The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-20
TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY
The New Army Bill Sent to Con-
gress by Secretary Root.
No More Permanent Heads of War
Department Bureaus After the
Reorganization and Increase of
the Artillery branch of the Service.

The bill prepared BY the Secretary of
War, and which is designed to increase the
efficiency OF the military establishment,
was sent TO Congress yesterday. The prin-
cipsl changes from the present orgaaiza-
ton are suggested in provisions that there
be no more permanent heads Of War De-
partment bureaus after the present chiefs
are retired. 1t is also provided that chiefs
of bureaus may be retired at the pleasure
of the President.
The Office of post chaplain will be
abolished under the terms OF the bill. and
all chaplains will be attached to regiments
with the rank of captain. No one shall be
appointed a chaplain who is over thirty
five years of age. The bill provides that
the artillery branch of the service shall
be reorganized and increased, and that
one-third OF the appointments hereafter
shall be on merit, and not by seniority as
at present The principal features cf the
bill are as follows:
Hereafter every third promotion to the
grade of colonel. lieutenant colonel, and
major, respectively. in the line OF the
Army shall be by selection from the next
lower grade in the same arm. The selec-
ton in each case shall be made by the
President. from list OF three names to
be prepared by board composed Of cffi-
GERS of the same branch of the service
and senior TO the grade from which the
promotion is to be made. Whenever
promotion by selection to the grade OF
colonel is to be made, the board may in
clude general officers and colonels.
THE President is empowered 10 place
the chief OF any staff corps or department,
who holds a permanent appointment. on
the retired list, and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to name his sue
cessor, who may be selected from the
chief of any staff corps or department from
the Army at large for terms of four years,
unless sooner terminated by the President.
That, hereafter when a vacancy shall
occur in the Adjutant Generals Department
or the Inspector Generals Department, it
shall be filled by detail from the Army at
large, line or staff, and no more perma-
nent appointments shall be made In either
department. The details shall be made
from the grade next below that in which
the vacancies exist. with the rank, pay,
and emoluments OF the next higher grade.
These officers shall serve four years. and
then return to their former branch or the
line, and shall not again be eligible for
selection in either department until they
shall have served one year under their
new assignment. Provided, that when an
officer is assigned. to a.. different branch
from that in which he was actually COM
missioned. and is not again selected at the
expiration of one year for, a tour OF duty
in the staff corps or department. he shall
rejoin the branch of the service in which
he was commissioned.
in fhsa
partment, the Subsistence Department. the !
Ordnance Department. or the Signal Corps, !
shall be. filled from the line. the same rule |
to apply as in appointments to the Ad1u- |
tant Generals Department.
THE Artillery Corps shall consist OF |
Chief of Artillery, selected by the Piesi-
dent from the colonies of artillery, and |
shall have the rank, pay, and allowances
of a brigadier general, but shall not be |
chief of bureau or department; 10 colonies, |
one OF whom shall be the chief Of artillery;
IL lieutenant colonies. SO majors. 100 cap
tains 100 first lieutenants, 100 second lieu
tenants 81 sergeant majors. with the rank,
paw, and allowances of reglmental sergeant
majors of infantry; q sergeant majors
with the rank pay. and allowances OF bat
taliOa sergeant majors OF infantry; elec-
trician sergeant to each coast artillery post
having electrical appliances; Is batteries OF
lerv and 10 bands, organized as now au-
,hor;zed by law for artillery regiments;
provided that the aggregate number OF en-
listed men for the artillery as nov pIoVid-
ed under this act shall not exceed ld,44s,
exclusive OF electrician sergeants anu the
increase herein provided shall be made by
transfers from other arms OF the service.
Or by enistments in such manner that the
total number of enlisted men IN the Regu-
lar Army shall not at any time exceed the
number which now is or may hereafter be
allowed by law.
The Secretary of War is authorized to
appoint for duty with the field artillery.
under the regulations governing similar ap-
pointments in the cavalry arm OF the ser
vice. two veterinary surgeons of the first
class and two of the second class, with
The pay and allowances OF veterinary sur
geons OF cavalry.
The regimental organization OF the ar
tillery arm of the Army is discontinued,
md that arm is constituted and designated
as the Artillery Corps. TO comprise TWO
branches the coast artillery and the field
The coast artillery is defined as
hat portion charged with the care an use
If the fixed and movable elements Of land
md coast Notifications. including the sub
marine mine and torpedo defences; and
he field artillery as that portion accom-
panying an Army in the field and irclud-
ng field and light artillery proper, horse
siege artillery. mountain artillery,
md also machine-gun batteries.
"All officers of artillery shall be placed
IN one list in respect to promotion accord
ing to seniority in their several grades.
md shall be assigned to coast or field duty.
THE Increase provided for the artillery
hall be made as follows: Twenty p5r cent
Turing the year 1900. and 20 per cent earn
succeeding year. nearly as may be prac-
icable until the total number provided for
shall have been attained. officers Of in
antry or cavalry who. at the time OF the
passage OF this act are not above the rank
4 captain, may be transferred to the ar
illery arm. taking rank therein according