The record-union., 1894-02-23
ENLISTMENT AND PURCHASE,
How the Purchase system in the
Army Works.

How the Purchase system i'll the
Army Works.
A correspondent asks for detailed in
formation respecting the purchase system
In the army, which was recently uls-
cussed in these columns. 1t Is now con-
fined to soldiers who have served at least
one year and not more than two years
and six months. If that service has been
faithful, and if the soldier can prove that
he can better his condition by leaving the
army, he is allowed TO purchase his dis
charge When the system was first put
! in operation it applied to all soldiers hav-
! ing between enc and three years OF serY-
| ice without reference to the conditions
which we have mentioned. A soldier
after completing one year OF service was
permitted to purchase his discharge by
the payment of S120. Each additional
month of service reduced this amount by
50, so that at the end OF three years dis
charge by purchase was equivalent to
furlough and discharge. AS the law now
stands, soldier after completing his
third year OF service is entitled to three
months turlough on full pay, and to his
discharge at the expiration OF that period
J II he asks for 1t.
SO great was the drain upon the army
from the operation OF the purchase sys-
tenn that the War Department, after
eighteen months experience, began to
restrict the privilege, first, by reducing
! the period during which discharge could
be obtained; second, by adding the con-
| dition of faithful service; and, third. by
requiring evidence that the soldier would
improve his fortune materially by leav-
ing the service. Many prominent officers
| think that the purchase system ought to
be entirely abolished. Others are dis
posed to favor its retention with some ad-
| ditional restrictions. We believe that
wise conservatism requires the malnte-
nance of the system until its merits ana
effects have been fully tested. Two con-
/ ditlons might be advantageously I'M
posed. First, when the soldiers dis
charge is necessary in order to enable
| him to take care Of those dependent upon
him, evidence should be furnished OF his
ability to render the required support.
| Second, when soldier after one year OF
| faithful service finds out that military lie
is profoundly distasteful to him, he
should be allowed to buy his discharge
after careful examination of his case. Ii
would be an honorable method or obtain
ing release from a soldiers career which
! had been entered upon through error OF
judgment.
While the soldier enlists for five years
he has the privilege of leaving the army
! without purchase after serving three
years and taking his furlOugh OF three
months; or, If he prefers, he can return to
| his regiment and serve out his term. He
can also purchase his discharge at an
earlier period under the conditions inn
posed by the War Department. He is not
allowed to re-enlist after serving ten
years in the army. The changes which
are advocated by the Secretary of War
are the substitution of three for i've years
as the term of enlistment and the repeal
of the prohibition Of enlistment after ten
years. The first proposal will not affect
the purchase system, but it will force
soldiers, who after their furlough now
| rejoin their regiments, to re-enlist for
three years in order to remain in the
army 1t impresses us unfavorably. The
other suggestion, the repeal of the ten
years prohibition, is good one. Legis-
lation on all these questions should be
regulated by expert testimony, which
can easily be obtained by the Committees
on Military Affairs. New York Tribune.