The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-23
THE GRADE or LJEU1ESANT-G ENERAL.
Ssh Anpthsr Effort 20 Revive It In Our
Military Establish meat.

SSH Anothsr Effort 20 Revive It In Our
Military Establishment.
WARRINGTON, Dec Ex-senator Hawley has
Introduced bill to revive the grade OF Lieu
tenant General In the army. and authorizing
the President to appoint to it. on confirmation
By the Senate. an Incumbent Ito be selected
from among those officers in the military SER
vice Of the United States who have command
cd armies In the Geld in time OF war" This
language would take In Gen. Howard as we'll
as Gen. Schoheld but the latter Is generally
understood to be the one for whose benefit the
measure Is intended.
It will be observed that the bill is not put on
the ground sometimes stated that the officer
commanding tho army ought To have the rank
and pay OF Lieutenant-General. The reason
proba bly, Is that this view would be disputed.
inasmueh as the commanding officer OF the
army has for several years been the senior
Major General. and no detriment OF any sort
has been suffered by that officer or by the SER
vice from his failure to possess higher rank.
In the old army. long before the civil war. and
MP to the time that Gen. Scott received the
title OF Lieutenant Gen eral. the highest rank
for the commanding oiIicer was Maior-G Cen
eral. and tho breyet given to Gen, Scott was in
recognition OF his distinguished services in
the Mexican war, and not at all for the pur-
pose Of aiding him IN the discharge OF his rou-
1t has sometimes been urged that proper
organization would be that OF Brigadier-Cisn-
ments MSoT, In eommenG a. I tSe d.
visions. and Lieutenant. General over all.
But inasmuch as our military divisions were
abolished lew years ago on the plea that
they were useless membranes, there is no
such argument available now while tho fact
only drpartments, like all the Brig adiers Tela-
lively widens tho distance between them aud
the senior MaIor-General' who commands the
i'esidrS. Il is perhaps thought that. since the
p ~ ,hs r 10" mnsng ,nS c2mmSndnG Incsr
ply to tho future, 1t might not be as easily ear
riel through AS provision merely fora single
but on the other hand tho measure in It's
present form encounters the obstacle that long
the grade OF Lieutenant General for military
services. When Gen. Sheridan received that
pecially provided that the grade should lapse
with his lncum bency OF II. At that time there
Sny yg now survVinS ineiudinG the immedIats
commanders OF these latter. Among them
may 20 mentioned the great names OF Thomas
and Meade Presumably IL Congress had been
disposed to honor any oticer more than It had
already done for war services 1t would have
those Two R me1 But il decided that the RS iine
pust be drawn Ia promotions to the grade Of
General. and up Ia the present
time the rule has not been changed. OF course
IL would DO very gratifying 10 any mum ber OF
Sflsers who served In the civil war to get
thirty years after the close Of that war. but
this natural desire has hitherto not awaited TO
secure ~ departure from the rule laid down SO
long ago.
The opponents OF the pending measure may
take the further ground that in the present
times there should be no Increase OF pay and
allowances like that which would result from
this DILL But that is comparatively a small |
matter. amounting to a few thousand dollArS.
aud IL has frequently been suggested that pro-
vision for extra allowances ought TO be made |
for tho commanding General of the army. who |
resides in Washington, and may he put to eX- |
tIa expenses from the nature OF his command. |
The real ground Of opposition Is to rsviying |
~ tins late day the lapse grade OF Lieutenant
General without any particular reason OF pub |
lie importance.