New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06

IHUl NOIEN or INIIHENi.
The people interested N the Army. both inside and
out have concluded that Congress viii close the
record on Army legislation with the two words.
Nothing ACCOMPLISHED" The last bill To 20 on the
calendar was introduced By n1tor ccckre just be-
fore the adjournment for the holidays. but II IS
what may BE- called limited bill. simply providing
for "A reorganization of the infantry Drancl. Al
though is last section provides that an acts neon
ssten With this act are nereoy Phi h. disturbed
at this session.
Legislation being in the "stasnant pool officers
are giving their attention TO the possibility Of sew
eral changes in the uniforms. although the quar-
termaster general has received many suggestions OF
an opposite character as well as suggestions iaNoFa-
bic to certain changes All OF the suggestions re-
ceived in reply the request were submitted TO the
tnuIpmant board and are now before special com
mittee for investigation ana report Idrse num-
OF officers have recommended changes In the bouse,
especially looking 10 the removal OF the braid There
is prevailing desire for return OF the 3.d uh,,s
coat The infantry officers want the white stripe
on the trousers abolished, and there Is a strong op-
position to the present style OF overcoat The com
mittee now considering the various suggestions e~-
poets TO make A report in a few weeks
The new Army cap still hangs fre-not the percus-
sion cap for that long ago passed into lnhocuous
desuetude" when the breech-loadins gun displaced
the muzze-.oader. The cap in question Is one that
has been discussed pro and con for months, ana at
times has been on the verge OF explosion X does
not seem al present that any definite conclusion VIII
be reached in the future. and this Is Just what
ds,urbs the mental calbre OF many 81 the oiceIs.
There is doubt that a majority OF inc oincets us-
sire a change in the cap but they are nor doe 10
bring Il to head QuartermasterG R ndsci,,
elder IS opposed any change. but IN deierehce 20
the general wish expressed for changs rom 'ns
two patterns designed in his Office be accepted II a.
change TO be made. The two patterns are ci11seIy
Sa ,''a' ssht bca crown and dropping visor the
crown being without stiffness. But cap re,on.-
has received the favorable of nearly % per cent
OF the officers OF the cavalry, is not referred 10 ny
General Batche!der
The enlisted men have escaped punishment by
urt-martal recently Simply through mistakes
made by officers that ought to have been avodea'
ard not because the men did not deserve PUNISH
ment Of some sort Sergeant Schneider OF the Sig
nal Corps was tried for refusing to obey the orders
OF his superior aud for disrespect 1t was proved
that the officer committed error. or overstepped
his authority. 10y calling Sergeant schneider TO ac-
count for refusing TO send telegraph message
unless prepaid after having been Informed that Inc
refusal was in accordance with the Instructions "
the commandant of the post The sergeant was
found guilty Of dlsrespect and warned to be careful
IN the future to show proper respect to his military
superors Private Pohman found guilty OF
conduct prejudical to good order ana diselphe ana
him General Wheaton. in reviewing the case;
called attention to the fact that the court allowed
itself 10 he beCued by certain legal maXims quotci
~ Tho counsel for the accused man and struck
material portions OF the SPECIFICATIONS that h s p
ngs of the and restored the man 10 duty'
General Wheaton has issued an important cir
cular bearing upon courts-martial, which lays
down rules be followed in accordance WIN gen
eral order issued by the War Department in 1891
II Is promulgated that previous convictions. 10 ne
available must have occurred in the current enist.
for desertion and the person Is again charged with
this offence. The use OF previous CONVICTIONS Is
confined exclusively to cases OF enlisted men,
The s-nch Parrot gun known as the swamp
Angel will be recalled by many who were old
enough to read and understand the skirmishes and
raids and battles during the civil War. The story
OF its ns:ruction is about follows The colonel
OF a regiment of New-York engineers was ordered
bv General Gilmore in 1868 to mount the gun on
Morris Island South Carolina. the place being deslg-
mated as about a mile In the swamp, and 10
make requsition for all needed appliances The
colonel made a survey OF the pace DESIGNATED.
In a reluisiton for two hundred men 20 feet high.
10 work In swamp 20 feet deep General Gil
subordinate. placed him under arrest and the
officer found II a hard task to get relieved The
it was dubbed the Swamp Angel, after astonishing
both Federals and Confederates by sending shell
from Morris Island 1900 feet into the streets Of
Charleston and making great slaughter. II fired
thlrty-six rounds and then burst near the breeeh.
i
used drinking fountain
Neither House of Congress has yet given favorable
consideration to the recommendation OF Secretary
Lamont consolidate the Quartermaster's. Pay
masters and Subsistence departments The prop
osition Is the revival of one made few years ago
which finally fell through Several objections have
been made to the scheme by officers OF the Army.
chief among which Is that 1t would. njure the eff
hcency service under all conditions. Another
objection is that It would do injustice to many
officers who have looked forward to promo
clare that they Able to prove by figures that
economy would not be Of the results Of consol-
idaon. Ii Is recognized that II would increase tie
Importance OF the Quartermasters Department. but
even here some opposed TO the scheme and they
argue that Secretary Lamont ought - have con-
suited the officers OF this department before making
the recommendation.