New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
ARMY REVOLUTIONTZED.
SECRETARY ROOTS WORK.
Many Important AchieOements
Under His Administration.
tBT TELEGRAPH TO TIE rzrBUNE.l

tsry service fn the way Of suggesting and
achieving legislation than any Of his predeces-
Eors This h been achieved In the face of what
promised 20 be most effective opposition. espe-
cisIIy in the Senate, and while all has not been
obtained that was desired from Congress, both
House and Senate have recently been more will
ing 10 adopt departmental recommendations
than was the case few years ago. The most
gratifying example OF this was the final recon-
mendauon al the late session, when it was DIS
covered that brigadier generalship must be re-
stored to the army in order 70 preserve its tacu-
cal organization It was remarked at the be
ginning of the session that recommendations OF
any sort were received with many evidences o.
Impatience especially in the Senate Military
Conujttee-
THE REORGANIZATION LAW
OF course the most important legislation to
the credit OF these Efforts Is the Army law OF
February 2, 1901, to which constant reference
is made and to the provisions OF which mar
officers in the army are indebted for their pres
ent commissions. This was the law which or
ganized the artillery regiments into separate
corps with a colonel, who has since become
bigadier general, as chief Of artillery. That la"
too brought into practice an Intricate system OF
detailing Iine officers to the supply stan de-
partments, which viii ultimately have the eI-
feet Of abolishing permanent commissions In
these corps and make line officers eligible 10
alternate duty in command OF troops and as
ouarteruasters comnissaries, adjutant generals
and inspector generals This law made some
radical changes n the military system IN aQ-
dition to creating many commissioned places
the filling CT which in the Junior grades in the
last few months has created bitter contro-
versy.
As often happens in military legislation the
phraseoIogy OF the law Of February 2, 1901, was
sor7eyhat ambiguous. It seems never to be pos
sfble TO revise pending measures so as to make
their siguffcance unouestionable when enacted
Into law Among other doubts created by the
provisions Of that act, was one which sought 10
determine the relative positions of the line lieu
tenants on the uneal list Those who are not
satisfied with their places insisted On the re-
,5s{on Of the list. and TO this end bill was in
troduced in Congress- the local civil courts were
asked TO employ their machinery to the same
z4fact and some three hundred nominations OF
fUnior officers including original appointments
and promotions were held up in the Senate Mill
rary Committee until few days before Con-
r-ess finally adjourned. The bill introduced was
never heard of after it was referred to the COM
rrirtee This was one departments representa-
rion Of the injustice Of the provisions OF IhaI
measure. The civil court has not yet rendered
irs decision, and the departmental briet IN the
r7ze shows .concIusiveIy the authority reposlng
;7 -be Secretary Of War to arrange the 'ineaI
list The nominations were confirmed after II
was pointed out to the committee that tallufe
10 act would result in the loss Of commissions 10
many army o5cers.
THE GENERAL STAFF.
.,o.pzr measure which was enacted into law
,-.- the system OF e general staff The law was
ror 50 far reaching as was urged by the army
my II afforded very effective means OF COllecU-
ing information Of military utility ana OF per
forming the functions Of strategic counsel -oI
4+osa IN real authority The general sIan P4aIi
s1so nrouaises TO do away with the controversies
7z-ricb have existed for years between the Secre-
- Sc and she HEADQUARTERS Of the army,
the result Of clashes Of authority ana coLl USION
OF duties
THE NEW MILITIA Law
--b. third niece of legislation for which Mr..
D.. t-os -y-r-!zed hard is that relating TO the
57f+,, one of the most ticklish questions Win
,jcb the military authorities have had TO oeal
has baen the formulation Of some plan whicn
y-o7,Id make the National Guard organlzal1oll
7,sef1,I TO the regular establishment ID ull-e VI
var preventing such awkward and cosIlE
sr77rs as attached to the employment OF 'lle Ni4
zan soldiery as an ally Of the regular lolCeS -
+ba mar with Spain. L has taken some skllIuI
and tactfuI work TO devise law which "ouiu
,r,o-,v,1fsb ANYTHING and yet avoid the opposl-
- L,[ the National Guardsnen- This seems 10
ts,-a teen accomplished in the militia law
,yb5ch- for the first time in more than one nun
se5 years revised antiquated statutes winch
y-ere worse shan useless.
MILITARY EDUCATION
The fourth achievement has been the eSlaO
,,-I-,.n+ tof the system Of military education
,,- only for officers but for enlisted men. 1nls
i-.17das the Army War College at the top ana
.ba most schools at the bottom, with service
s,1co1s At Fort Leavenworth. Fort Riley ana
E-o-+ Monroe. and the Military Academy at west
point between. A great part Of this work could
E-sz-e been accomplished by executive order, Dut
Congress had to give its sanction TO the system
Fv making appropriations, especially 1or lle
construction and maintenance OF the war CoL-
Iege- the cornerstone Of which was LAID al Wasn-
fngron Barracks on February 2. On the rec
oTnrnendation Of Mr.. Root, aIlotments for this
--,-Dosa nv Congress have been liberal to the
av+e,+ NJ. auuropriating S55O0OO0 for the en-
1srqenent OF the Military Academy. and large
s,,r,s for the extension of Fort Riley and Fort
Leavenworth- --.-.
sim another important law enacted by the
IyIIrb Congress has been the act which gives
an elastic limit 70 the military force py
which. without the aid OF further legislation the
army nav have an enlisted strength Of from
snnGo IN 10000 so that IN the event Of war
the maximum force may be put in the field with
our the delays incident 70 obtaining specla4
legislative authority.
Some OF the army officers. notably those on
the retired list, Of Civil War record VIII teeI
rbs+ he War Iepartmeut failed Of achievement
in an important particular py It's hnaOlilly 70
get Co.erass r. provide fo- the promotion to the
~, btsber erade of AL officers, active or re-
tired who served in the Civil War. The admin
f..s.. -, ,,,s entirely fsyors Bile to the prof.