New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16
NOT SHOT FOR LAMONT.
,s opposition TO THE ADVANCEMENT
oE GENERAL MILES CAUSES TALK.


SECRETARY OF WAR OR THE ADMINIsTRA-
rIoN GENERALLY--A CHANGE OF ArTI-
rIrUDE-INFI.CENCES or GER
TAIN JUNIOR OFFICERS
tsy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEl
u-.ehineton March l5--Secretary Lamont has
>.oome a target at which much criticism is
s-sa because of his adverse recommendation in
-s,ation to the bill proposing to revive the rank
\, Lieutenant General for the military head Of
~. Army The Secretary's course has seriously
.,,r-ed up a large resentful Congress contingent
rd vigorous majority Of the Grand Army and
.,e LOYAL Legion. 1t has started some stories
rh,ch are by no means complimentary to those in
authority. and which direct attention TO officers
q, the War Department Even the Presidents
name figures unfavorably in the reports 1t is
.a,d that he is and has been for some time per
~rally hostile to General Miles Not only this.
Sut inform alton has come to the surface point
,ne 70 the presence in the War Department of a
CLIQUE of junior officers. collected by Secretary
Lamont as advisers who running affairs
az they think best irrespective OF the views Of
their seniors in rank and experience
One Of the most interesting stories told Is that
nnly few days ago the Secretary said that
ne personally not opposed TO the bill This
~
70 send a favorable answer to the inquiry Of the
Senate Committee Military Affairs to the
merits of the BILL but that In Difference to the
wishes or directions Of higher authority he
finally reported that the measure ought not TO
no adopted by Congress. The general subject Is
thought to be one of much interest here. and the
stories in circulation are told and listened 10
with eagerness.
The question Of reviving the grade Of lieuten-
ant-general is one which Secretaries Proctor and
Elkins considered at length. more particularly
from the military point of view. They also took
into account the important services of General
Schofeld in the War of the Rebellion. But know
ing that the chief officer Of all foreign armies held
even higher rank than that Of lieutenant general,
and that In this country the commanding general
Is merely the senior of three major generals, they
recommended that on military grounds the next
higher grade should be restored. Secretary Ell
kins. In a letter to the House Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. put the case In strong terms, saying
that forgetting the personal services of any off,
GER II would be wise for Congress again to Gre
ate the rank held by Washington. Grant. Sher-
man and Sheridan. because the head Of the Army
should be senior by one grade TO his ranking SUBJ
ordnates Friends Of General Miles in Congress
entertained no doubt that Secretary Lamont
would make a favorable Endorsement on the pend
Ing BILL in view Of what his predecessors had said
officially and what they regarded as progress
sive military programme But the Secretary dis
appointed these expectations. and in doing so he
has brought forth widespread resentment, from
which he is likely to hear.
GRAND ARMY MEN AROUSED.
On the subject member Of the House. an old
soldier. said TODAY "The Grand Army boys
will not forget Lamont's course They love Miles.
and look upon him as one Of the greatest volun-
teer generals Of the war. and distinguished Ind
ian fighter. Should Lamont ever put up his head in
politics the boys will hit 1t. and hit 1t hard.
They feel that the President had something to do
with the Secretary's action, and they will remem-
Der him, too.
In other forms several Senators and Represen-
tatives to-day criticised the Secretary OF War.
and in strong language. for his attitude on the
bill
The brief story in yesterdays Tribune saying
that Secretary Lamont had reported against
the bill must have been read by a large con-
tlngent Of the Grand Army 1t is learned that
a number Of Grand Army posts have decided
TO condemn the Secretary in resolutions Several
posts which have been heard from. have al
ready done so. and ADMIRERS Of General Miles
say some vigorous words may be expected from
all of the half million old soldiers who were
behind the petitions sent to Congress urging
the passage of the bill. prominent Grand
Army man said this afternoon that he and his
comrades resented the idea that a public official
who was a young schoolboy when Miles COM
manded $1,000 fighting TO preserve the
Union, and who had no knowledge Of military
affairs should adversely advise Congress on a
question which the ablest. oldest soldiers OF
the country regarded favorably. He also said
of he foct hat he al
dent nor any Of his Cabinet Ministers were in
the Union Army oil Navy. OF in any way helped
to put down the Rebellion. while one member
OF the Cabinet was Confederate officer, re-
port from the War Department at this time
inimical to General Miles in opposition TO the
most respected men Of the country. came with
bad grace.
Perhaps the most interesting Of the stories
afioat this afternoon. which come from trust
worthy sources. are those telling OF sudden
change Of sentiment on the part Of Secretary
Lamont. and the hostility Of the President
to General Miles. and that there Is a clique OF
tunior officers at the War Department who are
running the Army. Information comes 10
Tribune representative TO the effect that
short time ago Secretary Lamont said that he
was favorable TO the idea Of reviving the grade
OF heutenant-GeneraL He then intma;ed that
he was In DOUBT as to the Presidents views
on the subject. AS the reply Of the War De-
partment to the Senate committee inquiry was
an adverse. not favorable. one 1t Is evident
that the Secretary consulted the President and
received instructions to report against the Dill
WHY should the President oppose a bill bene-
fitting General Miles one Of the distinguished
and successful Generals Of the Civil war. wheh
In an annual message he advised Congress 70
restore the grade Of Lieu'enant-Generai ana