The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-17
IT ISN'T FAIR.
Kansas Soldiers Set Worst of
1t in Promotions.
Not Given Credit for Volunteer
Service.
COMPLAINT is MADE.
War Department Asked to
Smooth Ont TrOuhIe.
West Pointers Have Apparently
Got Best of Promotions.

Washington Dec IA number of
regular army officers whose homes are
in Kansas have made complaint to the
war department concerning their posi-
tions on the list of eligibles for promo
tion. The complaint has been made
through Senator Burton, who has taken
the matter up with the secretary of war
with a view to adjusting the matter TO
the satisfaction of his Kansas constitu
ents.
1t seems that the law for the reorgani-
zatior of the army provides that com
missioned officers who served during the
late Philippine unpleasantness, and who
have since been given commissions in
the regular army establishment, shall be
given credit. in the matter of seniority,
for the time served in the volunteer
forces. That is to say. if an officer
served eighteen months, for example, III
the volunteer service before being COM
missioned in the regular army. the
service shall be counted the same as If
rendered after being commissioned in
| the regular eSta blishment.
The Kansas officers find upon investi-
cation, however, that a large number of
officers. the length of whose service is
much less than their own, now Outrank
them in the regular army. This, they
] Is uIJQSls anu mol III hd1L L1O4J
with the law passed by congress pro-
viding for the reorganization Of the
army. They ask the secretary of war
! to place the proper construction upon
the law for the reorganization of the
army, and restore to them the rank to
(which they claim they are entitled
! Most of the Kansas officers affected now
| occupy a position about one hundred
and fifty names from the top of the list
and they hold that they should be
| jumped uD at least one hundred names
Senator Burton is at this time investi-
eating the matter at the war depart
ment, and expects soon to receive some
definite answer as to what the depart
ment is going to do about it.
1t is not known exactly how the dis
| crepancy occurred, but the theory is ad-
vanced that number of West Point
| cadets who recently have been given
commissions in the regular army have
been made to outrank some of the of11-
GERS already in the service. which is. OF
course, unfair and not. in harmony with
the law According to the law, or at
least according to the construction
placed upon it by the Kansas officers,
West Point cadets service begins at the
| time he is commissioned, and not day
earlier That is the view they want the
secretary of war to take.
Some of the Kansas officers who are
4 affected are; Lieutenant Colin H. Ball.
Lieutenant Agnew of Minneapolis, Cap
/ tain Glasgow, Lieutenant Adna q.
! Clarke of Lawrence. Lieutenant Parker
of Oberlin, Lieutenant VanWay of Win
/ field, and others.
Willis Moore. chief of the United
States weather bureau has announced
that he will not reconsider his decision
to transfer Observer Johnson. of Wich-
! ita, to Dodge City. Recently the wealth
er bureau decided to transfer Observer
johnson from the Wichita to the Dodge
/ City station, because his conduct of the
| bureau at Wichita had not been salts
factory to the department here, and this
announcement was followed by petitions
from the Wichita friends of Mr.. John
son, asking that Chief Moore reconsider
his action. The discipline of the wealth
/ er bureau, however, is very similar to
that of the army, in which branch of
the government service it originated,
and Chief Moore informed the Wichita
friends of Mr.. Johnson that the decis-
4 ions of the bureau were not subject to
change by reason of petition or any in
i fuence outside of the service Mr.. john
son will be transferred to Dodge City,
and it is probable that the Dodge City
observer will be sent to Wichita to take
charge of the station there.
Representative Curtis arrived unex-
pectedly from Kansas Saturday whence
! he had gone a week ago. Mr.. Curtis
explained that he had some important
departmental matters here which de-
manded his personal attention, hence his
/ flying return to the capital He con-
ferred with a delega ton from the In
dian Territory Saturday on the states
hood question. Mr.. Curtis says he is
for single statehood for Oklahoma and
the Indian Territory, but that he would
not insist on single statehood for both
territories if he thought it would result
in jeopardiZing Oklahoma's interests. He
! believes that Oklahoma should be ad-
mitted a state at this session by all
means. Mr.. Curtis has returned to To-
peka-
1t seems that the troubles of George w.
Ellis the Lawrence negro, are never
ending No sooner did he secure his ap.
/ pointment as secretary of legation at
Monrovia, Liberia. than it is announced
/ that DR.. Grassland the minister prob
| ably will be recalled. owing to dissensions
in the legation. which involved a gun
play on the part of Dr. Grassland. It is
I not stated what the disSensionS consist
of but it is suspected here by those who
/ are familiar with the relations between
4 Dr. Grassland and his secretary of lega-
ton that the two men have had a per-
sonal encounter of some kind Their re-
/ lations have been strained almost since
the first day DR. Grassland took charge
of the South African post. It seems that
D~. Grassland took violent dislike to
Ellis soon after his arrival in Liberia,
and protested vigorously against his aD-
pointnaent as secretary of legation. The
appo:ntrnent was made in spite of this
fact however, and it may be that this
action on the part of the state depart
4 rnent here has brought the troubles be-
tween the minister and Ellis to a climax
Tt is probable that If DR.. Grassland is re-
called. Ellis also viii lose his position. in
which event he will return to the United
States almost INN ediately-
Senator Stewart. of the Allen Woodson
county district has returned to Kansas
Before leaving Wa sshiT1gton Senator Stew
art nfided to the corresnondent of the
state Journal how he had undergone a
: change of heart on the subject of wo-
mans suffrage The senator voted