The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-05
REORGANIZATION
OF REGULAR ARMY
Measures Passed Senate
After Short Debate.
INCREASE N RANK
The Commanding General of the
Army Raised to Lieut-General.
FOR RETIREMENT OF EAGAN
A Provision of the BiIl.as Passed will
Enable the President TO Place
the Late Commissary-Gene-
raj on the Retired List.
A Veterinary Corps
Provided For.
FOR RETIREMENT OF EAGAN

sion of the Senate was rendered especially
notable by the passage, after a debate
lasting only three hours, of the army
reorganization bill. In military circles the
measure is regarded as one of the most
important of the present session. 1t prac-
ticany revoiutionizes the present staff ar
range1nerts of the army. 1t proposes to
change the present system Of permanent
appointments in certain staff corps to one
of detail by a gradual process, as the
officers now in those corps go out of ac-
tive service. AS vacancies occur in de-
partments of the Adjutant General the
Quartermaster 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 departments. The bill discontinues
the regirnental organization of the artil-
Iery and establishes an artillery corps of
two branches, viz-126 batteries OF coast
artillery and is batteries Of field artillery,
with total of 17,44S.
The bin provides for an increase OF loo
in the corps Of cadets at West Point, two
at large from each State. and ten more
to the present number of 20 from the
United States at large.
RANK RAISED.
T1yo of the most important proNfslons
of the bill are those raising the rank Oh
the Commanding General of the army TO
that of Lieutenant General, and that of
the Adjutant General to Major General,
The latter being during the incumbency
o,.p.j I'd moro
Corbin.
The President is empowered to place 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 period
extending to or within one year OF the
time of his compulsory retirement from
age This is we'll understood to apply TO
Commfssary-General Eagan.
An amendment appointing a veterinary
| corps for the army consisting Of colonel
and thirtv-five other Commissioned Off
GERS was attached to the bill after a spir-
tied debate the amendment being adopted
by a vote of p to %.
The fortifications appropriation bill. car
rying about S1,50O,000, was passed.
Mr. Wolcott reported the postoffice ap-
propria zion bill and gave notice that he
would call it up on the 10th instant
call m his resolution expressing sym
~, tl,y for the Beers after routine business
Tomorrow The army reorganization DIN
was then called up.
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Tiliman
had the effect of striking out the pro-
vision making the section apply only TO
General Miles. the present commander oi
the army 1t was agreed 10.
Mr.. Berry, of Arkansas. moved TO strike
out tho section as amended.
Mr. Bates of Tennessee, also objected
RI tha increase Of rank and tendency to
increase the strength of the army
Mr.. Sewell offered an amendment, which
was agreed to- providing for one chaplain
for each cavalry regiment with the
rank pay and allowances of captain
mounted and for each Infantry resiment
with the rank, pay and allowances OF a
cart.ain Of infantry: provided that the
Office of post chaplain of the United States
army is abolished and the officers now
holding commissions as chaplaans snaii
be assigned to regiments. 1t also requires
chaplains to be at least thlrtE-nNe years
old and TO establish fitness.
The bill. as amended, was reported 10
tho senate the amendments ware agreed
to. and the bill was passed without diVls-
ion.
Tn the House.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 4-The
House made fair progress to-day with
the s,lndry civil Appropriation bill, com
pleting % of the 1S2 pages Oh tue hlil,
Much of the time to-day was consumed
in an effort of the members OF the
Naval Committee to cripple the Coast ana
Goe1etic survey, in RECLAMATION ioI tne
refusal of the House to agree TO their
recommendation to place the survey OF
tbe waters of our insular possessions IN
The hands of the navy. They tried to
strike out the item in the bill authorizing
t,e Coast Survey to survey the coasts
in the jurisdiction Of the United States.
INT we're defeated. They made a point
of order which was held, against new
vessel for the survey and agalnsl an
Appropriation of slS2.Ti5 for enlisted men
on survey vessels, but the latter appro-
priation went back in the Dill In another
form. 80.
An amendment was adopted to increase
the.nay of the surf men at life savins
atoms TO the uniform rate of $50 a
month.
IN strike from the item for Coast and
Goedetic Survey the provision for the
survey Of the coasts under the sjurisdic-
ton of the United States.
After prolonged debate Mr. DAYTON
amendment was defeated without di-4
vision.
The members of the Naval Committee,
when the question was submitted to the
House, succeeded in ruling out several
provisions upon points Of order,
Mr.. Kitcfin moved TO strike out the
appropriation of s75,O 600 to be paid in
formers against violations Of the internal
revenue laws. This item for years has Z
been fought by representative from
North Carolina and Georgia. This year
y,