The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-05

WARRINGTON, May 4-Today's session
Of the senate was rendered especially
notable by tho passage after debate
lasting only three hours, of the army re-
organization bill. In military circles the
measure Is regarded as one of the most
important Of the present session. It prac-
tically revolutionizss the present staff ar
rangcments Of the army. 1t proposes 20
change the present system OF permanent
appointments In certain stan corps to one
OF detail by . gradual process as the on
GERS In those corps 60 out of active serv-
Ice. As vacancies occur in the department
Of the adJutant general. the inspector gen.
eral. Quartermaster general and commits
sary general they are to be filed by de-
tails from the line. the details TO be tenn
porary and not to exceed four years.
The new system Is not applied to the
corps of engineers. medical department,
paw department or judge advocate gen.
erals department. The bill discontinues
the regimental organization for tho artil-
lery and establishes an artillery corps OF
two branches. viz: 1926 batteries OF coast
artillery and Is batteries Of field artillery.
with total OF II. AS men.
1t provides for an increase of 100 in the
corps Of cadets at West Point. two at
large from each state and ten more to the
present number Of twenty from the United
States at large. The rank of the COM
manding general of the army is raised to
that OF lieutenant general, and that Of tho
latter being during the incumbency of the
present adjutant general. Gen. Corbin.
The president is empowered to place on
81 tx~.k
suspended from duty by sentence OF
court-martial or by legislative order. in
mitigation of such sentence. for a period
extending TO or within one year OF tho
time of his compulsory retirement for age.
This is well understood to apply to Com
missary General Eagan.
An amendment creating n veterinary
corps for the army. consisting OF a colonel
and thirty-hve other commissioned off,
GERS, was attached to tho bill after
spirited debate the amendment being
adopted by a vote OF Is to g.
The Notifications appropriation bill. car
rying about 81 10000. was passed.
Postomce BilI Reported.
wolcott reported the postoffice BILL and
gave notice that he would call It UP for
consideration May ID
TelIer's Boer Resolution.
Teller gave notice that he would call up
his resolution expressing sympathy with
the Beers after routine tomorrow.
The bill 10 establish a branch soldiers
homo at Denver passed.
Amendments of Army Bill.
Proctor called up the army reorganiza-
tion bill. One provision OF the bill in
creascs the rank of Gen. Miles to lieutenant
general and Gen. Corbin TO major gem
eral After one or two amendments to
the phraseology Of the bill had been made,
Tillman moved that the fifteenth section bs
amended so as to read as follows:
THAT the senior major general COM
manding the army shall have the rank.
pay and allowances OF a lieutenant gen.
eral. and hts personal stafr have the rank.
pay and allowances authorized for the
staff OF lieutenant general"
The amendment proposed by Tillman
had the effect OF striking out the proyi-
sion making the section apply only to Gen.
Miles. the present commanding officer Of
the army. II was agreed to.
Berry moved TO strike out the section as
amended He did not think any good
could be suhserved by Increasing the rank
Of the commander OF the army.
hate Objects 60 High Rank.
Bate also objected 10 the increase OK
rank and designated what he said was
tendency to increase the strength Of the
army.
Ssweli pointed out that the confederacy
had nineteen lieutenant generals and eight
full generals. lie paid handsome tribute 10
Gen Niles. He said that in Suy European
army Of 10000 men the present strength
approximately of the United States army
there would be two lieutenant generals and
one full general History. ne said would
look upon the increase Of our army from
q 600 to Z7S,ao in thirty days as one of
the greatest OF military achievements. \ e.
little credit was given the organization
which enabled this result 10 be accom-
plshed.
Lodge had read a letter from MAJ. Gen
W. s Hancock. warmly prais.ng Gen.
Miles.
Teller thought the proposed rank ought
TO be given 10 tae commander OF the army
In the course OF a tribute TO Gen. Miles
he said that II the general had been ca4led
into the councils as ne should have been.
during the recent war, some difficulties