The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-10
ARMY REORGANIZATION.

Secretary Alger prefers the Hull bill
to the Miles bill as a plan for the re-
organization of the army.
This fact alone makes the Hull bill
an object of suspicion. II there is any
thing that Alger doesn't understand it
is the management, the treatment and
the organization Of an army.
His approval Of a campsite is enough
to start soldiers to writing farewell let
tiers to their folks. His recommendation
OF food carries a sensation Of nausea or
starvation with it. His selection of
clothing would give volunteer an i'm
mediate chill. His appointment Of a
physician causes men to wonder if they
are to be treated like dogs. His en-
dorsement of an army bill is apt to
have similar effects upon every officer
who loves his profession and every en-
listed man VINO hopes. to win reward OF
merit.
It was not expected that Secretary
Alger would give his sanction to any
plan proposed by General Miles, who is
a. soldier and, although a Republican,
not politician.
Republicans who are not politicians
might as well be Populists, from Al
gers way of thinking. And soldiers
who are not politicians might as well
remain in the ranks, according to the
exalted opinion of fighting men enter
tanned by the secretary Of war.
Secretary Alger is opposed to the
Miles measure because it was present
ed by Miles. That is one reason. An
other is because it provides against
political pulls and makes merit rather
than influence the basis of promotion.
The secretary does not favor the
Miles bill because it provides a rotary
system in the staff service. The Her
aid has already called attention to this
feature of the measure. 1t proposes for
all vacancies in the staff grades, as
they occur hereafter, and the new
places TO be created, to be filled by
the detail officers of corresponding
grade from the line Of the army, who
shall retain their relative status in the
lsneal list Of their grade of the branch
of the service to which they belong, and
shall serve on the staff for a period of
years, unless promoted earlier to a
higher grade in their branch of the
service.
This is taken from a synopsis of the
bill which, for some reason or other,
was never sent out in the synopsis is
sued by the Associated Press. The
Miles bill provides further that upon
completion of their term, or upon pro-
motion, these officers shall be returned
70 their branch or arms, and their
places filed by similar details, subject
10 the same limitations.
The Hull bill treats the subject of
promotion in way that reaches better
the understanding and appreciation of
The secretary and the administration.
In various staff corps express pro-
vision is made that persons who have
served as officers in the volunteer army
in the war with Spain and persons in
civil life may be appointed to various
specified grades
The honor and glory of the army
upon which the republic must depend
so much in the future. owing to fin de
steele innovations in national affairs and
the new era which is opening up an
array Of possibilities and responsible
ties that require efficiency as well as
numbers in the military branch of gov
eminent, suggest that this great differ