New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-09
ARMY OFFICERS STIRRED UP
THEY OBJECT 70 PROPOSED LEGIsLA
TON BY CONGRESS.
SENATOR IIAwLEY's PROPOSITION FOR EXAMi-
NATIONS PREVIOUS TO APPOINTMENT To
THE ADJUTANT- GENERALS DEPART
MENr STRONGLY OPPOSED
ANOTHER LINE AND STAFF
CONTROVERSY.
fpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrBusE.1

fBy TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrBuNEj
Washington. Jan. SIT would seem that the
executive branch of the Government over wh'ch
Secretary Lamont presidcs Is aptly named the
War Department Information which came TO
light to-day goes to substantiste this statement
A discussion, similar In some respects TO the ear
nest and long-continued difference between Inc
and STAFF officers OF tho Navy. IL going on among
line and staff officers Of the military branch
Senator Hawley IL the innocent cause OF phrt Oh
the feeling which has sprung among Army
officers Senator whose name IL not KNOWN ~
responsible for another feature OF the dscussion
II appears that few days ago Senator Hawiey
introduced In the Senate amendment to the
Army Appropriation bill which has In view ma
teral change ir laws ting to the military SER
vice. The proposition is now before Senator Quay
acting as n subcommittee OF the Committee on
Appropriations. It Is. ir effect TINT hereafter "
officers OF the line Of tho Army selected ny 'he
President as majors and assistant adJutant-geh-
erals should be required to undergo examination
az to their physical and professional QUALIFICATIONS
previous to appointment. No such requirement Is
laid down In existing law. The present pracuce
Is for the President 10 name captains OF the INC
for appoin tment to the Adjutant-Generars Depart
ment to send their names to the Senate. ana upon
confirmation 10 issue appropriate commissions
Senator IInwley's proposition attracted no pr
ticular attention In the Senate when II WAS pre-
scented. To Senators who considered IL IL seeme"
to establish a rule under which the quahhca''o"'
of officer could be ASCertaineC WSNiouS " h''
appointment to an important staff department As
n rule Senators are not advised as to details OF
military questions. Senator Hawley. or course
as we'll as other members of the Military Commit
tee. is Informed In such matters, but IL sec"s
that this particular proposition was suggested 10
| Senator Hawiey By an Army officer OF high ram
and that the Senator consequently accepted 'he
| suggestion as one worthy OF favorable attention.
| there being no apparent objection 10 us pro-
| visions
Army officers watch propositions submitted 10
| Congress closely and 1t only short time
| after II became known that Senator Hawiey ma"
| sueyestod n material modification OF laws reauns
| TO their branch OF the service That they oec""
stirred up For the last day or two certain o''i'
| have been particularly jealous IN poihtihs OUT ~
| members of the Senate that II MI Hawiey propo-
s,,ior "a adopted the effect will be to limit tne
Presidents field Of selection and to cohsdeI' p'
| oxten, exclude from the list OF eigibles ohce''
| who served as volunteers in the war ana are ~"
| In the regular establishment Only west io''
| Il Is said could pass examinations tha' "o' "
| prescribed for entrance In this "ep'' ' .
| therefore volunteer captains who nave ho' o'."
| oducated in certain technical studies, put WIN
have excellent records and are Jealous, eihc'e"t
| and practical officers would have no cnrc' VI
| promotion to majority in this corps Inc Id"
now prescrbes That in cases where oi,ceIs -, al.
line are appointed TO the Ordnance pepa' @
| Of the Army they shall previously undergo spe
cia examination as to illness Cor Mr. uow,cv.s
PROPOSITION those who oppose IT gay rha' acbbnica
Zion Of the kind Is proper enough FOR ,tcr ~,
| branch such as the Ordnance corps Di t,, 10
strictly military branch. such as the ad
Cancr5Vs Department no such requirement, ~ au
| visabls or necessary. Another pom. 40 =, wa
| aranst the proposed amendment - tnn' ,h. he
not suggested by Secretary nr"vious to it's
,,,r a. by Mr. IIawev An interesting rae
~ ,bn case is that proposition similar 10 ni' ~
ssnaor H@wsy ,, Tss o ary Ars
IN Army Annropriati ton bill was under DISCUSSION,
| Ac"or,nG 10 report General Rugges. me pres..'
| Adjuant- Geeral OF the Army SUI s ese oommittee
| nosed change Of law both to the House n,nc
| ard Senator Hawlcy One point urgea, ~ ubpn
nents OF the proposition IL that any o,lio c"n he
| Tho President may select for appointment Sn' ~
| found deficient on examination by "'aN''e ''
THE effort TO prevent the adoption OF ,f' -
| ,rent IL an earnest one Special Appeals nav HI,i
sent to IN ,mbers OF the Senate ra,ria ions
The subject Of the other lively debate so' ios
amoro Army officers also relates TO proposes -
aton by Congress In this case me aspai be :,
OF officers Of the Corps OF EhSnet the bl 10 re-,
| rnanizc mo Army which recently favorapIy
renoreJ To the Senate the Corps OF r.hsliesrS -,
with the infantry. artillery ana caVailS ia 70 "a
i'm, Ms OF the Army The proposition referred TO as
Waving stirred up line officers Is that clause hs
shoud he added to the Army Appropriation >. piii
saving distinctly that the CORPS OF EnnlnssrS snh h
line are opposed the idea asserting tnaa umu.
the revised Army regulations ofncers Vi 49,,
os vol as officers of certain other stan 9rp'f, :
ments are now eligible to coinnhu. a.cu'1 h he
they can assume control of troops II Is
said that officers OF the engineers compai' INA; n
occasions they are on duty az eng So ,ba
vnder commend Of their juniors In rank anu tnS :,
This ia not lust Line officers say tnat thss nh.n
is Tho command branch. and that all stan oi.cers
n,d ' or vourg should be subject to their orders.