Arizona republican., 1904-09-21
Gen. COrbin Makes ReCOm-
 meRdatiOn to That Effect
MARRIAGE RESTRICTIONS
Proposed to Be Placed Upon Army Of- ficers-War Departments Consent, Ability to Support a Wife and Free dom From Debt Are Prerequisites.

Washington, D. C., Sept. 2O.-That no army officer shall be permitted to marry until he has first secured the permission of the secretary of war and satisfied that official that his income is sufficient to support himself and family and that he is entirely free from debt, Is a recommendation made by Major General Henry c. Corbin, adjutant general commanding the Atlantic divi- sion and the department of the east, which was received at the war de- partment today.
 Regarding marriage in the army, General Corbin says: 'I desire to re- iterate in effect what I have formerly said on this subject, which statement. however, has been misread. misquoted and misunderstood The marriage of army officers who have made no pro- vision for assuming the responsibilities therefor is hurtful both to the army and to the officers themselves. To this broad statement there are, of course exceptions as there are to all broad statements, but the general fact re- mains that our army is overmarried.
 "The pay of the subaltern officer is barely enough for his proper support and the expenses of his equipment and uniform If to this is added the inev- itable expenses attached to a family it is not only probable but almost cer- tain that when an officer strikes his balance at the end of the year, he will be behind if he has no income but his pay. That a bachelor officer is more valuable to the service than married officer does not follow nor do I wish to be understood as so saying, but a mar ! ried officer is less valuable if in marry ing he has not exercised that prudence which should govern all transactions | in life"
 ! Further on in his report General Cor 1 bin says: "I am firmly of the opin- ion that no officer should enter the l marriage relation without first getting the authority of the war department, and as a necessary condition thereto, that his income after marriage shall be sufficient to support himself and fam ! fly and above altif he is to live on his pay, he should state on his honor that he is free from debt"
 THE ARMY CANTEEN.
 ! General Corbin favors the re-estab- l lishment of the canteen and says: "If 1t were possible by my act to absolutely stop the use of intoxicating drinks of any kind, would do so: if it were pos sible by my act to prevent the use by ! any person in the military service of [ intoxicating drinks I would do so. but realizing that the impossible. however desirable, must give way to what is possible and practicable, I am firmly Of the opinion that it would be in the interest of discipline to re-establish the canteen, recognizing that in this way the use of drink can be minimized.' General COrbin recommends the en- istment of colored men in the artillery and their transfer to that corps from colored cavalry and infantry. He ex- presses his belief that colored soldiers in the artillery corps will aid that branch of service by giving it to mer
 who would "by their aptitude com mend their services to the artillery ser
 vice just as they have to the officers ol
 the cavalry and infantry"
 He strongly advocates an increase ci
 coast artillery by at least one-half-anC
 the raising of the pay of non-commis-
 stoned officers and privates who have
 shown themselves as expert artillery. men. He recommends that command
 CTS of artillery be eligible to the com
 mand of any artillery post and that
 artillery commanders be authorized tc
 allow reputable citizens to see a DOT
 tion of the Qualifications.
 General Corbin favors the encourage
 ment in every possible way of smaI
 arms practice both in the regular ser
 vice and in the national guards.