The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-20

The Senate Military Committee has ma
terially amended the Root bill for The
reorganization OF the Army, and will report
ii in few days Many protests reached
the committee from Army officers. who
represented that the bill, as drafted by
the War Department. contained provisions
which would introduce politics and social
influence in the administration OF mill
tary affairs Secretary Root, who has APP
peared twice before the committee. eX-
pressed a willingness to have all other fea-
lures OF the bill sacrificed if it were nee
essary to do so to secure an increase in the
artillery. and to provide for reorganiza-
tion.
The most notable change made by the
committee is the rejection OF section J.
which provides for promotion by selection
Most Of the objections OF officers TO The
bill we're based on this provision, which
authorized making every third promotion
TO the grade Of colonel lieutenant colonel,
and major in the line by selection An
other important amendment is that when
exempts from the provisions Of the pend
ing measure the officers now holding per
manent appointments in the Adlulan'
Generals. Inspector General s. quarter
masters. Subsistence, and Ordnance De
partments. and Signal Corps. The pro-
vision for Interchangeable duty Tor line
and staff officers is preserved. so FAR as
il relates to filing places which may mere
after become vacant in the stan corps
named. The period Of STAFF duty named IN
the Root bill-fOur years-Nas approved
by the committee.
The provision Of the Root bill for Sc
Iecting chiefs OF staff, 10 which places OIL
ficers Of the Army Of any grade were
made eligible. and by which the
President was given authority &c
retire chiefs Of staff at his Pies
ure. has been amended by the CON-
select chief Of any stan corps, or de-
partment from the Army al large, rot
below the rank OF Lieutenant colonel and
chiefs OF staf corps or departments shall
be appointed for the term of four years
unless sooner relieved This feature a
the bill. however. is not made applicable
TO officers generally until those now hold
ing permanent places in the staff corps
shall have vacated their staff positions. Il
is provided also that any officer who may
hold the place of chief Of staf and who
returns to his former rank may be Ie-
tired with the rank. pay. and allowances
IDENTIFY aimed at such cases as that Of
Commissary General Eagan, now under
suspension. provides that when the inter-
ests Of the services are deemed TO be bene-
fitted by the action, the President may place
on the retired list any officer who mas
been suspended from duty by sentence q
court-martisl.'
The plan OF organizing the artillery iEto
a corps Of two branches. coast and held
artillery at the head OF which is 10 b. a
chief of artillery. with the rank OF brisa-
der general, is retained in the committee
bill. The strength Of the artillery re-
mains the same as in the amended bill,
with the important provision that the total
strength Of HAS is not 10 be maie by
transfers from other arms Of the service.
but will be in addition TO the enlisted
strength now authorized in the Regular
army This means a material increase
in the enlisted strength OF the artillery
arm. without disturbing the strength OF
the infantry and cavalry. The provisions
Tor Increasing the artillery at a rate Of y
per centum per year remains IN the bill
One feature OF Mr.. Roots bill which has
met with much criticism was that which
provided for the increase OF artillery Of
fCers By transferring infantry and cavalry
officers above the rank OF captain 10 the
artillery branch. This 10 was c0nten5ed
by its opponents. would block the pro
motion Of lieutenants Of artillery. who
would thus be deprived Of their opportu-
nifty Of advancement. for which they had
been so long waiting. The Senate COM
mittee has. however. made no change in
this particular
The last two sections OF the measure pro-
vide for the new grade Of lieutenant gen
eral. and for the rank Of major general for
The Adjutaut General The language Of the
section relating to the lieutenant general is
made specifically to apply to General Miles
X says that the new grade shall be filed
by The senior major general now com
handing the Army Il has been contend
ed with reference to this proposition that
1t is in violation Of the Presidents consti-
tutional right to make appointments.