Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-25
THE. PAYMASTER GENERAL
Gen. Smith Will Be Retired on Account
Of Age Tomorrow.
Quite n Good List for the President to
Select His Successor Frem-NO
Vacancy In the Corps.

Today marks the close Of the active mill
tary career of Brigadier General William
Smith, paymaster general OF the army.
By operation of law he goes on the retired
list tomorrow, because he will then have
reached the active age limit of sixty-four
years. He has a creditable military service
of nearly thirty-four years. of which the
first five and half were in the volunteers
during the civil war. On the 10Th of Au-
gust 1861, he was appointed an additional
paymaster in the volunteer establishment.
He was born In Vermont, but was appoint
ed to the army from Minnesota. His war
record was excellent, and on March Ii, 1865,
he was brevetted lieutenant colonel Of vol
unteers for faithful and meritorious service
during that exciting period Honorably
mustered out in July, 1856, he was ap-
pointed a major and paymaster In the per-
manent establishment in the following jan
uary. He was promoted to the grade of
lieutenant colonel and deputy paymaster
paymaster general, with the rank of brig
adler general, March 10. 1880. He has
therefore held his present office as head
of the pay department little over five
years. He has been q faithful, efficient and
conscientious official and his many good
qualities of head and heart have gained
him innumerable friends, outside as well
within the military establishment. Like
many other veterans of the army who have
closed their active service. he will probably
take up his permanent residence in this
city.
Candidates for His Place.
The selection of his successor rests en-
trey with the President, and is restricted
only to members of the pay corps. Inas-
much as the proper administration Of the
fiscal affairs of the army would suffer by
a prolonged vacancy in this important Of
flee, 1t is more than probable that 1t will
be filled before the close of the present
week. Naturally, there Is lively competi-
tion among the eligible officers for this
most desirable appointment. The officer
next in line of promotion Is Col Charles
NJ. Terrill, now stationed in Texas, who
entered the volunteer service In June, 1862.
and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for
meritorious service during the war. His
chances Of promotion are said to be
weakened, however. by the fact that he
has less than year to serve on the active
list. In case he is passed, the selection of
paymaster general is believed to rest with
Col; Thaddeus H. Stanton. who retires in
1883; Lieut.. Col. Geo. E. Glenn, who does
not retire till 1902; Lieut.. Col. j. p. Candy,
who retires in 1897: Lieut.. Col. 6. w. Can
dee, who retires in 1870; Maj. A. B. Carey,
who retires in 1889, and Maj. F. NJ. Coke
who retires in 1906: Maj. A. E. Bates, who
retires in 1904. and Mai C. l. Wilson, who
retires in 1871. OF this list. Stanton, Cam
dy. Carey, Coke and Wilson were brevetted
~ &c. sASS uui hS the war Ok the reDel-
lion. Maj Wilson is on duty In this city.
Col Stanton's chances are thought to be
the best.
No Vacancy In the Corps.
The promotions consequent upon the re-
tirement of Gen. Smith will make no va
cancy in the grade of paymaster with the
rank of major for the reason that the list
is already four in excess of the number to
which it has been limited. The excess will
be reduced, however, to three.
These places are more coveted than any
others OF similar rank in the army Cap
tains and even majors of the line endeavor
to secure them. The work is less exacting
than In other branches OF the service and
promotion is much more rapid and certain.