The San Francisco call., 1904-03-07
GEN. CHAFFEE'S
GOOD REMEDY
Would Utilize Retired Of
fieers of the Army for
the Detached Service

Lieutenant General Chaffee, chief OF
stan, has invited Secretary Roots at
tkntion 70 the impairment OF the eff
cheney OF the army which results from
the very large number Of commissioned
officers on the active list who, through
the requirements OF existing Law and
the necessities Of the service, are de-
tached from their proper arms or corps.
From Statements submitted by Gen
eral Chanee II appears that there are
q present ~ officers Of the active list
detailed away from their proper arms
or corps for detached service within
The army for stated periods, and that
The law authorizes. and the necessities
q the service may require. in the near
future. that this number De increased
by, approximately. II men. II further
appears that there are 50 officers Of
the active list similarly detached for
duty outside II the army under laws
which permit the number 70 be in
creased 70 something more than 30
IN other words, he says, there is a
minimum number Of officers detached
for service. both within and without
the army. OF 48z. and an approximate
maximum Of 100. When 10 these num-
bers there is added the large number
Of officers Of necessity temporarily
Withdrawn from their customary duties
in attendance upon militia encamp-
ments, as members Of special duties, or
through sickness OF leave of absence,
the percentage Of absenteeism in the
army is shown TO be very great and
the difficulty Of properly offering or
ganiZstiOns OF troops and OF main
tanning their instruction and discipline
stands fully revealed.
To UTILIZE RETIRED OFFICERS.
One remedy for the evils herein
pointed out" says General Chanee, ..is
TO increase the number of officers on
the active list, but it is not thought
that Congress could be induced to
grant such increase in sufficient num-
bers 10 afford adequate relief. A bet
ter remedy, and one which seems to
be entirely feasible. il 10 utilize the
retired list 10 perform all of the de-
tached service within or without the
army which does not involve arduoug
service. and which for this reason is
presumably within the competency of
retired officers 10 perform. College
duty, duty as Indian agents and duty
with the organized militia are exam
pies Of detached service without the
army which retired officers can eff
ciently perform. and recruiting duty an
example Of dets ched service within the
army which is clearly within the abiIi-
ty Of many retired officers; nor is any
reason perceived why certain staff
duty, both within and without the
army, not involving service with troops,
should not be performed by retired off,
GERS Il is certainly not an unreasona-
bic requirement, considering the gener-
GUS provision which the government
makes for its retired officers. to exact
from them the class of duties here
specified
I have therefore to propose the
amendment Of section 1225, n. s.. sec
tion %. Of the act Of January q, 1903.
and the act Of July -, 1892, so as TO
limit details TO duty with educational
institutions, with the organized militia
and as Indian agents to retired officers.
and that legislative authority be re-
ouested for the employment of such of
ficers, in the discretion OF the Secretary
Of War. on recruiting duty, as military
attaches and staff duties not involving
service with troops; all retired officers
50 detailed TO receive the full pay and
allowances OF their grade.
DRAFT OF BILL SUBMITTED.
"A form Of bill is submitted herewith,
which, if enacted into law, will accom-
pIish this and enable the department to
at once restore to their proper arm
and corps and to their appropriate
duties ninety-eight officers of the active
list now detached therefrom: some fur
ther reduction in the number detached
could be made by substituting retired
officers for active officers in the per-
formance of staff duties.
The necessity for the relief here
sought is very great, and can be Sc
cured in the manner indicated without
sacrificing the efficiency of the service
10 be rendered and at a minimum ex-
pense TO the Government The only al
ternative which would afford relief,
namely, a suitable increase in the
number Of officers on the active list.
would involve so large an expense as