New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
ARMY RETTREMENT LAW.
HO7C 1t O1ginated-GeneraL Scott
First on the Last.

The War Department announced few days ago
the promotion Of thirty-three colones and their
immediate retirement as brigadier generals, There
have been some not familiar with the administra-
ton of the military branches of the government
who expressed surprise that many high rank
officers should be retired from tbs active list at
once; but they need only refer to the provisions
of the bill which passed the last Congress- to the
effect that such officers of the army who served
creditaby during the Civil War for not less than
one year and have total service of not less than
thirty-fve years" and who apply to be retired
shall be retired. with the next higher grade
than that held the active list. These promo
tions and retirements show that within another
decade there will not be an officer on the active
list Of the army who participated in the war be-
tween the North and the South. There are now of
the Civil War contingent the active list below
the rank Of general only these: Seven in the
Quartermaster Generals department three in the
/ Commissary Generals department. two medical Off
GERS. three pay officers. eight engineer officers, six
ordnance officers, eight cavalry officers. fifteen ar
tilery officers and twentyfour of the infantry, or
a total of seventy-seven
Officers Of both army and navy are recognized
as honorable servants of the government who when
they ask to be retired, ask for nothing more than
a fulhlment Of the contract under which they have
served so many years. When the retired list was
established in the early part of the Civil War, it
was for the express purpose of pensoning de-
serving officers of long service and these who
SnOuiQ become nlcapaCltate0 Dy reason or wounds
other exigences of the service. It also
intended to relieve the highest grades of worthy
but superannuated officers and to insure regular
promotions retired list for every army and
navy has been recognized as necessary in the in
terests Of the government and of the ndividuaI-of
the government, in order to secure the efficiency
of its services; of the individual, provide
place and provision for those unfit for duty in
consequence of long service and casualties.
The first law authorizing the retirement Of army
20, i,
this act officers OF than forty years consec-
utiye service could be retired by the President and
9iIlceIs lhcaldoe oI PeItoII the Qutes OF thelr
for examination. If found by this board incapaci-
differently. according the incapacity resulted
from cause incident 10 the service or otherwise
vited to make application to be retired The 1rst
officer announced in orders as retired was Lieuten-
ant General Winfield Scott, he being retired upon
cember ), 1861. an order was published, announcing
taking effect. at various dates, the retirement
had been hoped that the provisions OF the act of
, y5tb i,e% ~ 1diiiIi ~ ling % te hIgleT @
sJ mln w fre ,, pI 9ouly powers j vigorous
in time of war But this hope was vain one.
In dly. 1862. "A second act was passed, which au-
thorized the President to retire. at his discretion
any officer who had been on the Army Register
forty-five years who of the age of sixty-two
Ine effect @ % this Is la% was prompt and up 10 Sep
and four majors. In July. 1866 Congress passed an
wounds received in battle might be retired with the
fun rank held by them on the active list whether
in the regular or volunteer service, when wounded
About sixty OF this class retired before the
law was repealed, i'll 1872 In March 1859 Congress
passed act reducing and consolidating the army
and in July, $40 additional legislation directed the
muster out Of all supernumerary officers. To pre-
vent hardship falling upon old officers under this
act, some Of whom would be left unprovided for
Congress authorized the retirement upon their own
application of officers who had been thirty years IN
the service At the time 1t fixed the total
number of officers the retired list not to exceed
800 at any time. In June. 1878. Congress, by a
clause in the Army Appropriation bill. increased
the retired list and limited II 400 IN 1888
trement law was amended to change the compul-
sorry Dnllt from SiXty-tUo years. and read '.and
when officer is sixty yfOuF years Of &c he shall
be retired from active service and be placed on the
retired list" Other notifications have been made
in the law from time TO ume respecting the limit
of number. etc