New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-31
ARVY NOTES or INTEREST

Paymaster- General William Smith was put on the
/ retired liz Tuesday last in accordance with
the law a. to age. lie more fortunate in the
matter OF rank than many officers OF the line Of
! the number OF years service. He was made
a paymas:er OF volunteers in August. 1861. and was
brevetted Northumberland OF volunteers for gal
LIANT and meritorious service in March. 1885. year
/ later he mustered out OF the service. and In
the regular army Many Of the colonies OF cav
airy infantry and artillery began their military
service early in the tles and will be retired before
getting brgadier generalship. although Paymas-
ter-General Smith got his star just five years be-
/ fore h.s retirement
Tho retirement Of Paymasor- General Smith
calls III. fact that few days ago the War Depart
mcnt issued a circular quoting the new law reia-
tive to reduction Of officers In the pay corps
The act ~ July. ls92. reduced the number 10
twenty-five. and the new law provides that there
shall De appointment OF major in the pay de-
partmcnt until the number OF officers in that grade
shall b. reduced below twenty, and thereafter the
number ~ such officers In that grade shall be
nxei at twenty" The retirement Of General Smith
many civilians who were candidates for pay
mastership for the promotion Of one Of the majors
able retirement OF Major Wharn In a few days will
make another reduction OF the list. Three more
AMI August 1886. and then the limit Of twenty Will
be- reached But as no other retirsment Is eX;
probably be- 10 vacancy for new candidates before
that date
The last Congress also reduced the number OF
, Commissioners Of Subsistence of the rank OF cap
tain. providing that the number shall not exceed
eight in the future There now nine. The reduc-
ton 10 this limit Will be reached In November by
retirement. but there Will not be j vacancy
created TIL the retirement OF Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas Wilson, on June 10 1886.
The first official step toward ofically informing
the officers OF the Army Of the passage of the
income tax law appears In circular. containing a
copy of the Treasury regulations for the enforce
m,ut of the LAW, paymaste:s for distribution 10
the officers VINO Will have To pay the tax THESE
regulations advise officers having incomes of $4,000
AMI over in 1894 that returns must be made TO coll
lcciOrs before April H. Next year the officers will
not have to make out the returns, for the pay
master viii be instructed to deduct 1t from the
monthly pay. Each OF the three major generals
and this includes General Schoiied. for ne not
promoted till ls95-wIll have to pay back to the
Government per cent $500. or So: each Of the
nfrcn brigadier generals VIII have 10 pay on Nooo
or $50. Then there are four major generals and
thirty brigIdier- generals on the retired list; who
must pay an income t1N me former on so-, anu
The latter on $l25 TINS makes q total OF $3.50 to Dc
returned t. the GoyernmG"t From me year saiary
colonies Who. 10y length OF service OF having been
G m cor o"fs ax on 5f sc C M SO SAS escS
The lieutenant colonies even with their longevity
come tIN. for the highest pay IS Just up 10 The limit
or 5000
The next officer TO be- retired is Colonel George ii.
Elliott. of the Corps Of Engineers. Oh March 81 Ills
actual service dates from July, lNJ WHtll h' WIS
graduated from the Military Academy fourth In his
class. and promoted TO the artillery. TWO years
later he transferred To the Engineer Corps and
during the Cvil War he gave important profess
sona service At various strategic points OF the
country. for which he brevcted major In
1898 he was promoted to the grade OF colonel lie is
one of those wfO viii have to pay an income TAX
his pay or 1894. but his retired pay VIII he ony
&315: he VIII escape the tax next year lie must
pay 50 this year
Lieutenant Cornelius G. smith ri Cava.ry, has
laid out a long ride OF nearly 1000 miles on "A SINCE
horse and unaccompanied. and will carry neither
rltions forage. bu, intends depend soely upon
the country through which he travcs for sustenance
for himself and horse. he VIII start from Fort
Wingate. New Mexico. on April 10 and cover the
distance to san Antonio Tex, within the time Of
month. The route over which he Is TO travel Is wild
anu barren and the outlook Is 50 hazardous that Old
teamsters who have been the trail doubt that
twenty years old tall ana llthe OF figure.
perfect athlete and enthusiastic equestrian. lie
Is master of the various indian languages often be-
ing utilized Interpreter. ana he served corporal
during the sioux campaign, beng decorated ior
bravery. During the recent troubles Of the Modui
Indians he made an extensive trip through thST
reservation I'm Arizona and made maps OF their VII
lagos and the surrounding territory
a special board will meet in the Army BUILDING
in this city. Tuesday to conduct a competitive
examination OF second Lieutenant for vacancy III
the Ordnance Corps. The successful candidate WILL
be- promoted a first iieutenancy az once, anu AS
the senior of the competitors stands ll9 In the rela
tive rank list. 1t means big jump ior one Oh these'