New-York tribune., 1901-02-16
COMPETITIONS IN THE ARMY.
MERIT TO GOVERN APPOINTMENTS BY
THE PRESIDENT.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBrsE. ]

Washington Feb 15.-Mert is to govern the NIL
ing of all the numerous vacancies at the foot OF
the list in the augmented Army, and this Is 10 pe
determined by comprehensive and rigid competitive
examinations by the military boards now organiz-
ing. Mere considerations of pull have been elim-
mated far possible and the Presidents deter
mination TO insure the commissioning of none but
capable men whose will be creditable 10
the service will not be subordinated TO the exer-
ton of other influence, however persistent and
powerful it may be.
The selection of candidates for the vacancies
must be made by the President. who must be
governed in this matter to extent by the rep
resentations of public men as TO the qualifications
of various young men for service but this class
is relatively insignificant when compared with that
of the men who have performed conspicuous SER
vice volunteers in the Philippines and of con-
spcuously capable soldiers who have enlisted in
the Regulars. The separation of the good from
the bad among the candidates has been delegated
10 Adjutant-Ceneral Corbin, who has emphaticalIy
emphasized the Presidents solictude that In
competents should be permitted to creep into the
service through instructions issued by him to-day
to the examining boards appointed TO test the
qualifications OF candidates The tenor OF these in
structions is fairly indicated by the following
tract:
~, The sex examination Of all persons appearing before
enlisted men or for examination to determine their
reports prepared and forwarded provided in Sec
,lons and ;, pages T. and 6, Of General Orders
NO ~, november I92 from this ONCE. pre-
liminary examinations of enlisted having
been discontinued by General orders No. 14s. Au-
gust Is. 1859. from this office.
Each candidate will be examined under the head
of drill regulations only In those pertaining to the
arm of the service to which he belongs in which
he has served most searching inquiry will be
made by the Board. not only into each candidates
physical and mental qualifications. but also into
his antecedents and aptitude for the position
sought The scope of the Boards investigation is
not limited. and finding that candidate is quail
fed will be taken to mean that the Board is with
out reasonable doubt to his thorough fitness for
the honorable position OF commissioned officer of
the Regular Army. Certificates or diplomas from
established institutions of learning 20 the mental
qualifications of candidates will be taken Into con-
sideration by the Board and the Board will so ad-
wise the candidates
The general orders referred TO stipulate
tremely careful physical examination a prelim-
mary to all further proceedings. This is followed
by rigid requirement involving grammar spelling.
reading and writing from oral dictation geography
and history particularly of the United States; the
Constitution. organization of the Government and
elements of international law and mathematics TO
include arithmetic, algebra. plane geometry and
trisonometry and surveying Particular attention
will be paid to the moral character and civil
ord OF each applicant, and stress will be laid upon
physical aptitude, determined by proficiency in
athletics. skill in field sports. All the papers
with reports showing the relative standing OF
didates will be laid before the President in the
course OF the next three months. and these the
permanent appointments will be made.