The morning call., 1892-06-12
RISING FROM THE RANKS.
Vacancies in the Army and How They
Are Filled.
New Yorg SIM


The time for the annual examinations aud
graduation at West Point has again come
about. and one of the noticeable facts is
that there are barely enough vacancies
among the second lieutenanls for the grad
uating class.
IiuS The innings of the civilian eandi-
dates Tor commissions were OF short dura-
tion. Until 1891 no appointments from civil
life to commissions in the line had been maze
for many years with one exception. that of a
son OF General Schofield, to whom Cleveland
granted that favor 1t was found that the
graduates OF West Point and the non-eOm-
mlsSl0ned officers were able to fill all the
vacancies, and that few of the former
were even kept waiting for vacancies. But
the retirement act of the last Congress
caused SO large number of extra vacancies
that civilian candidates were invited TO
compete, and many Of them having passed
their examinations were commissioned as
second lleutenants.
1t is fortunate, perhaps, that so large
number failed to meet the requirements, for
already the custt mary state of things has
been restored, and it IS clear that quite as
many civilians were then taken as should
have been There are 81 members in the
present graduating class at West Point. and
the vacancies among second leutenants at
present only number 81 Retirements and
other causes will soon increase this number
to 81.
On the other hand, FIVE non-commissioned
otncerS are known to have passed the de-
partment examinations and to be awaiting
their fnaIS at Fort Monroe, with two other
departments TO hear from. Thus there
would again be at least ten more candi-
dates than vacancies. However. it is be-
IleVed that as many graduates as this Will
be assigned as ''addtiOnals" TO the en-
pIDeHfS taE nd M
their claims, founded on class rank at the
academy. This, therefore, would let in all
the candidates 10 commissions.
Looking ut the list OF the nOn-commis-
stoned officers it is observed that out of the
five all but one are sons of army nfficeIs.
First Sergeant Z. c. Smith, Fifth Cavalry.
who had an average of 98 3, is the son of
Major Gilbert c. Smith, while Corporal j.
Il CuSack OF the same regiment, with an
average OF 84.1, is a son of Captain Patrick
Cusack. Corporal Guy l.. Palmer, Eighth
infantry, who had an average of SO T. is a
son OF Captain Guy II. Palmer, Sixteenth
Infantry, and SergeantE A. Macklin. Fifth
Artillery, who had an average of S97, is
son OF Captain j. 4. Macklin. The remain
ing candidate is Corporal w. j. LutZ, First
Artillery. who had an average of S6.S.
Nhlle there is no question that these can
dldates have attained their examination
marks on their merits, and while the very
TACT that four are sons of army officers
makes it likely that their aptitudes for the
soldiers profession are inherited. yet after
all the suggestion occurs that there should
be wider opening of the chance of promo
tion to the men in tine ranks. Five or six a
year are not many to he admitted to COM
missions, although as has been seen, that
is about all who could be Accommodated just
now. And again, it is a question whether
there ought not TO be some better way than
the present of getting chance for examina-
tiOn