The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-01
ARMY OFFICERS
PROFIT BY WARS
Stagnation Of Peace in Promotions
Is Shaken Off When Con-
flicts Arise.
By w. w. Jermane.

Washington, April 1.-The period Of
stagnation in army and navy promo
tions has come again. A brigadier gen
eral, retired, said recently that altho
he had been in service since the civil
war, he had reached only the rank of
war. He was then receiving total
compensation of $4,000, and even this
figure was due in part to his being
mounted. In the artillery there were
officers of twenty-three years service
who had not passed the grade OF frst
lieutenant. In the navy, in the old
period Of stagnation, there were gray
haired ensigns.
1t is not to be wondered at that, the
sight of war auickens the enthusiasm
of every officer in the service, and at
fects his entire point Of view in life
The clerk in civil life who is called tc
the desk of his employer and told that
he will be given an interest IN the con
Germ, does not feel more genuinely thai
his fortune is made, than the army 9th
Ger who scents foreign war in the air
This is one objection to having issues
which may involve peace and war le1'
for settlement with officers OF the army
or the navy. Ea.t.
Due to Recent Influx.
The peculiar stagnation after thu
civil war was in considerable part dut
to the additional officers that came int
both army and navy during and at tn
close of that struggle. History has re
peated itself There has been grea
increase in the lower grades OF tn
army and navy as result OF the span
| ish war, and the same stagnation 1
bound to occur unless relieved by con
gress, or by war. .1
| AS soon as the last regular army OF
fcers who have seen civil war serve
pass the age of 81, and that cannot b.
long deferred, an avenue of advance
ment to the army will be cut off, unles
congress makes some new provision
The president is authorized under gen
eral law, in the case of officers WI
have seen civil war service and VIII
have reached field rank, to retire Their
thorized officers of the army, who hav
seen civil war service to be promote
one grade on retirement. Nearly a
the civil war veterans who have cor
tinued in the service thru the SPANS
war and had also taken part in tn
Philippines have, as result, 60 on
will 20 on the retired list.
Huge Task of Clerks.
AS the result of recent decision {
the supreme court, the office OF the a.
ditor of the treasury for the war g.
partment finds itself confronted wit
the task of adjusting the back pay
1900 officers and perhaps 10000 e.
listed men, in amounts ranging FRO
$1.2O to $780, While the aggregate
disbursements in back pay will not g.
coed $25O,OOO, the decision is lmpo
tant in establishing a new standa1
for reckoning army pay IN the futur
1t is also illustrative of the indlre
and cumbersome methods by which co
gress prescribes the compensation, +
the army and the, navy. Only tho
persons will get this back pay who a
ply for it, and therefore the lmpo
lance of a wide dissemination of tt
meaning of the recent decision.
Each officer regularly receives col
pensation under two distinct heads,
grade or minimum pay, which, for e
ample, is $4,000 year for maio
and also longevity, or fogy pay, bas
upon the number Of years an officer h
been in the military service. iowa
this he can count service OF any so
as an enlisted man, volunteer or reg
lar, or a cadet. For every five yea
Of service, whether continuous or n
the officer is entitled to receive an
crease Of 10 per cent Of his pay, not {
ceeding in the aggregate 40 per ce
After twenty years service an offit
can get no further increases on accou