The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-23
REORGANIZING THE ARMY
Favorable Report From the Senate
Military Affairs Committee.
An Entire Change i'm the Appoint
ment of Staff Observation-Disclosures
Formation of the Artillery Branch
Done Away With-Increase in the
Number of West Point Cadets.

Mr.. Proctor from the Committee on Nil
itary Affairs has made a favorable report
on the Senate bill TO increase the efficien-
cy of the military establishment Of the
United States. This bill proposes to
change the present system of permanent
appointments in certain stan corps to one
OF detail by gradual process as the off,
GERS now in those corps go out OF active
service. Officers appointed to these staff
corps under present law are permanently
separated from the line. This bill makes
their separation temporary, rot exceeding
four years. but allowing a redetail after
going back to duty with troops for two
years. This insures that these stan de-
partments shall be in touch and harmony
with the fighting branches. 1t does not
change the status of any of the present
staff or affect their duties or opportunities
for promotion. This feature of the bill
does not increase or diminish the total
number OF officers in the army or affect
their rank. The new system begins in each
corps only when vacancies occur at the
foot OF the list, and as all vacancies are 70
be filled by detail from the line this in
sures a certain amount OF knowledge of
the practical workings of the army on the
part Of all STAFF officers coming into the
departments affected The new system
is not applied to the Corps of Engineers
Medical Department. Pay Department, or
Judge Advocate Generals Department
The bill disccatinues the regimental or
ganization OF the artillery and establishes
an artillery corps of two branches. namely,
126 batteries OF coast artillery and eight
cen batteries of field artillery. This
~.
and the committee have heard no obiec-
tion 10 it. The regimental organization
is not desirable, as a regiment OF artillery
being scattered in the defences along the
coast could never be together. 1t effects
a saving of forty-two company officers
over what would be required for the same
number of officers under regirsentaI or
ganization.
The bill provides for L. As men. Gistrib-
uted as follows: One hundred and twenty
six batteries, at l13. 14.23S; 10 field. II
Ie2, 1882; , siege. at AS. 290; 10 bands, II
IS, $50; regimental sergeant majors. p;
battalion sergeant majors, q. Total, H.
AS.
The artillery now numbers 11.97o en-
listed men; the total increase is therefore
5.47S above that now allowed. Under the
provisions Of the act OF March ., 1893. tie
present strength would be reduced 20 S,059
enlisted men July 1, 1901
The necessity OF this increase OF the ar
tillery 10 care for the more than $50, Co.,,
GOO worth of coast defences that have been
constructed and the large number OF guns
that have been mounted In connection with
them and 10 form the nucleus of a garri-
son for these forts seems 10 require no
argument. The bill allows the increase
TO be made gradually, extending over
period OF five years.
The bill provides for an increase OF 100
in the corps OF cadets at West Point. two
at large from each State, making 90. and
10 more added to the present number from
the United States at large.
On this subject the report says. With
in two years several hundred officers have
been appointed from civil life. and the in
crease Of the artillery especially requires
a larger number of scientifically educated
officers II appeared before the committee
that the present facilities Of the Ac9d-
envy would answer the principal require
ments Of the increase.
The Secretary OF War in his very able
report. es in his statements before the
committee, has shown conclusively the ur-
gent Importance OF these three principal
provisions of the bill"
The bill also increases the rank OF the
Commanding General of the Army 70 that
Of lieutenant general. and that of the Ad-
jutant General TO major general during
the incumbency Of the present Adjutant
General
II also abolishes the grade Of post chap
lain and allows one chaplain for each
regiment in the service.