Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-19
TO CORRECT DEFECTS.
Bill Strengthening Our Military
system Drafted ut War Department..


The Secretary Of War today sent to the
chairman of the Senate and House mill
tary committees draft of a bill that
greatly streng hens our military system and
remedies the defects developed in our or
ganization during the Spanish American
war. The changes are by no means as
radical as many seem to have anticipated
1t is a conservative measure and has the
favorable opinion of the best officers of the
service.
A special bill is also sent to Congress by
the Secretary of War fixing the rank OF
the adjutant general that of major gen.
eral, and he gives good military and admin
istrative reasons why this should be done.
An additional feature of the legislation
asked for provides for one-third of the pro-
motions TO be made by selection. This is
to enable the President to reward specially
gallant and meritoriouS services. This APP
peals alike to the service and the country
and yet maintains in reasonable degree
promotions by seniority.
1t recognizes both length well as spe
cial fitness of service, and its provisions
are so guarded that only the most deserV-
ing shall receive special recognition. and in
no case be the creatures Of personal or
political intervention. The bill gives the
President control of the tenure of office Of
the heads of staff departments, and he can
by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate make a new head of \ department
dt SIy time NlltT- III MS tllt
ficiency Of the service would be increased
tEereby-the officer relieved being trans
ferred to the retired list. This places the
army staff on about the same footing as
the heads of the navy staff departments.
The only immediate result under This pro-
vision would be the probable retirement of
Gen. Egan, commissary general. now I'M
dergoing suspension In the adjutant gen.
eral and inspector generals departments,
there will be no further appointments, but
by detail from the EeXt lower grade of the
line for tour of four years.
This will give large number of expert
enced staff officers to meet future require
ments and the emergencies of active serv-
ice. These selections. too, are to be made
on recommendation of boards Of officers
appointed to ascertain the records and fit
ness of officers for these details.
The Quartermaster's and subsistence de-
partments. the ordnance and signal corps,
are also TO be filled in like manner. None
of these provisions for details in any way
interferes with the tenure of officers now
in the regular staff departments. or with
their promotions as now provided by law.
They will. however, serve one year in five
with such branch of the line the Secre-
tary Of War may designate. This insures
all having experience with troops of the
line and keeping the line and staff Of the
army in close touch and sympathy.
The reorganization of the artillery. the
only change proposed in the line of the
army. is based on advanced ideas and
largely in use in other countries, and ur-
gently Cdileu lpF by our present system OF
ssacoast artillery defenses. Il insures the
care of the heavy ordnance. and the train
ing of officers and men to handle these
guns in active service.
The Office of post chaplain is abolished
and one provided for each regiment of the
Inc of the army. regular and volunteer.
The chaplains rank and pay are made
these of captain mounted.
The proposed increase of the artillery will
be made by distribution Of men from other
arms Of the service and will not increase
the enlisted strength of the service.