The sun., 1896-02-06
AFFAIRS OF TIE ARMY.
Tho New Recruiting System Seniority nuA
SclectIon-SummnrYA I Aoucts.

SciectiOn-Summury Courts.
WASHINGTON, Feb 5. - Tho good effects Of
Secretary lamonts new recruiting system arc
shown by the statement that forty-se officers
and about 1000 enlisted men formerly ON re-
cruiting duty have been restored to active ser.
vice with their regiments. Formerly the re.
cruits used to pass three months. on the average
at the recruiting station. and now the average
Is sixteen days. the recruits being taught in tho
regiments to which they are assigned. A saving.
too. is made in transportation by sending them
to the regiments without guard. Where at
one time 763 recruits were held at depots now
l39 are found. and where 436 enlisted men were
required then the number is now only lOS
These and other points appear In recent state.
ment to the War Department, and It ia esti.
mated that by the change in system the sum of
about 100000 year Is saved.
The confirmation of Gen. Coppinger as Briga.
dier-Genernl made possible the other promo.
tions depending on 1t. 1t should also render un.
necessary any action on the singular resolution
offered in the House by Mr. Hermann Thia
resolution proposed to call upon the President
for his reasons for promoting Colonels of the
line who were inferior in rank to certain others
named in the resolution. The officers thus speci.
fed were Col w. r. Shafter. First Infantry,
Col. II. G. Merriam Seventh Infantry ana Col.
L. VI. Anderson. Fourteenth Infantry. Mr.. Her.
mann's resolution pays tribute to the war REQ.
ords Of Coils Shafter and Anderson. 1t would
be a sufficient answer. doubtless. to the resolu.
tion that. while seniority prevails In pro.
motions all the way up to Brigadier enernl
when the star Is conferred the President. under
the laws. Is to select officer. and the senate
then confirms or rejects him AS it may see nt to
40. mere Is; therefore. no reason why the
sons sons ior such action on the part of both the
preSident resident and the senate should be called for by
the house II 1t Is desired to substitute seniOr.
Y Tor selection. that Is another matter, and .
Oh! cou!d pc intronuced for the purpose.
gard to summary courts makes 1t read that In
time time Of peace every enlisted man who is to be
tration OF Justice in the army" approved Oct.
court martial shall, within twenty Mt four hours
from the time of his arrest unless he is tried
fore summary court Which, shall consis; ~, pe n
officer designated By the commanding officer OF
tbortv p%st sat9 s 5 or command or b superior
station, or command. When such designation
shall be made by SUPERIOR authority It shall su-
to administer oaths and to hear and determine
,nch mc n ca,rs and when satisfied of the guilt OF
hctcd; This punishment is not TO exceed n
months confinement at hard labor with loss Of
officers the addition of reduction to the ranEs'
These latter cannot. If they object. be tried be.
an officer competent to direct their trial By
general court martial. Any sentence Of a sum.
Other commander before taking effect. althoueh
when there Is only one commissioned ofiicer hS
may finally determine the case ~
Inc commanding officers who can approva :.
sentences may also remit or mitigate them and
records kept OF the summary courts may bo
destroyed when no longer OF use. To this blu ia
aamcG provision not properly belonging to II,
namely that when person not in the mlljtarv
service appears before general court marital
~ the army as u witness and refuses to take
ihe oath or affirmation or to testify or produce
documentary or other evidence when ordered
20 20 DO So he may be punished to the extent OF =
hne OF 81 100 and Imprisonment for a year
hi, Inc senate committee has not approved the
Forks, bill offered by Mr.. Hale appronriates
sno,ooo TO establish post near Bangor. on the
A somewhat singular nrn"osni W cos.. w.
8 to repeal al laws authorizing the appointmsns
u mlitary officers to superin tend the 0peratons
'ppointed by the President subject to confirma.