The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-07
Commanding Officer of the
Forces Is To Be a Lieu.
tenant General
STAFF PLAN is CHANGED
Corps of Cadets at West Point Is
Increased by One Hundred
Students-Other Fea-
lures Are Quite
New.

Washing ton, May 4.-Tod1y'S session OF
the senate was rendered especially nota-
bic by the passage, after debate lasting
only three hours. of the army reorgahlZa-
ton bill. In military circles the measure
is regarded as one of the most important
of the present session. 1t practically rev
olutionizes the present system of perma-
nent appointments in certain staff corps
to one of detail by Il gradual process, as
the officers now in those corps go out OF
active service. AS vacancies occur In de-
partments of the adjutant general. the
inspector general, quartermaster general
and commissary general they are TO be
filled by details from the line. the details
To he temporary and not exceeding four
years.
The new system Is not applied To the
corps of engineers, medical department.
pay department nor judge advocate gen
erals department. The bill discontinueS
the regimental organization of the artil-
lery and establishes an artillery corps Of
two branches. viz, lbs batteries Of coast
artillery and Is batteries of field artillery
with u total of II. AS men.
The bill provides for an increase OF lVo
In the corps of cadets at West Point.
two at large from each state ana ten
more TO the present number of twenty
from the United States at large. Two of
the most important provisions of the b!li
are those raising the rank of the COM
manding general of the army 10 mat OF
lieutenant general and that of the IN
cumbency of the present adjutant gem
eral General Corbin. The president is
empowered to pace on the retired list
any officer who has been suspended from
duty by sentence of court martial, or by
executive order in mitigation OF such
sentence. for a period extending to or
within one year of the time of his COM
pulsory retirement for age. This is well
understood to Apply to CommlsSary Gen
eral Egan.
The amendment creating a veterinary
corps for the army consisting OF cap
tain and thirty-five other com;h2Hulhs
officers was attached to the bill after
spirited debate, the amendment being
adopted by vote of % to %. The fortl-
fications bill carrying about S7,JO0,9O WAS
passed.
Mr.. Wolcott gave notice that he would
call up the postofiice bill on the l5th IN
slant. Mr.. Teller gave notice that ne
would call up the resolution expressing
sympathy for the Beers after routine
business tomorrow. The army reorsahi-
cation bill was then taken up.
section of the measure be amended so
as to read as follows;
THAT the senior major general con-
mandlrg the army shall have the rank,
pay and allowance Of a lieutenant general
and his personal staff shall have the
rank. pay and allowances authorized for
the staff Of a lieutenant genera"
The amendment proposed by Mr.. TIL
man had the effect of striking out the
provision making the section apply oniy
TO General Miles, the present command II
Of the army. 1t was agreed to.
Mr. Berry. of Arkansas. moved TO strike
out the section as amended.
Mr. Bate of Tennessee, also objected
TO the Increase of rank and tendency to
increase the strength of the army
Mr.. Scwell pointed out that the confed-
eracv had nineteen lieutenant generals
and eight full generals, and said that any
union army of our present strength should
have two lieutenant generals and one fun
general.
lows:
Yeas-Bate. Berry. Butler. Clay. Gull
Nays-Allison. Bacon; Baker. Bard.
burrows Chandler. Cockrel, Davis. De-
hoe. Elkins. Fairbanks. Foraker. Foster,
FRYE. Gallnger. Gear Hale. fIansbrouSh.
Harris. Hawlcy. Hoar. Jones of Nevada,
Kean. Kyle. Lindsay. Lodge. McComas'
~
tins Plat of Connecticut Proctor,
OuarIes Rawlins Ross. Sewell, Shoup.
simon. Stewart. Teller. Wellington, VOL
cott-H.
MA Kenny. of Delaware. offered an
amendment creating a veterinary corps
and strongly advocated its adoption
Mr.. Proctor presented n letter from
the secretary of war strongly against tho
amendment. The amendment was agreed
to-25 to %.
Mr. Sewell offered an amendment. which
was agreed to. providing for one chaplain
for each cavalry regiment with the rank,
pay and allowance of captain mounted.
and one for each infantry regiment with
the rank. pay and allowances of a captain
of Snfantry Provided. that the office of
post chaplain. United States army, is
abolished and the officers now holding
commissions as chaplain shall be assign
to be at least thirty-tive years old, and
to establish fitness.
The bill as amended was reported to the
senate the amendments We're agreed to
and the bill was passed without division.
MIR Perkins then called up the fortIii-
cations appropriation bill. and ii was
read for amendment AS reported. it
carries 81 1888, 62S an increase of $6i0 40
over the amount passed by the house.
The con mittee amendments were agreed
to An amendment offered by Mr.. Kean
authorizing proportional payments for
rheumatic dynamite guns. carriages and
ammunition was agreed to.
The bill as amended was passed.
A bill was passed appropriating $50 900
of a public building at Durham. n. c.