The times., 1898-11-12

the recommendation of the superintendent
of the academy that the number OF caoe.s
t371), authorized by law, be increases"
there being sufficient instructional an!
barrack facilities. 1t is recommended
that the number of yearly Presidential ap-
nointments be Increased to twenty. and
that two appointments at large be nomi-
mated by the Senators representing each
State of the Union"
Non-Com mi issioned Onicers.
The report recommends that the pay OF
non-commissioned officers be increased.
and it is therefore recommended that the
attention of the Congress be called to the
Importance of a well-directed measure |
that will embrace all grades OF non-com-
missioned officers of the line, from ser |
geant-major to corporal.
The selection of suitable men for ap- /
pointment as non-commissioned officers Is
a duty upon which depends much or the !
efficiency of the command; they are 10 pe |
In immediate contact with and control of
the men, and the measure of success in
the military administration of each COM
mand depends largely upon their charac-
ter, capacity, integrity, energy and sol
dierly qualities.
'.It is suggested whether the best results
would not be attained by substituting for
the present method of appointment OF
non-commissioned ofiicers-largely mat
ter of personal preference-one that, being
based on the result of competitive exam
ination by military boards would more
fully develop the physical. moral and pro-
fessional fitness of the men Offering them
selves as candidates. the regimental and
company commanders retaining the power
of selection, which. however. would be
limited to a class of eligibes.
| thought, awaken the ambition of men in
| the ranks capable of qualifying. and. by
inducing them to select the profession of
| arms as their future career, secure to the
army highly trained and thoroughly eff
| ficient non-eommissioned class; and capa-
BILE. in time of war. of furnishing good ma
terial for volunteer officers.
| hands In the Army
The present organization of regimental
bands consists of one chief musician au-
thorized by law and of one sergeant and
| twenty privates detailed for the purpose
/ because possessing more or less musical
| ability, but who are, nevertheless, in
| structed as soldiers and subject to be
called on for duty in that capacity The
| band is of no expense TO the Government
other than the cost of instruments and
| savings of rations, small percentage of
the profits of the post exchanges with oc-
| casional earnings from private engage
ments with parties in civil life This last
source of support involving competition
| with civilian musical organizations. is
therefore Objectionable and has been kept
down: but II has been found impossible
to secure first-class musicians for the
pay of the private soldier.
| This question is one deserving Con-
gressfonal action. Music has become nee
essary to the health and well-beng OF
the soldier.
In view of the above faulty organiza-
tion and lack of proper compensation. II
is recommended that regimental bands he
increased to at least thirty men. enlisted
as band musicians, and given the follow
ing organization and rates OF pay. viz:
One chief musician. SO: TWO principal mu-
sicians, $50; ten first-class musicians, So;
seventeen second-class musicians. SIS.
''At this rate of pay young men of in
tellgence and character, who desire to
make music profession. would seek po-
sitions In our military bands
THE general service corps created in
1856, subject only to assignment for cleri-
cal and messenger duty at the headquar-
tiers of the army, well at those OF
the several geographical departments,
and arbitrarily divided, as to the clerks.
into three grades, receiving, respectively,
81, ,2o0 s., ,100 and 81 1000 per annum, was
superseded. under the provisions of the
act of August 6, 1894, by civilian force
placed under civil-service rules. This
change operated to deprive the general
service clerks of the privileges of medical
attendance, of purchase from the COM
missary and quartermasters department,
and of retirement, while their pay re-
manned at the rate indicated. This rate
ed TO clerks in the supply departments
at the same headquarters. works injus-
| tice to a meritorious class of men, and
great hardships when called on-as has
happened-to accompany to the field the
commander of the military departments
at whose headquarters they had been as
signed to duty.
Classification of Clerks.
"It is recommended that this force be
brought under the general classification
established by the act of March 3, 1853.
as amended by the act of April 22, 1854,
which governs the classification of clerks
in the several executive departments,
, with the addition of class at 81. 900.
The chief clerk at the headquarters of
| the army should be clerk of class 4,
those at the headquarters of important
! departments of class 3. and at all other
department headquarters of class 2. Ii
| is further recommended that, In times OF
| active service, this force be increased to
, 200 men, by selection of suitable men from
: regiments to enable the War Department
| TO assign trained and competent clerks
to the several corps and divisions in the
field. The detail for clerical duty at these
important headquarters of unframed meT
most seriously hampers the commanding
= ! general and the adjutant general of the
command, results in delayed and imper-
4 feet returns, and necessarily increases
the work of this office.
The following is list of persons com
mitted to the Government Hospital for tn,
e Insane, under the orders of the Secretar!
e of War. from September !, 1897, to Sep
J. | tember /, 1885:
! ! Officers Of the United States army. ..........
| Enlisted men of the United States army..... 5
q Enlisted men of the United States army IRE
treop. ....-.-
Late soldiers of the United States army. ......
a Total. U
= The report expresses the hope that pos
= lyceums may be encouraged, and says it 1
y a question whether or not post school
, should be continued owing to the ineligi
!, bility under the law of illterate men fo
, enlistment in the army
> The report includes a statement fron
!. the quartermaster's department, Showing
: the embarkation of Spanish prisoners. off
= GERS and enlisted men, and the wives o
n officers and their children over five year
% of age, priests, monks. and Sisters o
a Charity from Cuba to Spain during tn
: period from August to September II, a
" follows:
v Officers. 1.16s; enlisted men. 2O,s74
v women, 3S1; children. 3is; priests an