The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-22
v. >. AHMY NOTES.
For the Standard

For the Standard
Tho force OF Indian soldiers continues
TO decrease steadily and it will not take
long at the present rate to totally eliml-
nate them from the army. Orders have
been given for the discharge OF 10 Indians
serving with Troop l., First cavalry, and
with Troop l., Third cavalry.
Tho secretary of the interior recently
sent n communication TO congress recon-
mcnding that the salaries of Indian agents
be increased. The salaries at present
range from 81 200 to $3.50 per aunum,
according to the size and Importance of
the agencies. lie asks that they he read
justed, making the maximum 5000 and
the minimum 81 800, except in a few cases
where the agencies are small, they to re-
main at s., 2OO. Where army officers are
detailed TO act as Indian agents, tho sec
rotary recommends that they bo allowed
half the pay of civilian agent in addition
TO their regular army remuneration.
This last provision is intended to afford
an inducement to army officers TO act as
Indian agents. At the present time
officers of the line are, for the most part,
extremely 10th To- accept the duties of
Indian agents. There are many reasons
why officers dislike sucn details. The
loss of touch with troops, the social loss
TO the family, if the officer he n married
man, and the expenses and privation of
life on an Indian reservation. family
can not live as cheaply, nor so we'll upon
an Indian reservation Is in military
garrison. For these and like reasons an
officer usually prefers to remau with his
command or accept some detail in which
he may act in purely military capacity.
T.. l.. ~
see matters IN this light.
The bill for the reorganization of tho
army, recently sent To the military COM
mittees of the house and senate, Is a very
uni Ist proposition, discriminating against
the interests OF both tho infantry and cav
air, for the benefit OF the artillery. The
measure Is SO drawn that the promotion
of all cavalry captains will b. seriously
retarded, and officers of that arm receive
little or no bcIeiit as a compensation.
The most inequitab,e pari Of the bill, how
ever. Is the proposition II IN all (l6A va
cauccs created in the grade of captain by
promotion from the relative list Of first
Heutenants. The change of rank OF o. o
reglmcntal stall from first lieutenant to
captain IS alike through all three arms,
creating in the infantry 20 staff captains,
in the cavalry ~ staff captains and in the
artillery 10 stall captains. These promo
tons IN ali fairness and justice belong to
the several arms IN the ratio named. The
addition 10 each artillery regiment of two
foot batteries, and to each infantry rcgi-
ment Of one major and two companies,
causes - original vacancies in grade o.
captain; and these appointments should
be made. not from the relative list of
first leuteuauts. but from the lineal lists
in each arm upon basis established pv
the proportion of the number of regiments
in each branch OF the service 10 the whole
number % regiments of the line. 80 that
the artillery sIould receive fyc-forticths.
the cavalry tcn-iortIeths and the o. fantr,,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF the original vacau-
cics, or IN other words the artillery 10.
cavalry Il and infantry o. b. ia S ar.
ransemcnt the artillery would receive a +.
the promotions that arm Is entitled 20.
and the cavalry would be repaid for luc.r
loss Of 10 IN j2g5 by IL first licutcuauts %
cavalry securing captancies In the iufau-
Try.
= resolution Was reported il tHc house
few days ago from tgc committee Oh
rules by Mr. OIihwallc, chairman Of the
committee on military aN4Ir-, dIrcct.u-
the committee on appropriations 10 lucoI
porate IN tine sguiry civil appropriate
bill paragraph transferring the prison
az Leayenworih, Kan, from the jCr.sdIc