The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-01
Needed Army Legislation.


TO be adopted by Congress in toto. The
Administration politicians of the service
have clearly defined ideas as to what the
future establishment should be. They
have received the necessary hints from
Mr.. Hanna, who has had his from our
best business interests in control of the
Government, and a thoroughly Republican
Congress can be relied upon TO do the
rest, without rebellion. because there is
not cent of money for anybody in OPP
posing what is designed by the Admins
tration.
There is one thing, however, that it
would be agreeable to the country if the
Military Committees of the two Houses
would consider when discussing army re-
organization. We expect them to accept
most, or perhaps all, of Mr. Roots sug-
gestions in the bill which he has pre-
pared, and which, as a matter of course.
embodies what Mr.. Mckinley wants.
There will be no special cutlery against
empowering the President 10 make the
army any size he wants. within elastic
limits, in order that the trusts may be
relieved from fear regarding future dis
content among the common people. Prob
ably nobody in civil life will object to
giving the Communicative Chief plenary
authority to suspend and retire heads of
army staff departments. They might, at
some future time, refuse to make con-
tracts with patriotic beef or bean con-
tractors, close to the Administration, or
the contractors themselves might, in col
fusion with staff generals, refuse to re-
tain eminent private citizens OF small
public but large private influence as their
counsel or common divisors All such
matters re open to discussion in commit
tee. &c. will never get beyond that
stage G agitation. But the thing above
referred 10 that we wish to suggest is
one respecting which we cannot believe
that there can be the least reasonable OBJ
lection.
For long years it has been a scandal to
the service that poor officers with families
to support have been compelled to change
station frequently; each change forcing
them 10 ship their household effects long
distances, and at their own expense. In
one case, which has come 10 our attention,
married lieutenant was sent from a
station in the East TO one on the frontier,
and, within year, was ordered from his
second post to the Pacific Coast. back to
the Northwest, and back to the Atlantic
Coast again. Everything that he needed
TO make his wife and babies comfortable
had to be freighted at his own cost. The
Government has always been calmly in
different to the injustice of compelling
Junior officers, frequently reassigned, to
pay the expenses of their family movement
from one place 10 another. In our opinion
there should be legislation to correct this
There is another evil of our army sys-
tenn, which needs only TO be mentioned 10
demonstrate the necessity for its abolition.
of our Government TO detail officers for
service as military observers with the con-
armies. Nothing could be OF higher
importance TO the State than the studies
of strategy, grand tactics, transport, and
other professional subjects connected with
modern war, which scientific soldiers thus
detailed are able to make and report to
the Federal Government 1t is simply a
disgrace to the country that such selected
officers should be compelled to conduct
their missions upon the basis Of their pay,
and are not allowed the necessary and
sometimes large cost of the same. No
other Government ever thinks Of sending
a military observer into a theatre of war
without furnishing him with means to do
whatever his duty may require. We hope
that Congress will not neglect this point
in providing for the reorganization OF the
army.
= 1t may be objected that republican
requires that an expert SOL
der should be sent abroad, not for his
good, but fer that of his country; and
obliged to pledge his pay for three or four
years for the purpose of obeying his or
ders. The question Of economy should not
be applied in this connection. There may
be many precedents which might be cited
in support OF our contention. At the mo
ment We remember only one; but that is
famous enough 10 cover multitude of
that Secretary of War. desiring to make
some investigation of the climate and ex-
ploitable resources Of a neighboring ISL
and had a Government yacht fitted out for
him at lavish expense, and. in company
with the proprietor Of remarkably racy
iunketed around the West
indies for two short weeks at public
s,Et gaid To hum II
sand dollars.
The fact that this sum was taken from
, fund for which no account was required,
hardly affects the principle involved. If
of War is justified in spending
N fortnight's trip for private purposes
IN amount which would keep twenty able
,mcers for 4 whole year in Europe and
ions. organization, armament and so on
q foreign countries 1t is at least allaw- |
Die to hold that the few officers who, IN |
lime OF wars abroad, are sent to risk their |
health and lives for the benefit OF this |
Government should rot be impoverished !
- necessary consequence of the detail |
the attention of army headquarters and of |
he Military Committees of Congress is |
allied TO this matter. 1t ig one too likely |
o be overlooked during the winter. in the |
General scramble for spells which promises
o be the characteristic feature of the last
ession of the Fifty-sixth Congress.
After agreeing 10 the terms of the Pekin
it is alleged that NJ. de Giers. The
russian Minister. notified the Chinese en-
-oys that Russia was their friend and
you'd insist upon radical modification of