The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-07
PROJECTS ron THE ARMY.
The Three. Battalion Bin-Morc Fay for SER
rcnnts md Norporuls-West Point.

WASHINGTON. Dec. SIT seems doubtful
whether many. II any. OF the recommends
tions made to Congress Ivy Secretary E'Rihs
for tho army will become laws at this session.
The time at ommand for legislation Is snort
and with the many odds and ends 10 DO
gathered IN from the last session ana dis.
posed Of. and the new considerations involved
by the coming change OF Administrator both
army and navy matters. outside OF the routine
supply bills. may DO piCeon-holed ana post
poned.
Then, too. tho havoc made in the available
revenues BY the pension appropriations. the
latest River and Harbor bill. and other big
sources Of drain. may react against most new
army legislation that Is to cost anything.
session bent on economy might not DO expect
ed. for example, to approve the Secretary s
recommendation to revive the grade OF Lieu
tenant General. which is really no more need
ed than n NTH wheel on a coach. ana would. IN
fact. undo law now on the statute books Tor
more than twenty years. declaring that TINS
grade should lapse when vacated by Gen.
Sheridan its last incumbent.
For n like reason together With tho pressure
Of other subjects on the time OF the short ses-
sion. there is not a strong probability OF the
passage of the bill giving the infantry the
three battalion. twelve company organization.
and the artillery seven regiments instead OF
five. These measures would furnish very vel
come promotions, and the three-battalion
formation not only has in its favor the great
weight Of military opinion In all countries. hut
is particularly desirable on account OF the
now tactics. Yet the recent reduction OF our
cavalry regim ents from twelve manned COM
panics to ten has been ed as an evidence
that uniformity Of organization on the hasis
now proposed for tho infantry was really not
considered at that time as Of the slightest i'm
portance by the army authorities themselves.
Perhaps II tho Till proposed reducing tho
number Of infantry regiments by disbanding
several OF them and sending their companies
to the remainder. Congress would consent
this winter to the twalvu-compnny arrange
ment but that woui.' greatly Interfere with
ment of the matter to next winter would prob
ably be preferred by those Interested. The
artillery reorganization scheme i SIMMER. Tut
tho, argument against that is that there is no
real need OF spreading five regiments into
seven. since the artillery does not act by
few batteries each nll alon: the coast When
the new fHrts ar, nt and md "rmsd a IF gar
,iHons VIII ue relulten tne imct SSs H' '"e az
it is to be hoped that Congress will look
fnvoraply upon tho Secr-tarys recommends
ton 10 nrreas. Tho pay OF nun-comnisso ned
o:iicers. This would ae Il measure involving
considerably annual expense. as there are
mend il; II may he said that since increased
ray .na nr:ylI;res z" WIN III III" .nrvrnns now oi
and wear them. But Secretary EiKins thinks
that larger paw would tempt desirable young
men to enlist. II might ut any rate lie an
added inducement for non-eommissioned
officers to re'nlis'. since some of them are
H1w Doubtless influenced to Ieinrn , to evil
make more money and have brighter pros
reefs open to them 1t is admitted that under
non-rnl amissioneI officers of tho line arc in
creased. and that is one argument for giving
them moro pav.
The proposal to increase the maximum
izing the Pres dent t" appoint ten cadets an
has tho approval OF tho superintendent. and is
II moderate provision. while being only re-
turn TO a former rule. This, expense. also.
caesrooms could easily nccommoda the
addition. Yet there would he an added cost in
cadets and in their maintenance. since ut the
last session u bitter attack was made upon
renses OF the academy. it is hardly probable
that IT," present prog osal will 10 sanctioned.
And there j. another objection to it. Mr..
Elkins say, that even with this measure there
Hnons tho Scc S Ii Snan' f, tns n n
hut many believe that this ,rrobab:lity, should
there would ben room for the Iromot,9n OF
W"mE snItIa men; is now os5,Gl1 '9
over these vacancies should be filled m 10y m
Increase in the number OF graduate; who
nav" 'iie p,loT TlGlIt 10 tn'1n ny INV, thtt lnl-
rornnt stimulus to ambition in tls ranks.
and hence also to enlistment. would he taken
away. With the numher OF officers remaining
as now. it would hardly seem wise to adopt .he
Secrctary's suggestion.
One additional .xlense that. Congress- can
not very well avoid. sooner or later. is n pro-
vision for the manufacture and distribution OF
III" new magazine gun. This. however. need
not now he very serious. MS existing nprr0pri-
ATOMS for making the single loade are avail.
able. and on.y such addition nsrd be required
GsMi! ls used during tho year heginn,nG
July !. 1888. AZ soon as practic atle tho
militia also should DO supplied with the new
weapon.
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