The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-25
HULL FILES REPORT ON BILL
TO REORCANIZE STANDING ARMY

and that the nature of artillery service in
general would depend entirely upon local
conditions-conditions that differ from har-
Dor to harbor and it is at once evident that
an arbitrary division of the personnel into
regiments is inherently vicious. The corps
system, on the other hand gives the artil-
lery the adaptabiity that is demanded by
the ever-varying conditions of its service
I'm respect of the number of batteries
recommended by this bill, one argument
only need be brought up. If the necessary
personnel is not to be provided, why are
millions appropriated every year for guns
and forts? The complicated ordnance of
the present cannot be entrusted to I'M
trained men.
by June 3d. 1899, 1879 batteries of coast ar
tillery will be needed for the guns actually
installed. The bill asks for la such bat
teries According to reliable observation
the deteriora ton of electric machinery in
our coast forts when uncared for is 81 per
cent. per annum of other machinery, 20 per
cent, and of guns and of carriers Is per
cent. A battery of two 12-inch guns COM
plete with all its machinery costs s146,O0
If uncared for the yearly loss would be
about $4,000.
I'm the organization of the infantry regi-
ment, the change has been made in the
number of enlisted men in company from
Jog to las. The object of the increase is TO
provide for an adequate force at the very
lowest cost to the government. 1t has not
been the object of the committee to sacrifice
efficiency for economy, but taking the num-
Der of men necessary to carry out the pur-
pose of the government, we believe that an
organization on the basis of 145 which would
give us but 112 privates is more efficient in
actual service than one seventytwo priS
Yates as proposed in the senate bill
Would Decrease Expense
The largely increased number of regi-
ments which would be made necessary by
the reduced number of privates would
entail an increased expense each year on
the government for officers, and would
materially impair the effectiveness of COM
panies and regiments on the line of battle.
General Sherman, in his report to the war
department in 1876, after a full study Of
the armies of Europe and after he had
F0eo their operation on the field of battle,
recommended company of $50 enlisted
Ism III time of war, and further stated
that we could count one-thrd of the
men being absent from duty in army
serving in the field.
General Schwan said that after twenty
one years service as line officer, he re-
garded one hundred and forty-five men as
the best organization.
General Miles in his testimony before
the committee, recommended one hundred
enlisted men. The organization provided
for in this bill gives a maximum smaller
to the regiment than in the minimum of
the leading nations. The committee in
serted a new section in regard to the rec
ord and pension office. believing that the
present chief Of that office has by his won
derfully efficient services made 1t only
proper for him to have the rank of briga-
der general.
His administration of the office has re-
suited in a saving to the government of
over 100000 year in clerk hire alone
Nhsa rx.,ft ~IN IT,, l~flI
certain limitations as to age. The gov
eminent retires an officer at sixty-four on
three-quarters pay. If men are placed in
the army at an advanced age they render
the government absolutely adequate
service for the obligations the government
assumes to care for them during life. The
question of how long a man should serve
before being retired the committee was
not altogether agreed upon, but compro-
mise was finally placed in the bill limiting
appointments to those not over 90 years of
age.
The Retired List
1.-THE retired list should not be used as
an asylum for men who have spent their
active life in civil employment. An ex-
ception was made in new section, ex-
empting all the staff corps now open to
appointment from civil life from the op-
GRAFTON of the age limit, all men who
served in the civil war and the recent war
with spain. Inc reasons for the incor-
poration in the bill of section are found
in the following, submitted by an officer
from the war department.:
Il have made a calculation that the
Dill prepared, provided that all promotions
in each arm is by seniority, in each arm
respectively, would give the following re-
suits as regards promotions to captain: In
the infantry, all the present first neuten-
ants and sixteen second lieutenants. In
the artillery, all the present first ieuten-
ants and forty-two second lieutenats. To-
tai for infantry and artillery, 5S In the
cavalry, 81 Of the first lieutenants would
be affected. The scheme to equalize pro-
motion to captaincy would therefore give
81 captaincies in the artillery and infantry
to the 81 remaining first lieutenants of the
cavalry. All the first lieutenants in each
arm would be captains, and all the second
lieutenants in each arm would become first
lieutenants, leaving the vacancies to be
filled by promotion from the ranks from
the volunteers and from civil life "
The official estimate of the cost of the
army under the organization proposed in
the bill, Chairman Hull states, is about
SSU, 900, 900.
Mr.. Hull estimates the pay of the army
at 81, Alt, S87, and the additional cost Cor
subsistence and all other expenses to
bring the total up to not exceeding $685.
000.0
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