The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-05
THE ARMY BILL REPORTED.
Committee Amendments to the Plan
Proposed by Secretary Root.

Committee Amendments to the Plan
Proposed by Secretary Root.
The Army Reorganization bill was re-
ported by the House Committee on Mill
tary Affairs yesterday afternoon. with
many changes from the draft prepared by
the War Department. Provision is made
for the appointment of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee.
Delaware, as brigadier generals, and Gen
eral Shafter as major general Of the
Regular Army.
The chief of artillery is to be styled in
spector and attached to the staff of the
General Commanding the Army. The in
crease in artillery officers is made proper
tiolate to the increase in men. The rank
OF Adjutant General is limited to brigadier
general after the retirement of the in
cumbent. The appointments of majors in
the Judge Advocate Generals office may be
filled by appointment from officers holding
commissions as judge advocate of volun-
teers since April q, 1897 to captain in the
Quartermaster's Department, from officers
of volunteers commissioned since April 81,
1898, TO captain in Subsistence Department
from volunteer officers commissioned since
April 81, 1888.
Secretary Roots plan for filling vacan-
cies in the bureaus by detail from the line
is stricken out and the following section
inserted:
That whenever there shall occur va
cancy, which cannot be filled by promotion
or appointment under the provisions OF
preceding sections of this act in offices OF
the grades of Lieutenant colonel and major
in the Adjutant Generals and Inspector
Generals Departments, Of captain in the
Quartermaster's Subsistence and Pay De-
partments. and of first lieutenant in the
Ordnance Department and the Signal Corps,
such vacancy shall not be filled by PERM
anont appointment, but shall be filled by
the detail by the Secretary of War after
competitive examination, as hereinafter
provided of an officer of the line, who shall
serve for the period of four years unless
sooner relieved and shall Lot again be ELI
sible for detail in any staff corps or de-
partment until he shall have rendered ac-
tual service for two years with troops of
tie arm in which he is commissioned
Any officer detailed for staff duty un-
der the provisions of this section shall
be selected from the grade corresponding
to. or from the grade next below, that TO
which the detail is to be made, and shall
have the rank, pay and allowances Ct the
grade to which detailed. No detail for
staff duty as herein provided shall be
made in the case of any officer until he
has actually served with troops for at
least four years il his rank is above that
of second lieutenant. and for at least
two years if he is second lieutenant:
and no such detail shall be made in the
case of any officer until he shall have
passed a satisfactory competitive 6Xami-
nation by an examining board composed
of three officers. of whom one may be
line officer. and two shall be permanent
or detailed officers of the department: or
corps in which the detail is to be made,
said examination to be conducted under
regulations to be prescribed by the Presi-
dent and to be announced in Teneral
orders to the army. Examining boards. to
be constituted as herein prescribed, for
the various departments and corps in
which details are to be made shall be
convened by the Secretary of War at such
times and places as the exigencies OF the
service may require, and said boards shall
examine and report upon, as far as prac-
ticable. all line officers who may be ap-
plicants for details to staff duty, and who
shall have been recommended by their
commanding officers for such details.
separate list of officers reported on fav-
orabiy by such examining boards shall
be kept for each department or corps in
which details are to be made, the officers
on said list to be arranged in accordance
with the ratings given them by the ex-
amining boards and to be detailed for
duty in the department or corps to which
the list pertains. in the order of their
standing upon said list. beginning with
the officers having the highest rating; hut
no officer shall remain eligible for detail
for more than two years unless he shall
again successfully pass the examination
prescribed.
Provided. that nothing in this act shall
he SO construed as to require the detail
for staff duty of any officer who in the
judgme Mt of the Secretary of War is men,
tally. morally, or physically unfit for such
detail.
THAT whenever there shall occur va
caflcy which cannot be filed under the
provisions of preceding sections of this
act by the promotion OF officers holding
appointments. in Offices of the
grades of colonel in the .adjutant Gener-
ais and Inspector Generals Departments,
of major in the Quartermaster's and SUBJ
sistence Departments, of major in the Pay
Department after the number of paymas-
ters of that grade shall have been reduced
below nine. and of captain in the Ord
nance Department and the Signal Corps,
such vacancies shall be flied by the ap
pointment of an officer to be selected from
among those who have served by detail,
under the provisions Of this act in the
next lower grade in the department or
corps in which the vacancy occurs"
The canteen is referred to as follows:
That no officer or private soldier shall
sell intoxicating drinks Of any kinds. as a
bartender or otherwise, in any army post,
or on any army transport, or in any other
encampment or fort, or on any premises
used for military purposes by the United
States; and the Secretary OF War is here
by directed to issue such general order
as may be necessary to carry the pro-
visions of this section into full force and
effect
The bill further provides that no officer
of the army shall be deprived of his COM
mission by this bill.
WILL FAVOR THE BREWERS.