The record-union., 1898-12-25

Ql1er from narDOr TO ndIpOT, ana 1t Is
at once evident that an arbitrary di-
vision of the personnel into regiments is
inherently vicious. The corps system,
on the other hand, gives the artillery
the adaptability and f1exibility that are
demanded by the every varying condi-
tions of its service.
In respect to the number of batteries
recommended by this bill, one argu-
ment only need be brought up. If the
necessary personnel is not to be pro-
yided, why are millions appropriated
every year for guns, for the compli-
Gated ordnance of the present cannot be
trusted to unframed men. By June
80, 1899, 1875 batteries of coast ar
tilIery will be needed for the guns
actually installed. The bill asks for
IA such batteries According to reli
able observation, the deterioration of
electric machinery in our coast forts,
when uncared for, is 33 per cent. per
annum, of other machinery 20 per cent,
and Of guns and carriages 70 per cent
battery of two 12-inch guns COM
plete with all it's machinery costs S146,-
600; if uncared for the yearly loss
would be about S44, 900.
I'm the organization of the infantry
regiment the change has been made
in number of enlisted men in company
from 106 to 145. 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 OBJ
iect of the committee to sacrifice eff
cheney for economy, but taking the
number of men necessary to carry out
fha' of
that an organization on the basis of
145, which would give us but 112 pri-
Yates, is more efficient in actual serv-
ice than one of 126 priyates, as pro-
posed in the Senate bill. The largely
increased number of regiments which
would be made necessary by the re-
duced number of privates would entail
an increased expense each year on the
Government for officers, and would ma
terially impair the effectiveness of COM
panies and regiments on the line OF bat
tie.
General Sherman, in his report to
the War Department in 1876, after a
full study of the armies of Europe, and
after he had seen their operations on
the field of battle, recommended a COM
pany of 250 enlisted men in time of
war, and further stated that We could
count on a third of the men being ab-
sent from duty in an army serving in
the field. General Schwan said that
after twenty-one years service as a
line officer, he regarded 145 men as the
best organization. General Miles in his
testimony said 100 enlisted men.
1.-THE organization provided for in
this bill gives as a maximum a smaller
regiment than in the minimum of the
leading nations.
THE committee inserted a new sec
tion in regard to the Record and Pen
sion Office, believing that the present
chief Of the office has by his wonder
fully efficient services made it only
proper, for him to have the rank of
Brigadier General. His administration
Of the Office has resulted in saving to
the Government of over 100000 year
in clerk hire. alone.
The committee has placed in the bill
certain limitations as to age. The Gov
ernment retires an officer at 64 on
three-quarters pay. If men are placed
in the army at an advanced age, they
render the Government absolutely no
adequate service for the obligations the
Government assumes to carer forsthem
during life. The question ofrhow long
man should serve before being re-
tired was one the committee was not
all agreed upon, but a compromise was
finally placed in the bill, limiting ap-
pointments to those not over 80 years
of age.
The retired list should not be used
for an asylum for men who have spent
fla0ir M 70 <afr1
exception was made in new section
exempting all the staff corps now open
to appointment from civil life from the
operation of the age limit, all men who
served in the civil war and the recent
war with Spain. The reasons for the
Incorporation in the bill of Section 5
is found in the following, submitted
by an officer from the War Department: !:
{" 1 have made a calculation that the
bill prepared, provided all promotion in
each arm is by seniority respectively
would give the following results as re-
gard promotion to Captain: In the in
fantry all the present First Lieutenants
and sixteen Second Lieutenants; in the
artillery all the present Lieutenants and
forty-two Second Lieutenants; total for
infantry and artillery, forty-eight. In
the cavalry fifty-seyen of the present
Lieutenants would be left such. The
scheme to equalize promotion to Can
taincy would, therefore, give fifty-seven
Captaincies in the artillery and in
fantry to the fifty-seven 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 vacan-
cies at the foot of the list of First Lieu
tenants, and all the Second Lieutenants
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 S90,00000 Mr.. Hull estimates
that the pay of the army at S24 416. .SS7.
and the additional cost for subsistence
and all other expenses to bring the to-
tai up to not to exceed 5000. 900
Death Of Distinguished LAWYER,
GAINESVILLE (wis.), Dec. 24.-T. G.
Sloan, distinguished lawyer. ex-Con-
gresham, ex-Attorney General of Wis
consin, and Dean of the Law School
of the University of Wisconsin. was
found dead in his bed to-day from
stroke of apoplexy. aged 76. Mr. Sloan
was a member Of the Committee on
Literary Affairs in Congress during
the administration of President Lin
coin.
Will Not Enter the Combine.
COLUMBUS (O.), Dec. PA special
from Akron O. saws the Goodrich