The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-30

The yseancses IN the Army for AeaAeny
Orr duntes and Nou.Commtssioned Ohaeers.

| The Vacancies IN she array sOr AeNse-S
| srsauntes and Now-Comusissioned Ofseers.
| WASHINGTON. May 2a-The time for the an
nual examinations and graduation ut West
| Point has again come about. and one OF the
| noticeable facts is that there are barely
| enough vacancies among tho Second Lieu
| tenants for the graduating class
| Thus tho innings OF the civilian candidates
| for commissions were oi short duration.
| Until 1891 no appointments from civil lifo to
| commissions In the line had been made Tor
many years with one exception. that OF son
OF Gen. Schofeld. to whom Mr.. Cleveland
granted that favor. 1t was found that tho
graduates VI West Point and the non-commis-
stoned officers were able to I'LL all the vacan-
cies. and that few OF the former were oven
kept waiting for vacancies. But the retire.
ment act Of the last Congress caused 80 large
q number of extra vacancies that civilian can
didates were invited to compete. and many OF
them having passed their examinations were
commissioned as Second 1ieutenants.
1t is fortunate. perhaps. that so largo num-
Der failed to meet the requirements. for
already the customary state Of things has
been restored. and 1t is clear that quito rs
many civilians were thon taken us should
have been. There are sixty-two members In
the present graduating class at West Point.
and the vacancies anon. Second Lieutenants
at present number only ilrty-two Retirements
and other causes will soon increase this num-
Der to nfty-seven.
On the other hand. five non-commissioned
officers are known to have passed the depart
ment examinations and to DO awaiting their
finals ut Fort Monroe. with two other depart
ments TO hear from. Thus there would again
be at least ten more candidates thnn vacancies
However. 1t is believed that "a many graduates
rs this will be assigned as :" additionals" to the
engineers and artillery. taking advantage. OF
ane,T eT iiSInded IN Snss Tank az t ts
candidates to commissions.
Looking at the list Of tho non commissioned
sssnt Z: E s. SSmi'h. FiIth' CAVITY. WHO fad an
wh snf foh Ct o5 ss same
Can't. Patrick Cusnck. CORPORAL Guy l. Pal:
tenth Infantry. md Sergeant f. K. Macklin.
SON Sfts Tno Ga av' TSs n
candidate, is Corporal W. j: Lulz. First Artii-
there Il no Sueston that those cand
dates have attained their examination marks
on their merits: and while the very fact that
that their ATTITUDES. for the soldiers profession
are Inherited. yet after all the suggestion oc::
the chance Of promotion to the men G" in the s
ranks. Five or six a year arc not many to 10
Rumltteu TO commissions, although. as has
been eeen. that is about all who could be ac-
commodated Just now. And again. it is a
question whether there ought not to be some
change for exam nation. On this point Semi
tor Proctor made some noticeable sugges-
tons while Secretary OF War.
A man In the opinion Of company commander
entitled to advancement might be rded by another
as below mediocrty. Men serving with CAPTAINS who
hold high standards may be infinitely superior com.
rales recommended for promotions from other orHani
law may be withheld from men entitled TO more con.
sideration than many Of the successful comp
Practically. 1t is now possible for oonipany com.
nanders to give these valuable appointments to young
have not rendered any mertoriou service. except
quaty FOR tho examination. thus excluding hons ds
soldiers who have been induced to enlist in the hope of
obtaining hardcRrned and legitimate prom on. The
present system gives great opportunity for fnvor
ism. Doubtless there have been oft and there
isdanRer that the abuse may become very serious
In order TO insure exact to all and give full effect
10 the benencen purpose OF Congress- the natory
should lie with the men themselves. Any enlisted man
OF two years service who Is citizen OF tho United
States should. under certain fixed rules he permitted
to compete for a commission. By this means tho
operation OF the law would be made absolutely i'm
personal and every man entering the army would be
impressed with til. fact that no had and even
chance for commission.
This plan has. in fact. been embodied in
present session Is somewhat doubtful. At all
events there should be no haste In filling up
with civilians vacancies in the lowest grade OF
tho line. when they do occur. since there would
be an opportunity for comforting these rewards
on 80 many additional enlisted men who may
have shown that they were worthy to be made
commissioned officers.