The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-10
VINO WILL NE BnroADrER-GENsRALs
New Elements Intreduoed Into an Old Prob
lem By The Acces.lcn Of Mr.. Cleveland.

New Elements Intrsduoed Into an Old Prob
lem by the Acces-ion Of Mr.. Cleveland.
WASHINGTON. March h.-The failure Of the
Senate in the Fifty second Congress IN act
upon the nomination OF Col. Elwell &. Otis to
DO Brigadier-Genera reopens the old triAngu-
lar dispute In which Gen. Carr. Col. Carlin.
and Col. Otis figured. and also. and more
especially. back of them, Mr.. Elkins. Gen.
scho1cld. and MIR. Proctor.
1t Is evident. to begin with. that. with n new
President and q new Congress. a new nomina-
tion must lie made to the existing vacancy.
The nominations left over by President Harri-
son do not count for more than n bill which
failed TO be acted upon in tho last Congress-.
1t is further evident that the new President is
under no obligation to repeat the nomination
OF his successor. Other things being equal.
he might do so. as n matter Of respect and
courtesy TO the officer thus nominated. or from
n belief that he was the best man for the place.
But other things arc now not quito equal.
The record shows. in the first place. that the
nomination OF Col Otis. whose excellent sol
dlershir and unqualified competency tor the
Office are admitted. was connected with n con-
t~roversy involving the question whether Gen.
Carr had been harshiy dealt with in being
retired. against his will and his protest. TO
make way for Col. Otis. Tho record shows
that tho nomination OF Col. Otis was made as
long ago as Feb. 20. giving 1t twelve days to
be acted unon. and that during this long
period. though other nominations were con-
ilrmed. this one was not. While there are new
me.Hbers OF the Senate who have Joined that
body at the present session. yet the facts Just
spoken OF mas induce Secretary Lamont and
tho President to consider tho cause OF tho
strange delay. and also the chances Of n con-
frmation should the same nomination be re-
npnfNl now In 0thar words fha vhOI0 unaQ-
ton Of the retirement Of Gen. Carr Is brought
IN for consideration.
Tho suggestion has offered itself that posi-
bly, the now Secretary might tako tho ground
urged by Gen Carr In his letter to President
Harrison. that the use OF the retiring power
possessed by the President was in his case
against the interests Of the service. and should
not he encouraged. 1t might possibly DO
deemed desirable to restore Gen. Carr to the
active list. and I'll the vacancy In that way. But.
apart from the question whether such views
would be entertained. it is admitted that
the late President exercised n clcar legal
right, in conformity with an express recon-
mendntion OF tho General commanding the
army. AS Gen. Carr would in any case have
been retired for age on the 4th OF March noxt.
possibly tho relief for him might be that OF
making un to him the Differences q his loss In
one-fourth for the spacs o fabout a year.
BE that as It may. the possible candidates
for promotion can nn1 to the r de s Of PriE EHSa .sa,nr
Colonel in tho army. is Col. ". il: shafter. First
was made. First Lieutenant Of the seventh
MifhiSan Infantry Then he became siaj.r
Ii. sns nias.ssalshH ' sna ;hen 1n IL lsSi. t oolon III
of the Seventeenth. United States Colored In
fantry: he entered the regular army after the
Infantry. and in 1879 was promote ed to his pres
emit command. that Of Colonel Of the First Inian-
oaks. and that Of BriSSaadier-G enerai Of VoIun-
teers for gallant and meritorious services dur.
IA lHn the SS MTr' so me d esss ~. Iet oIsc qnsl r ehs year ,ar
age much earlier.
Next In rank, and the SECOND highest Colonel
rison. Whether that nomination will prove a
an excellent war record. Born in Maryland.
#Ssi sSi Ed s s 81 Ts; Il: s,s 81 y: s :, {S Ssjs 1 Ssss$s n h, n
Colonel. He received brevets us Colonel In
the, regulars and volunteers for spottsylvanla
gallant and meritorious services at Chapel
House in Virginia, Mustered out before the
csione q Of efe the ~At fw "s yas @aas f iniantry IN
command in 1890. He c~ommandea the in
1sstLy to al" June c1f 4 FL ff"T was then the ea SSHd%e' 81
Secretary Proctor at the last two vacancies.
Third in rank comes CO.. ". T. carlin. who
has n much longer service than either Of the
two already mentioned. having been appointed
a cadet at West Point from Illinois. his native
State. in 1886 Entering the Sixth Infantry In
1880 ho had become q CAPTAIN by 1851. and
that year was made Colonel, Of, the Thirty
eighth Illinois Infantry. while his appoint.
tho following year. He was made. Major OF
the Sixteenth Infantry in 1854. Lieutenant
Colonel Of the Seventeenth in 1877. and
Colonel Of the Fourth Infantry in 1882 His
hrevets include those OF. Lieutenant.Co Colonel.
BriGadier.G %eneral. and Major-Gsnernl in the
Chattanooga. Jonasboro. Bentonttlle. and dur
ing the war. He WAS Gen. Schofeld's candi-
date when Gen. Carr carried of tho prize. and
Gen. Schotield took the risk OF recommending
him for promotion and immediate retirement
when Gen. Carr was removed from the active
ory o. y .trianguier deal by Gen. sehofeld.
Mr.. E!kins.. and Mr.. Proctor; but the fact that
President Harrison did not accept the recon-
nendation. and directly nominated Col Otis.
showed that he did not recognize the exist
ence OF any such agreement. Col. Carlin re-
tirns for age next November.
The next Aye celCneis n order OF rank are
second. who retires In 1895: Col. H. {. Merriam.
Seventh. who retfros in 1901 Col: y. Il Bliss.
Twenty-fourth. who ~retires in 1898, and Col.
J. W. Forsyth. Seventh Cavalry, who ~retires In
1S3S. Col. Swa!ne WAS at one time spoken OF
ministration. As for Col. Forsyth, famous for
his services on Sheridan's staff during the war.
he 10 now the senior Colonel OF cavalry. In
the artillery. Col. II. ". Closson. Nm accom-
plished officer. IL the senior. but Is further
down on the relative rank list.