New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-25
Ithaca, ". Y. Feb. %, 1895.
FAULT FOUND WITH THE LAMONT BILL.
DISADVANTAGES TO STAFF OFFICERS-TIIE
LENGTH -OF-sERvICE RrLE-"PRo-
MOTION" TO VACANCIES.

MOTION" TO VACANCIES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; Your dispatch from Washington in to-day's
issue giving what purports to be an interview OF
General Miles with the publisher OF 'Tae Army ana
Navy Rs~lster" regarding Army legislation and
kindred matters particularly the advantages that
viii result to the Army II the sostylel Lamont bill
becomes law VIII be very interesting reading to
many people We notice that II Is being extensively
advertised having appeared simultaneously in Ihe
Register" The Washington Post, ana Inc IT'D
unc II IN no other newspapers. Reading this letter
o. Instructors from General Miles TO the Army
and 80 Congress, through the publisher OF "Ine
p,istar' one is reminded Of article In The Trib-
une o. about January , or last regarding the
recent Army regulation inhibitlng officers IRON
soaking through other than the War Departn ent
channels - influence legislation.
What General Mics is reputed 70 have SAID ABOUT
a wan, y harmony In the Army as to proposed
,gsl,,,on e corfcssoaly true But this Is not sur
r-i..nr Secretary Lamonts bill defines the llne
a, tho Army as being composed OF cavalry. art'-
,o~y and Infantry TAls IL Of great importance IN
yeg of the provisions OF the l2d Article OF Wal /"
The ls.t Of this the contention as II what consul
flutes the In. Of the Army IL very ancient one IL
has crown up because this article OF war limits
command when mixed corps OF regular troops serve
,,g,,har 10 the ranking officer OF the line unless
the prcslden, specifically n each case arising other
v,,se orders This designation by the Pres!ceht
voud often in the Held. be .nprac1caoIe Inc r.
sul, ~ this BIZ becomes law. VIII be 'naI n'Jo'
I<,i,h; Tor Instance with his battalion OF engineer
80 ,ror, Wfots Point, will come under the
command OF any Lieutenant Of cavalry artH!ery vi
,,s,rt.v vh,n their corps should happen 20 JOIN
and DO duty together. Can any one say 'na' ''''' .
NJ. IN rrnortant matter? II certainly - l''po'
.,. vor can :, safely be alleged that selfish peo-
ri. alone deem Il an attemp, at un"iSe eS''"'0''
tf,re,, mon may differ about 4. az leas'.
II +. noticed in the proposed bill that res."cn'a.
oair.ants ard quayierma5ters are ohiy u 'o "'9
,....o,,,ts In Secretary Lanonts bill. supmi'ea
,,e- var he wanted them TO be captains. II "ou'o
-, Interesting 20 know what has operd'eu u C"""s'
HE mind These STAFF officers should ce oap'aIs "s
senator Flklns provides in his Infantry Dill mere
are good as.nl for 'hi From IA nl'''"ry p''"' "a
leu, the posi,!on of rcsnen-l adjulant or quarter
.tcr n.operly demands the rank OF captain II Is
4, booming with the dignity and responsibility OF the
,os.,ion Theac stafr officers now draw the pay oil
dismounted captains and ihe forage Oh inO"".cu
o,n,oIns The provlslon 70 make them captains
would add hut $50 TO the military budget 10. iNi'
amount eighty-four new captains would DC pro-
viled Nor is this matter OF Such importance.
The reverse empha :ically Is true We have special
LEGISLATION giving doctors rank OF captain after five
years service; engineers and ordnance AFTER ioar
teen years service; regular quarte:mastes and COM
mlssaries. storoheeyers and chaplains the rank oi
captain At once
service who thus rapidly have attained the rank OF
captaln are in some authorized 10 turn out
Of their quarters old artillery lieuenaats who were
I'm the civil War before these same doctors were
born. This inequality in rank, under the regular
operation OF law, Is notorious. and 1t Is likewise
odious In the eyes of fair minded men IT, however,
these reglmental staff officers receive the rank OF
captain as Secretary Lamont recommended last
year, and as Senator Elkins does now. eishty-four
of these older eutenants would be armed. SC to say.
against this acknowledged Injustice.
In section Of the Lamont bill 1t is stated that
vacancies caused by resulting theretrom shall
be filed by promotion. This is not correctly using
technical language. The vacancies caused by the
bill will be what are known original vacancies
They are never Al.ed by promotion They can be
filled only by appointment civilians could De
placed therein If the PHI aid not otherwie pro-
Certainly not: but no more would officers put IN IN
suggestion arising out OF the language OF thus sec
ton. We are sorry TO say is not quite ta'r AZ 10
calculated to give the impression that the oSess
on the liaeal list have a right TO so up 10 these
places according TO their standing on th&t Isl.
This is not true They have yso no c Tgnt 10 THESE
OF the many questions arising out Ok Ok TINS oSe o AS
is more earnestly discussed tnaa 'n af Obtain
viii be filled Some mentioned would h TAX line ss
list others would select according to the time tar
officers have been commissioned in the resu ,Ss
a aueston hs what rule should be made
The lIncal list Is only record OF In .ever
regmenal promotions From II n Shnn ie%tenants
viii ne promoted to captains II me inca aca ,1 it
furnish tine rule for lps o or'g and not Of right
80 Of 1 the length-of-servce rule But VINO w az
Disseminated agans. u the ineal rnio Of ieuten
ans who vcunssrs in the cv Of w Captains
permanently be place. on entered n the army years
after them Of ss,s pssns S Will
posed p.iI 1sha friends OF these gentlemen 90
rne think that this Is right As no law reauses
the ineai list to be adopted theS say e' "eN's