The Washington times., 1901-12-14
PROMOTIONS IN
ARMY HELD UP.
Two Vacancies in Rank OF
Brig2dieT General,
PRESIDENT WAITING ON CONGRESS,
Fate of Pending Bill Providing for
Retirement of Veteran Office s
at Next Higher Grade VIII Te-
ternine His Selections.

Since the retirement Of Bricadier Cen
erals Merriam and Han from the army
there has been much discussion regarding
the prospective appointment Of officers to
I'll the vacancies.
Among army officers intense interest
prevails over the question as TO who viii
be selected. and as 10 the policy which
viii be pursued by the President and Sec
retary Root in determining their selcc-
tions.
No selections Made
It was learned at the War Department
yesterday that neither President Roose-
welt nor Secretary Root had given serious
consideration 20 the names Of any officer
as yet and that all statements as to who
will secure these promotions are purely
! speculative
There are several questions which enter
into the selection Of officers to I'LL these
vacancies. One is. whether the Secretary
Of War shall recognize only the right of
reward due those officers who have served
with distinction in the civil war and other
engagements since then. or whether the
selection shall be confined to the secur
ing OF men for their ability and service
in the future.
III EOI5lueTIlE I0ls QNtsllo0s DfNu TIE
President and Secretary of War have had
brought 10 their attention the proposed
retirement at the next higher grade OF
civil war veterans now remaining in the
army. Some of these veterans are candi-
dates for appointment as brigadler gem
erals. while other candidates cannot urge
their claims upon the ground of civil war
service.
Recognition for Service.
Secretary Root is very anxious to see
the veteran officers secure some recogni-
tion for their services and has accord
ingly prepared a bill which will be sent
to Congress in few days extending to
the civil war veterans now in the serv-
ice the right Of retirement at the next
higher grade. This bill is in line with
his recommendations in his annual report
on this subject and in conformity with
the existing law in the navy, which per-
mits naval officers to retire at a grade
next higher than that which they have
reached upon the active list.
In his letter to the military committees
OF the House and Senate Secretary Root
asked that a similar provision be made
for the veteran officers of the army whose
services extended through the civil war.
the Indian wars and the war with Spain.
He points out that there are not very
many OF them, ana lldi none OF lutun can
enjoy the privilege very many years.
Grade of Lieutenant General Retired
He explains that a considerable pro-
portion Of them have rendered conspicu-
Gus service TO their country in higher
grades as volunteer officers than they
would receive OF the retired list under
such a provision. He also says that a
number OF them have been much broken
BY their recent services in the tropics
and must soon retire He also urges that
Congress authorize the President to place
Mai Cen Wesley Merritt. retired: Mai.
Cen John S Brook. and Mai. Gen. L. $.
Otis upon the retired list as lieutenant
generals.
The counc lion that this bill has with
the selection Of officers to fill the vacan-
cies among u brigadier generals is that
the PTesiSsr. and Secretary Of War have
practiealls determined not to fill these
vacancies until they learn the attitude OF
Congress to srd this retirement bill.
Their pr-prsr is that If Congress will
authorize tn retirement OF some Of these
veterans at the higher grades that they
can be promoted and Immediately retired.
thus making way for the younger officers.
II on the other hand Congress should
maintain an attitude Of disapprOyal of
this policy. II is the intention OF the Pres
ident and Secretary of War to select the
two brigadier generals from among the
war veterans In recognition OF their ser
vices in the civil war Indian wars. and
the recent war with Spain.