The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-02

| influence, authority, and effectiveness
| in military affairs to the work and the
| thought developed in them, aside from
mere instruction, and a weight and
| utility to their records of the efficiency
| and merit of their pupils not hitherto
accorded to them in proportion to the
high character of the work they have
| done.
(2) That every officer of the army be-
! low the rank of a field officer, and not
already a graduate of one of the SER
vice schools, should be detailed for
some fixed period during his service to
receive instruction at this college in
the science of war, including the duties
! of the staff, and in all matters pertain
ing to the application of military sci
! ence to national defense; that provis-
ion should be made for the continuance
of such instruction by correspondence
after the expiration of the period Of
each officers detail. and that all Off
GERS should be invited and entitled TO
present, by written papers and reports,
as a part of the regular course and for
| credit upon their efficiency records, the
. results of their Investigations, explor-
ations, reflections, and professional and
scientific work, and upon such special
subjects as may be prescribed by the
college.
go That all staff appointments should
hereafter be made from the line of the
army for fixed period Of say, four
or five years, the holder to return TO
the line at the end of the period and
not to be eligible TO reappointment
until after at least one years service
in the line, and that after the expira-
ton of a reasonable period the selec-
ton of STAFF appointments should be
made on the basis of proficiency and
fitness, as shown in the War college Cor
heretofore in the service schools), in
cluding as elements for consideration
both the work done during the period
of detail, and the postgraduate work.
Excepting, however, that such appoint
ments should also be permitted for gall
liant and meritOriOus conduct in the
field, shown by recommendations of
commanding officers for breVet promo
tiOn made during the progress of a war,
and excepting that for the technical
and scientific branches of engineering
ordnance, and signal service examina-
tions should be continued; that all pro-
motions in the staff itself be upon the
! basis prescribed for original appoint
| ment, combined with efficiency of SER
vice in the staff.
4) That the present system Of pro-
motion by seniority should be modified
as to all officers now or hereafter be-
low field rank, by making a specific
proportion or the promotions to each
grade for seniority, and a specific pro-
portion on the basis either of efficiency
records in the war college, or hereto
fore in the service schools, including
both elements of work done during ac-
tual attendance and subsequent there
to, or for gallantry in the field during
war, or BOTH accompanied in each case
by evidence of faithful performance of
the ordinary duties of the line.
(5) That all selections of candidates
for staff appointments and for staff
promotions and for line promotions,
other than those made for seniority,
should be made by boards of officers
appointed for that purpose, upon an
examination and estimate of the effic-
iency records exhibiting the grounds
for appointment or promotion above
stated. Nothing can be more import
| ant than that the officers of the army
shall feel that their rise in rank de-
pends upon what they do; that ability,
| intellectual activity, faithful perform
| ance Of duty, and gallant conduct are
! more certain claims to preferment than
| social or political influence. A system
OF promotions which is divorced from
the efficiency record is not merely un-
Just, but IL destroys ambition and
checks the effort Of the army. The way