The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-22
A Miscellaneous Project,

Among the hundreds OF bills already in
troduced into the Senate is one for dlmin-
ishing the length Of service required to
entitle enlisted men OF the army to retire.
ment. This period Is now fixed at thirty
years. and 1t appears that some Congress-
men are willing to reduce 1t to twenty-five
The right thing for Congress to do in this
matter is to repeal its legislation Of last
winter. which takes away from the greater
part OF the enlisted men all possibility Of
earning retirement by honorable service.
This new law prohibits the reenlistment Of
any private soldier who has served ten
years. It thus strikes blow at the whole
system Of veteran service. and discards the
teachings Of all times and all lands as to
the value OF experience. training, and tried
fidelity. This general result Is not Offset
by the permission which remains for the re-
enlistment Of non-commissioned officers.
Tho law applies to men who enlisted long
ago. when recruiting officers were allowed
to hold out as inducements for entering the
service that. after thirty years. the man
could retire on a certain fixed pay; that
meanwhile his wages would increase after
each term OF five years. up to twenty years.
by longevity additions: finally. that he
would be entitled to the privileges Of the
Soldiers Home. should he require them. It
is clear that in prohibiting establishments Of
privates after ten years service all these
supposed advantages are revoked.
The theory OF this new lew seems to be
that unless an enlisted man has been able
to secure promotion at least to the grade OF
corporal, he Is not worth keeping In the
service. and that younger man for the
same duties Is preferable. But 1t Is clear
enough that a man may be thoroughly
good soldier. brave. sober. obedient, and
trustworthy, and yet lack the faculty Of
command. He may have some drawback
that prevents his promotion. though he Is
priced as private soldier: or. In the COM
petition OF many good men for the chew
rons. he may be considered favorably, and
yet barely miss them.
One argument for the new law has been
that 1t will train a greater number OF men
as soldiers. who will then return to civil
life. to be called on In case OF need as off,
GERS Of volunteers. But this argument de-
feats itself. since the very reason why these
men are not suffered to stay in the army Is
that they could not rise above the grade Of
private soldier In ten years. Besides. 1t is
udTuy WOTLu Wullo 10 QrlVo mon away from
service which thoy are performing well and
are anxious to continue. on the indefinite
possibility Of their being wanted for SER
vice in some future war.
The feeling In the army. among both
officers and men. Is strong and widespread
against this experimental legislation. 1t Is
even suggested that the marked increase Of
assertions this year may largely be traced
to this feeling. Whatever be the truth
as to that. men do not want to spend ten
years OF youth in the army. and. as result.
be turned out. with no occupation to fall
back upon. and with a law preventing them
from returning to the military service. Be-
sides. men enlisted during the last ten
years may well consider that the Govern
ment has violated Its pledges in promising
them the benefits OF retirement, four suo-
cessive increases OF longevity pay. and the
Soldiers Home. and then taking these
benefits away.
The great mistake is in assuming that all
the good and desirable men will be pro-
noted in ten years. II all good enlisted
men were promoted. what should we do for
private soldiers?