New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-05
ARMY REFORMS ADVANCED
REORGANIZATION BILL PASSED BY THE
SENATE WITHOUT A DIS
SENTING VOTE,
IBy TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.i
SENTING VOTE

WASHINGTON, MAY 4.-The Senate made quick
work to-day with the Army Reorganiza zion bill,
passing IL after two three hours of rather
desultory debate. So moderate and necessary a
measure of military reform naturally enlisted
the support of ali the elements in the Senate
VI ich favor the gradual strengthening and M
provement of the military establishment the
only material divisions of opinion disclosed by
the debate turned on minor questions of detail,
and the bill perfected passed without a
single vote recorded against IL
The provisions of the measure have been fuzzy
summarized in these dispatches. Its main feat
ures involve a much needed change In the
method of making staff appointments ana an
increase in the strength and Encouragement OF
the mechanism Of the artillery branch OF the
service. officers appointed to the stan CORPS
under the present law are permanently sepa-
rated from the line. The new biu makes 'heii
separation temporary not exceeding -FOUR years
but allowing a redetail after going back 10 ou's
with troops for two years. It does not cidlie
the status of any Of the present staff or ahect
their duties or opportunities for promotlon. Inc
new system begins in each corps only when va
cancies occur at the foot OF the list and is rot
snnlied TO the Corps of Engineers, the Medlcai
Department the Pay Department, or the Judge
Advocate Generals Department
In the artillery the regimental organization Is
abolished and an Artillery Corps is constituted
Of two branches-126 batteries of coast arullery
and eighteen of field artillery. The limit OF
strength of the new Artillery Corps is put at
LAS men The artillery now numbers ll'3io
enlisted men: the total increase is. therefore
AIS above that now authorized But under
proviso of the act of March ., 1899 the present
strength would be reduced to $3.50 men on
JuIv / 1901 The expansion of the corps is 10
he gradual. not more than 20 per cent or the
new strength to he added in any one year
The bill also authorizes an increase py one
hundred members of the West Point CaoeI
CORDS Two cadets -at-arge are TO be appoillle.o
from each State and ten additional appointments
are given to the President.
To this general scheme several minor leslsla-
tive projects have been attached. BY close
xnte-25 TO 23-the Senate to-day accepted MT
Kenney's amendment creating a Veterinary
Corps consisting of a chief veterinarian win
the rank of colonel, assistant CHIEF with the
rank of ma ior four veterinarians with the rank
of captain and ten assistant veterinarians with
the rank of first lieutenant and twenty more
with the rank of second lieutenant
The ma jor- general commanding the Army Is
made a lieutenant general, and the present III
cumbent of the adjutant-generaI once Is 10
have the rank Of major general during the rest
of his service and after retirement
Some little opposition was made TO the IN
crease of the West Point Cadet Corps, but only
thirteen votes were mustered for a motion 10
strike out the provision fC two cadets-at-large
from each State and ten at large from the
Nation. -,
The Fortifcations Appropriation bill. carrying
about 81 800 900 also passed. Inc senate
adjourned until Monday.