ment with knit underwear aud 10000 suits
will be purchased for distribution in the
Department of Dakota.
Lieutenant Pickering. Second Infantry,
who is recruiting at Pine Ridge for Com
pany i, Second Infantry, enlisted in ten
DAYS twelve OpalallaS