The sun., 1895-05-02
<FFtJRs OF THE ARMY.
Cormnnas for tho General Onicers-Reeent
ChnuEes-The Military Prisor.

Commnnde for tho @erernt Vmcers
Chnuges-The military friso..
wAsuISGToN May The recent plan OF as
signing the departments was based OH tho
fact that there is now one moro general ofhcer
than is needed for tho military departments. or
these. under the present syston, there are eight,
SO that while Gen Srholcld, as senior Major
General commanded the army, the other two
Major Generals and the six BriGadiers were Just
enough for these commands. which In fact had
been rcarrangcd with that view. But Gen. Scho-
fields promotion to he Lieutenant General al
lowed under him three Major-G g enerals and six
Brlgadiers, so that now one Is superfluous.
Had the proposed new Department OF the
South been created thcrc would be nine depart
ments; but II is known that. for the present at
least. tina. plan has been abandoned. although It
is said that. while the project for Gen. Scho-
fields promotion was being pushed through
Congress. some OF tho Southern members had
the dcn or hope that such result would fol-
low. However, since Gen. Schofeld himself re-
tires in September. and then the senior Major
General will command the army. tho old status
will lie restored Hence the practical solution
Of the problem is that Gen. Ruger has been left
without q department until Sept. 20, at which
time there Will be a vacancy for him. IL was
expected that. following recent prccedents,
when Gen. Miles should take command ut
rank, would 60 to New York, and Gen. Merritt,
the new Major.General. to Chicago. But. in
stead. Gen. Merritt receives at once the COM
mand of the Department of the Missouri. with
headquarters at Chicago. inasmuch as Gen.
Ruger is assigned to special duty in Washing
ton. He has, in fact. long been engaged In re-
vising the drill regulations. q most useful work.
or course. that change involved the others
already noted. the Brigadicrs senior to the two
T..
the changes to be made. Indeed, Il was snid
beforehand that Gen. Wheaton desired to be
transferred from the Department OF Texas to
the Department Of Colorado which was the
change naturally made. There need now be no
other transfers when Gen. Ruger comes to New
York.
Tho interest in the three promotions just
spoken Of was paralleed for the 1.icutenants of
First Lieatenants to be Captains in the Quarter.
masters Department The fortunate applicants
ESs S Il its Il snh in nassrT .Ad Asy s1y
widely known for his labors upon the new drill
regulations and on the revision of the army
Ne% YorE state es@p in Peetsiiii hiss report
Lieut.; Hardin having attracted attention.
appo!ntees of last week. has been assigned to
the Ninth Cavalry. colored
ordered Sc s days ago is
now at Fort Grant. and the four troops Of the
Seventh hi.hs,tG at Eort Riley The Colonel
former, and the Colonel and second Major
gineers at Willet's Point have their next muster
the men will appear in black trousers instead OF
made in order the more readily to distinguish
the engineers RS from from the line: As the battalion
me o sm hss a1s
Congress. ut its last session, made arrange
ments for the transfer OF the Fort Leavenworth
July !, and the War DspSr!ment is accordngiy sost
making ready to complete this change, which It
m nsa %
transferred to the various post. guard houses.
ea snsr Ssf thy ey Gs
to pardon sh: most deservinF Of she W prisoners. RI
and Of the care Of them es. bnrdee o1 to
the posts. Thus the transfer will be a kind Of
welcome to the Authorities s. Of % tho army. ny well 10
The care Of the prison has been a cost to the
the subtraction Of a consid cradle number Of en- N
listed men from the effective force at posts to
n5 gnd On the otss
paH shcss s Of ssd
sss: Z; : ~ sisshsn; sd$s!sn sI sers:
the prisoners. The yield Of tho prison farm. Of
which III acres were cultivated. included 4. 1850
bushels Of potatoes. $4,000 heads Of cabbage,
$500 bushels Of corn. and large quantities OF
onions tomatoes. beans. and other vegetables.
The prison also furnished 1S9 suits Of civilian
clothing for prisoners released from confine-
ment at various posts Even with this labor en-
ployment enough wHs not found. and the COM
mandant therefore began. an extensive system
OF sewerage and put up brick plant. OF skilled
le6er 53:034 days were performed and Of un-
skilled lls.lss days. and the part performed
Tor the Quartermaster's department amounted
IN value to S26.321 40. The prison fund turned
into the treasury. as made up from the products
Of labor and the sale of material was 81, ,239.54.
The actual expenditur for the year were $7S,-
339,7s The number of prisoners at the end Of
the last fiscal year was 5l7. with q maximum
for the year of 626 and an average Of 553.
But while the products Of labor must be given
up. tho prisoners being kept at tho posts. except
those guilty of serious offences against the civil
law: who can still be sent to tho prison. will
perform disagreeable police duty, which will be
better satisfied with army life. Taking together
this feature and the release Of the large guard
now required. the army considers itself a gamer
by the change about to be made.