The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-05

NIre Intsntry Vacancies and Sixteen Add
tionni Second Lteuteuant-.


tionni Second Lieutenant-.
WASHINGTON. July 4.-The cadets OF the June
graduating class have all received their ar-
pointments to the army. and the striking thing
about the list is that no fewer than sixteen OF
them are Chased as additionals. although nino
vacancies among the second lieutenantcies
are left untitled.
The explanation OF this singular result Is to
be found in variety OF considerations To
begin with. i've OF the additionals go to the
Engineer Corps, which is always more than
full. and yet the custom OF appointing to this
organization tho star" cadets on the roll is
kept IN. In the cavalry there are four addi-
tional!. which is not unusual. In the artillery
there is the remarkable proportion Of seven
additionals to only two appointments to va
cancies: and one clue to this arrangement
may be Con. Schoilelds plan and expectation
OF getting the 1--WE artillery regiments dstrlb-
utcd into seven. in which case the promotions
will take up the extra officers Indeed. 1t may
help this plan leforo Congress to show an
array of nddtionhls waiting for vacancies. In
the infantry there are not only no additionals
but nine untitled vacancies.
The question has therefore been raised
whether this arrangement is carrying out In
good faith the act of Congress that permits the
appointment OF surplus members Of tho grad
uating class as additional Second Licutenants.
The intent Of that law. or, rather OF Congress-
In making 1t, was 1t is suggested. to provide
that H. after all existing vacancies among the
Second Lieutenants were filled. there should
still be m embers of tho graduating clasa un-
assigned. they should be appointed and COM
missioned as additional Second Lieutenants.
instead of being turned adrift. as had previ-
ously been the custom. The agreement was
that II it was worth while for the United States
to educate these young men for four years.
nuy Utf NIL hni rs mar III
to secure their services. even II 1t should re-
suit in having few more officers, each year
fact that they had not been dropped during
their West hut had been eo
sidered Worthy To- be- S oiiicers. a' '"'' "s''
graduates Of the, Military Academy should be
the date Of their graduation, The repeal Of
this provision was secured, after some years;
that ip short time they could usually be alb
army officers in, addition to those with their
companies. still the question, remains In re-
gard to .ssGning cadets as additionals when
The first point to note. however. is that six
Of the nine vacancies will be required for this
that the candidates pass their final examina
ton at Fort Leayenworth. There isno question
missions to these men from the army; and
while it is true that the custom hitherto has
Deen not 10 reserve vacancies. put 10 trust TO
the ordinary changes and easualt ties. which are
sure to furnish them. yet there is enough rea-
son in so doing to make six out Of the nine un-
filled vacancies In the infantry accounted for.
Again, the law allows additional Second
Lieutenants to be assigned to the arm or
Whether in the present case there is ANYTHING
more than the preference OF the cadets them
selves for the artillery arm. among the seven
artillery addtionals. and sufficient class rank
to entitIe them to 1t, does not appear. But it
would certainly appear judicious. where there
is special fitness on the part OF a cadet for one
arm OF the service. not to assign him to an
other for which he has no such special fitness.
II 1t can be avoided. And this seems to be
provided for in the law,
pointments from civil life to the three Infantry
vacancies. Congress would, perhaps. be heard
from in objection. This would be the exercise
Of pernissive authority to add officers to the
contemplated had already been com missioned.
Should 1t be- shown that. with sixteen addi-
tional Second Lisutenants. all OF them Rradu
ates from the Military Academy and compe-
nevertheless been had to civil life. Congress
might object. and modify the present liberal
rulo: on the ground that 1t was misused. In
deed. it is clear that In that way a large num-
added to the army. and furthermore that a
good deal Of patronage might be secured in
appointing civilians But since there is no
rule requiring civilian appointm ents 1t is not
present time in view OF the way in which the
vacancies were left unified. The number of
appointments from the army this year will be
very small and were 1t equal to that OF some
previous seasons 1t would be more than enough
we'll to wait and see whether next years cam
didates for second lieutenancies may not be
superabundant