New-York tribune., 1905-02-01
MILITIA DETAIL ABUSES.

Congress has devoted good deal Of time re-
Gently to discussing proposal. originating with
the House Military Committee, to readJust the
pay Of retired army officers accepting service
with bodies of State militia. Many foolish
things have been said and written about the eI-
feet and purpose of this proposed legislation.
We have been told that the members of the
military committees in the two branches have
been lying awake nights concocting schemes to
humiliate and punish distinguished officer on
the retired list who recently accepted employ
ment on the military staff of the Governor of
Massachusetts. This cry of personal persecu-
tion was first raised by the leader of the Demo-
cratic minority in the House Of Representatives
and it has been echoed to some extent in other
quarters. distorted and mistaken interpreta-
ton has been put upon the amendment, which
the House adopted by an overwhelming vote,
and which has now, with some slight modifca-
tions, been accepted by the Senate. According
to 1.-THE Evening Post" for instance the amend
ment is one which from every point of view
ought to be defeated" Yet it is evident from
the most casual reading of the debates in the
House and Senate that the change proposed and
now about to become law is supported by every
sound consideration of military policy.
Under provision inserted in the Army Ap-
preparation act of 1904 officers on the retired
list detailed to militia service on the staffs of
Governors of States and Territories were to
receive the full pay and allowances of their
grades. 1t was the intention of Congress TO
promote the efficiency of the State organizations
by giving Governors the services OF trained adj
jutants and inspectors. Tt was assumed that
such staff assignments would go TO officers espe-
cay fitted for the duties of military aids. It
certainly was not contemplated that sinecures
were 10 be created for retired officers whose
rank was quite out of keeping wifi the charac-
ter of the work falling to the average militia
adjutant or inspector. After years trial It
appears that the intention of the law has been
quite distorted. Precedents have been set by
which brigadier generals, major generals and
even lieutenant generals have been put in line
for appointments far more appropriately be-
slowed on heUtenants and captains Within q
year ten retired general officers have been as
signed 10 militia service. There are now pend.
ing applications for similar details from two
major generals and twenty-seven brigadier GEN
erals, so that in course of time, with no change
In existing legislation, we should have the spec
tacle of lieutenant generals major generals and
brigadier generals drawing full pay and allow
ances for quartermaster's or inspectors duty
with one to three company National Guards
like those Of Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Utah
such an abuse of the law must lower the dig
nifty and cheaper tho reputation Of the United
States Army. The fact that a retired officer
taking State service not only draws full pay and
allowances from the Treasury, but can accept in
addition compensation from the State or Terri
tory to which he goes, accounts III great meas
ure for what Senator Proctor condemned the
other day ais the scramble" for these assign
ments. Congress owed it to the army's good
name to check this rush on the part of general
officers for subaltern posts and it has done IFS
duty In reducing the extravagant pay--greater
IN many cases than that of officers of corre-
spending rank on the active Iist-which induced
this extraordinary inclination for militia service
Under the amendment modified by the Sen
ate, assignments already made-like that of
Lieutenant General Miles to Observation-Disclosures
main unaffected; but it was clearly time to ston
a practice which promised to become a military
improperly, II nothing worse