New-York tribune., 1902-12-22
PROMOTION FOR ARMY cFApLA1Ns
a Bill Looking Toward Practical Recogni.
ton of Merit

washington. Dec. Il (SpeciaD.-Immediately fol-
rowing the holiday recess there will be introduced
simultaneously into the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives bill the Importance Of which will
so readily be recognized by the people OF the coun-
try as TO make it a most popular measure The
purpose of the bill is TO promote the efficiency of
the chaplains of the army, and this object will
be gained by the creation of the grade of major
for twelve or fifteen Of the members OF that branch
of the service. so that all may have the stimulus
to energetic service which comes from prospective
promotion.
Perhaps there is no branch of the service which
has shown more marked improvement in its gen.
eral personnel and in the character of its work
than the cha paincy in recent years More and
more, as the religious public has shown its inter
est in this department. the appointments have
been removed from political control and legislation
has been effected whereby the age for-appointment
has been limited, physical and professional ex-
aminationS have been prescribed, and regimental
assignments have given definite scope to the
chaplains work. All along there have been men
among them whose superior education and tactfui
energy have commended them to the notice of the
army authorities. but the Spanish American war
brought to the military clergy marvellous op-
portunity to create for themselves warm place In
the hearts of their militant parishoners and they
have improved the opportunity to impel the
War Department only TO concede their neces-
sity. but to approve plans for their further i'm
provement.
1t will be surprising to the general public that
chapainS constitute the only body of ofhcerS lot
whom promotion is at present possible, no mat
ter how many of them have been specially recon-
mended therefor by their commanding officers. On
account of heroic conduct distinguished service
@ a1d @ II Is that the sn G in civil
life to press their claims for recognition upon
The proposed measure will not include any propo-
siuon for chaplain general and II is KNOW known @ @e
bitterly opposed to scheme Of that character Nor
4 prominent general on duty in the War Depart
nent said to-day that the chaplains were exceed
ingly modest in their request considering the mag
with the fact that generous promotion Is accopeen
for blocking the promotion of chaplains than doc
tors. lawyers. commissaries or quaEteTmasters % ne
First-That length of service and ma marked Ike 1 EN-
lains freely among other officers or in civil
Second-The first word in support of promotion
for chaplains has come. not from the men them
selves, but from the generals under wnom some OIL
Third-The bill asks for only one advanced grace
for about one-fourth of the chapains and is not
nearly ambitious project as that IN IN Yogue ottas
among navy chaplains whereby some OF the latter
FourthNIt Is non-partisan. because the bene;
flciaries have been appointed by Democratic and
Fifth~Tt is non-sectarian in that it offers ad.
vancement to chaplains representing all forms OF
religious belief. ,. -o
sth1t is vital to the ehapIaney because fn;fT pro %
men and it win not only encourage the he present present
incumbents to excel but will attract 10 Lne service
MANY clergymen who now prefer civil life where
parishes compete for possession OF the most efll-
cient cergymen and where advancement surely
follows success. -
Seventh-It will retain in the military service a
number of cheplains who have frequently been IN
vfted TO civil positions promising greater remunera-
ton and whose retention is much desired by the
department It
Inquiry has shown that this bill is not so much
2 demand of the chaplainS as a demand Tor the
chanlains and II is believed that il is not only an
exceedingly meritorious measure. but also that
the inuense constituency of the chaplalns IN cVli
life will note with satisfaction the enactment
of a measure just in its rewards and so promo
tive OF efficiency in important branch OF the