The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-31
GEN. NILES NOT FIT
To Be Made LieutenantIGen-
eral, Lamont Says.
HIS SERVICES NOT EXALTED.
schof,eld the Last of the Great "srri-
orr, the secretary Thinks-His A1c''
ter to senator Hawisy.


washington City, March 5o.-The letter
~ Secretary Lamont to Gen. na"ies'
chairman OF the senafe committee on ala.i
tary affairs, disapproving the bill 70 reslse
.be rank Of Lieutenant general OF tnt army
VS. made public today. The Dill Was
known a. intended TO confer the rams pi
GEN. Niles, now commanding Inc arn.''
though his name Is not msntlonea ~ vac
correspondence. Accompanying The isle.. :
mr.. extracts from the military reeof"s =,
e.ofe Grant, Sherman. SHERIDAN as"
gschofe.d. who became lieutenant zefiefa
alec 81 Gene. Niles, EHger and merritt,
uTg,e under the bin would be eiigl0se 70 tiss
grade Of lieutenant general.
Tt. secretary after ACKNOWLEDGING IN"
rsreipt OF the bin, says that ~ no instance
has an officer attained this rank unlii ne
has successfully Commanded the "hoi" ~
q separate division of the army ID paens
or In active campaign ne BIsss "ss
been revived always with the onlec' OF
comforting complimentary rank upon gen
erals ,sra0 had rendered eminent ana ais-
Ii. gufAhed services or those most disi1n-
guished for courage. skill and aDility IN
war. Five besides Washington were thus
herorea, OF whom four hid received the
thanks Of congress BY name Tor nsost 10
tingusshed military service, while me NTH
had commanded a separate army during
regular grade thirty years before his pro-
mellon. mad held the chief command CT
the whole regular army for seven years,
ami had suecassfssi discharged most deli
cate and Responsible civil duties
Secretary Lamont refers to the orsaniza-
flon Of 1874, ilxing the strength OF me army
al sixty regiments, and 10 The fact that
four years later the force was reduced 10
forty regiments. and says "Ai The time
OF the enactment or this statute forbtdding
further prunut!en 10 lieutenant generals
there slIli survived Oh active duty several
officers who bad successfully commanded
aFTnles or army corps dufinS the eivi war!
and az such had rendered most distinguish
81 service but the yeNer to reward by
further promotion Of suah men a. Hal
ieck, Aeade. Hancock and others
was deliberately taken away when
Il vas enacted IN lssa during the admins
tratton OF President Grant that tne offices
then neid by sherman and Grant, when
next vacant. should not b. filled The pres
ent major generals of our army attained
brilliant regulations for gallantry while
commanding subdivisions of army corps
daring the 80 conflict. and have added
to their laurels since by efficient perforus
anca 81 arduous duties upon the Indian
frontiers. bat Il IL no reflection upon these
excellent officers 10 say that the services
they have no far rendered are not OF that
exalted character That has hitherto been
regarded as a prerequisite to the advance
ment now proposed.
Nothing that the grade Of lieutenant
general has not been regarded as a perfna-
nent office necessary 10 our army organi-
zation, and has been conferred only upon
few Of thoHa officers who have rendered
marked services In war: that the eompli-
mentary rank, when bestowed, has often
been withheld until loni; after the demon
stratlon Of their superior ability. and has
only been voted AZ re ward OF great mil
itary genius ana most conspicuous lead
orshiP. the conclusion IL reached that,
whatever the merits and promise of any Of
fieers a our peace establishment who
have had no opportunity 20 demonstrate
their genius and capacity az commanders
OF large armies. by the measure hereto
fore required, the existing condi lions do
not demand its revival