New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-04
AMY pEEDP us

Secretary Lamont DelnS the poHll'al "ipi'-
matist in ordinary service for the Cabinet. has
not had much leisure for mastering the details
of his department. His annual report contains
very little fresh information respecting the All
minstr:ltion Of the Army and the practical
operation Of various reform measures adopted
under the Harrison Administration. Such com
mcnts as the Secretary ventures to make upon
the abstracts furnished by his subordinates are
in the main conventional and superficial. Apart
from his colorlcss references to the coast de-
fences the new magazine rifle. the experiment
of employing Indian companies and the three
battalion organization for infantry, the most
Interesting subject discussed by him is the cX-
pcdicncy Of repeating the law limiting the
maximum period of enlistment to ten years.
This change he recommends with considerable
emphasis. and he also fayors Il reduction OF the
pcrod of first enlistment to three instead Of
five years.
The repeal Of the ten-ycar law has been
recommended by nearly all the department
hcadurartcrs I?y the general testimony of
officers in service In the West the prohibition
Of r-cnlistmcnt after ten years OF service is
unnecessary and detrimental Men who have
enlisted twice for service for five years ar"
seasoned vctc.ans under perfect discipline.
Many Of them desire 10 remain in the Army
after ten years of active duty. They have no
other occupation or means Of earning living.
There seems to be- no valid reason for prohibit
ing their voluntary rc-cnlistmcnt if they pre-
fer TO remain in the Army. They are certainly
more useful than raw recruits. The discipline
Of the Army will b" promoted by their rcten-
ton. The American Army is not strong In
numbers. What there * Of II ought 10 be ~
good as possible The repeal Of the tcny"ars
exclusion will undoubtedly improve its quality.
The other change favored by the Secretary
Introduces controversial matter. The suhStilu-
ton Of three for five years rs The term of en-
lisimcnt will involve the abandonment Of the
present SYSTEM of purchase of discharge The
testimony of Army officers respecting the opera
ton Of this system is conflicting Many Of the
best Informed officers in the Western field con
denim il outright as subvcrsivc Of discipline.
We are not aware. however, that the substtu-
ton Of three for five years * favored 10y any
Of the critics of tn" purchase method ON the
contrary there Is Il general feeling among OK
pcrlcnccd Offices that there is too much raw
material already in the Army. and that
soldier needs To serve Tor NJ least three years
before he IL permanently useful. Indeed. it IL
doubtful II he can become proficient in all
branches Of cavalry drill and tactics within that
period We doubt very much whether the
shortened period ~ enlistment will diminish
dcscrion from the Army. and that Is probably
the object which the Secretary has in mind.
Secretary Lannon'S administration Of his de-
partnlcnr has been un"ycntful. Possibly he has
some ambition To distinguish himself rs Il mill
tary rcformcr We can tell him what he can
do during the remainder of his term. Let him
concentrate his energies upon lcsscning the In
tolcrablc burdens Of unn, ccssary red tape and
paper work. One Of the most experienced Army
officers Is on record rs declaring that one thou
sand hours are wasted every day in absolutely
useless work on one class OF papers alone
those relating To invoicing. The whole system
Of bookkeeping ut Washington and the depart
mcnt headquarters needs To be revised and
smpfcd. The only purpose served by the
conversion Of the Army into n complex cir
cumocution office IL the employment Of battal-
ions Of supcriluous clerks in Washington and in
every branch Of the service.