New-York tribune., 1900-04-20
REFORMS IN THE ARMY.
SECRETARY ROOTS SCHEME MODIFIED
AND PRACTICALLY COMPLETED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Washington Aprf 19-Secretary Roots Army
reorganization scheme as modihed by the sen
ate Committee on Military Affairs. was pracu-
cally completed to-day and will probably be re-
ported the first OF next week. The chief feat-
ures of the measure as originally proposed by
the Secretary are retained. except providing ior
certain promotions by selection. which Is
obiterated In Difference to the opposition or the
entire service who feared that political inhu-
ences and similar considerations would govern
the selections.
The important reform of temporary tenure on
staff duty, instead Of permanent transfers re-
mains. with slight alterations which do not af-
feet the principle.
What is deemed the greatest gain for the
Army is the sweeping increase in the artillery
for coast defence. This of the service Is
not only provided with corps formation, but is
mere than doubled In strength. without any re-
duction In the enlisted force of cavalry and in
fantry. Under Section of the bin agreed
upon the artillery corps Is to consist of
chief of artillery. who shall be selected from the
coonels Of artillery, AMI who while serving as
chief Of artillery shall have the rank. pay and al
lowances Of a brigader general Of the Army, but
shall not be chief of bureau or department;
thirteen colonels, OF whom shall be the chief
of artillery; twelve lieutenant coonels thirty six
majors. 100 captains. 100 first lieutenants, 16O
tenants provided for in this section not required
for duty with batteries companies shall be
available for duty as staff officers of the various
artillery garrisons and such other details may
be authorized by law and regulati tions. There
twenty-one serseant-majors with the rank, pay
and allowances of resimental sergeant-majors OF
infantry; twenty-seven sergeant majors with
the rank, pay and allowances of battalion SER
geant-majors of infantry; one electrician ser
geant to each coast artillery post having cleo
trical appliances; eighteen batteries of field
tilery; 126 batteries Of coast artillery, and ten
bands, organized authorized by law for
artillery regiments; provided that the aggregate
number of enlisted men for artillery shall not
exceed 11,44S exclusive of electrician sergeants.
The increase herein provided shall be In addition
to the enlisted strength now authorized in the
Regular Army.
This clause gives more than the military au-
thorities dared tc hope TO ask for. it does
away with the necessity Of cutting down the
other arms of the service TO provide men for the
guns for defence.
THE STAFF PROVISIONS.
Another important amendment exempts from
the temporary staff provisions officers hold
| ing permanent appointments in the Adjutant
Generals, Inspector-GeneraIs, Quartermaster's
Subsistence and Ordnance departments and
Tor line and staff officers is preserved, so far as
it relates TO filling places which may hereafter
become vacant in the staff corps named. The
period of staff duty remains at four years.
One of the provisions Of the Root bill which
caused much criticism was that for selecting
chiefs of staff. opening these positions to any
officer OF any grade. the President TO have u
thority retire chiefs of staff pleasure. This
is amended to permit the Fr' dent select
chief of any staff corps or department from the
Army at large not below the rank of lieutenant
colonel and chiefs of staff, corps or departments
shall be appointed for the of four years.
unless sooner relieved"
This is not made applicable to officers general
ly, however, until all the officers holding
permanent places in the staff corps shall have
vacated their staff positions. 1t has the effect
of assuring the junior officers in each corps of
one day becoming the head of the staff depart
nlent. There is also a clause allowing any off,
Ger who holds the place of chief of staff and re-
turns 20 his former rank TO be retired with the
rank. pay and allowances of a brigader-general
A section, evidently to meet such cases as
| that Of General Eagan. provides that when the
interests Of the service are deemed to be bene-
flied by the action the President may place on
| the retired list any officer who has been sus-
pended from duty by sentence OF court-martial."
PROMOTION FOR MILES AND CORBIN.
The last two sections of the bill provide for
| the grade of lieutenant general, and for the
| rank Of major general for the adjutant- gen.
eral. The section relating to the lieutenant gen
eral IS made specifically to apply to General
Miles in the language that the grade will be
| filled by "the senior major general now COM
manding the Army"
The grade of lieutenant general commanding
! the Army is to be permanent. but that of major
| general is limited to General Corbin's term of
| service.
! Among the features retained in the amended
| bill which obnoxious large elements of
the service is that providing for the increase of
/ artillery officers by transferring infantry and
cavalry officers above the rank of captain to the
| artillery This, 1t is pointed out, would
| block the promotion of lieutenants of artillery
who would be deprived of the opportunity of ad-
vancement for which they had been long wait
| ing Another clause which has led to contro-
versy is that providing that certain sections ap-
plying to artillery duty should not be construed
| to prevent the use Of machine other field
/ guns by any other arm of the service Some
artillery officers have understood that this clause
| disclosed a scheme to have the cavalry absorb
| the light artillery. The War Department Off
| cials deny that such a motive exists and the
| law officers OF the Army. who may be considered
| free of prejudice In the matter, say there is
! nothing in the clause to justify the suspicion,
since it does not disturb existing conditions and
| in fact viii have the effect of establishing for
| the first time in the history of the Army the
| principle that field and other machine guns must
| be considered part OF artillery equipment
The proposition to appoint chaplain for each
regiment in the service has been incorpora ted
| In the new bill.
| TO ENLARGE THE CORPS OF CADETS.
Washington. April 10 (SpeciaD.-The Senate Com
m!ttee Military Affairs TODAY reported the
| Hawley bill to enlarge the West Point Cadet
Corps BY it's terms the corps of cadets is to con-
sst OF from each Congress district one from
each Territory. from the District OF Columbia
two from each State at large and forty from the
! United States at large. At present the President
/ has only many appointments as 1t has members
In the House of Representatives. Allowing two
| thirty more for Presidential selection. i2j ADJ
al ch I ~.