The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-17
ARMY ORGANIZATION.
Objections to Military Bill Now Be
fore Congress.
Harper's Weekly.


Harper's Weekly.
The important facts, so far as the army is
concerned that were developed by the war
with Spain were the splendid quality OF the
line of the regular army and the lnef1clency
of the staff We say nothing of the Volun-
teers, for nothing added by the war to
the knowledge of that class of troops OF
which intelligent military men were not
aware before the war broke out. The ot1cers
and men of the line were an honor TO the
country and added new glories to the flag
under which they serve, with sterling loyal
ty and courage and with great self-sacri-
flee, in peace and war. OF all our public
servants, the officers and men of the army
and navy are, as a body. the most faithful
and the most devoted. Those who love their
Ncountry best are stimulated to hope for the
greatness Of it's future when they read of
the splendid achievements of its soldiers
and sailors 1t is so to-day; it has been 50
throughout our history: and these citizens
in uniform are types of the plain American
citizen who never serves the country except
when service means sacrifice and danger.
We shall never tire, we nope, OF sounding
the praises of our valiant regulars, for when
we do we shall have lost faith in American
institutions and in the worth of American
character
It is strange that there should be need of
any plea in behalf of the line at this time.
when it's achievements are so fresh in the
public mind but that the plea is needed
must be clear to any one who will take the
trouble to analyZe the bill which has been
reported to the House of Representatives
by it's military committee. We shall not
discuss this measure in detail now, but we
shall return to the subject again. We shall
content ourselves now with the statement
that this bill is for the promotion of ;neffi-
cheney, for the eXaggeratiOn of the very
evils whose existence was disclosed by the
War-evils from which the officers and men
of the line are the chief sufferers. 1t is a
bill for the increase but not for the reform
of the staff. 1t makes places for volun-
teers, some of whom are, indeed, worthy
of recognition, but not one of whom should
be appointed into the regular establishment
at the expense of regular officers. 1t makes
places, also, for the appointment of civil
bSdies direct and vicious attack upon the
artillery arm and upon its instructed Off
GERS, who have earned their commissions
in that arm by good work as cadets at the
academy. 1t is bill, indeed, in which fit
ness and training are not considered at all,
or inadeQuately considered, for eXamina-
tionS for the determination of mental eff
cheney are not to be required even where
efficiency is most requisite In preparing
this measure so much were the volunteer
and the civilian in mind that, as the bill
originally stood, there seemed to be no place
for regular officers in the staff corps, and
no exemption as to the age limit that was
expressly devised for the benefit of volun-
teers Therefore, an amendment was sub
mitted in effect putting regular army Off
GERS on an equal footing with volunteers
and civilians.
If we are to have any increase the line
should be the first consideration, and if
there are to be rewards and honors scat
tered about-and well there may be-let
them be for those who won the battles in
Cuba against the Spaniards and despite the
staff.