BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-04
chief Of transportation; besides IL coIonels.
II lieutenant-colenels, 40 majors, and 112

chief OF transportation; besides IL colonels,
II lieutenant -colenels, 40 majors, and 112
captains.
The second proposition in the bill is the
creation OF q general staff corps. In its pre-.
sent shape the bill places Ger. Miles at the
head Of the staff corps, the duties of which
shall be: ITO consider the military policy of
the country and prepare comprehensive
plans for the national defence, and for the
mobilization of the military forces in time
Of waT; to devise means for the cooperation
Of the military and naval forces of the Unit
ed States with view to harmonious action
in time OF war; to prepare and to supervise
the preparation and arrangement of m aterial
for the military history Of the United States
| and to serve as an agency through which all
means Of professional military information
shall be. at any time, at the disposal of the
War Department"
The general staff is to consist of a lieuse-
nant general, msjor-general, brigadier-
general, four colonels, six lieutenant co,onels
twelve majors, aud twelve captains, mount
ed. 1t is further provided that as long as
Gen. Miles continues on the active list he
shall be the chief of the general staff. The
chief of artillery is also to be member of
the staff. Inspection of troops is to be made
by officers of the general staff, and the in
spection Of money accounts, heretofore per-
formed BY the inspector generals depart
ment, is to be transferred after next July to
the Treasury Department
The bill, according to Col. Carter, is moi
q general condemnation of the present sys
tenn, because it is fully recognised that the
work performed BY the various staff de-
partments has justified tbe statement thai
the system could not have been WHOLLY
wrong where 30 much good has beer
accomplished. 1t is provided that there
shall be no ousting from their positions Of
the present officers in corresponding ca ).
pacities, but they are to continue in the new
Offices until retired.
For several weeks the War Department
has been greatly embarrassed in it's eRdesv-
ors to obtain the early consideration of army
legislation by the illness of Chairman Hui
of the House Committee on Military
Affairs. Mr. Hull is also in the midst OF
political campaign in Io0a, and is nea
absent from Washington. Although tn,
bill making appropriations for the army fo
the next fiscal year haG been completed by
the Committee, it will not be introduced
. before March 10, when it ia expected tina
Mr. Hull will have returned. Other i'm
portant proposed army legislation ia retard
ed by Mr. Hull's absence.
The Recommendation of the Secretary o
War that "fogy" pay for officers on th,
retired list of the army be discontinued hal
been approved by the House Uommitte,
On Military Affairs, and will from part O
the forthcoming appropriation oil. 1t il
expected that strong opposition to this sec
tion of the bill will be made when 1t comes
up for discussion in Congress.
The Committee on Military Affairs of th,
Senate reported favorably this week th.
bill Of Mr. Proctor amending the Act
/ February 2, 1901, whick provided for the
bettermept of the army Of the Unitei
States. On account Of its great importance
the progress of the bill is being watched
{ with much interest by the entire army. II
its report the Committee says that, as th.
. appointments to the position of genera
officers of the line are open to the staff al
: we'll as tle line. there is no reason why
having an equal opportunity with the line
to all promotions to general officers, tkeJ
should have tke exclusive right to all the
positions as chief of staff. The Committed
recommends that the bill be amended by
adding the following at the end:
II Vacancies which shall occur in the posi-
tion Of Chief of the Corps of Engineers
the Medical Department, or the Judge
Advocate Generals Department shall b.
] filed by detail from the corps where The
vacancy occurs, for the term of four years,
and at the expiration of such detail, or of !
re-detail, such chief shall be returned to
his proper grade in his corps in the mannel
] provided in this section for the return Of
the chiefs Of other corps to their proper
igrade.