The sun., 1894-09-16
VINO WILL GET THE STARS,
Three or Them TO Ne Distrfbutea vyithir
the Naxa Two Montha

WASHINGTON, Sept 15.-Before the close Of
eeptember Brighten. John p. Hawkins Com
missary Of Subsistence, rstires for age, and
successor for him is TO be appointed. 1t is re-
garded almost as o foregone conclusion that the
prize VIII fall to the senior officer, Col. Michel
r. Morgan. He was selected TO take charge Of
the Subsistence Department when Gen. Haw-
klns recently obtained q leave of absence, carry.
ing him beyond his sixty fourth birthday. At
The last selection Of Commissary- General he
was candidate for the place and the senior Of
Col. Hawkins; but the latter was the older in
years, and was to retire Sept. 90, 1894, whilo
Col Morgan would remain on tho active list
until Jan. 8, 1907. Now Col Morgan will al
most unquestionably wear the star In his turn.
The next offlcer in rank IL Col. T. @. Sullivan.
who retires in November, 1897
But the real interest is directed toward the re-
tirement Of Gen. o. o. Howard, which occurs on
the sth Of November next. Any one Of the six
Brigadiers would be worthy of promotion to tho
grade Of Major-General. Gen. Ruger, Gen.
Merritt, Gen. Brooke. Gen. McCook. Gen.
Wheaton, and Gen. Otis are all distinguished
and capable officers. The chances decidedly
are, however. that the double stars will 60 to
Gen. Ruger. In an appointment from the
Colonels to the grade OF Brigadier- General
seniority plays Only subordinate part, although
1t may properly be the deciding factor with
other things equal. Iffor any reason a junior
seems to be the better choice, he is carried up
without hesitation, since the very object OF Civ
ing the President the appointing power instead
of pursuing the seniority rule which prevails in
lower grades is to secure the best service. It Ia
therefore evident that when this privilege of
selection is once exercised the claims OF senior
fty IN promoting from Brigadier to Major Cen
eral are far stronger than ever before, since the
highest Brigadier was the first Of the Colones
TO be selected on his merits when seniority was
not binding. But In addition to this fact Gen.
Kruger Is well known to be most ca pable officer.
Again he Is the first OF the Brgrdiers TO be re-
tired for age, with the exception OF Gen. Nc
Cook, his retirement occurring in 1897. And
Gen. McCook leaves the active list next April
90 that the interval may not be considered long
enough to justifyhis exercise Of new command.
Still. s possible that he may receive the honor
In consideration OF his long service and fine war
record. Gen, Ruger then succeeding in his turn.
The question OF who will be the next Brigadier-
who has the aMdvantage 9f being the senior
Infantry. who retires In 1899. He began his
military career In the volunteers. Next In rank
comes Col. Peter I. Swaine, Twenty second In
fantry, whose prospects, of promotion would be
better save for his retiring so very soon that Is
next January. Then follow Col. II. c. Merriam,
Seventh Infantry;. Col. z. X. Bliss, Twenty
fourth; Col. Forsyth. Seventh Cavalry and Col.
Anderson. Fourteenth Infantry. These are all
prominent officers. Col. Forsytn's distinction
as member of Sheridan's stan is we'll known,
but In some quarters the impression now is that
among these four. Col. Bliss chances are quite
as good as any.