The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-08
POLITICAL PULL
 WILL DO NJ GOOD. Army and Navy Promotions to
 Be on Merit NEW ORDER IS ISSUED President Says the Bringing In of un- due Influences VIII Debar Man
 From Advancement
 He Seeks.
NEW ORDER IS ISSUED

Oyster Bay, July 7.-An important or der was issued tonight by President Roosevelt announcing the policy hereafter to. be followed by the administration In making of appointments or promotions In the military branch of the government. The President orders that if any offf- cer of the army or navy hereafter shall solicit influences aside from the record of his service on file in the war or navy departments in order to obtain promo ton or assignment he shall be debarred thereby from the advancement or detail which he is seeking. The text of the order follows:
 eThe White House. July ', 1905.
 "The Congress of the United States by appropriate legislative enactments has made the matter of assignments, transfers and details in the army the subject of formal statuatory regulations. Execu- tive regulations in furtheranee of these statutes have been adopted. the opera ton of which has been to place upon record in the war department full and detailed information in respect to the character, capacity and general attain ments of all officers composing the mii- itary establishment The records so ob- tained> fully set forth the relative merits of officers of all grades Of rank in the several branches of the line and staff and enable all vacancies which occur in the military service to be filled after a careful comparison of the records of these officers, who are eligible under the law, for particular assignments or de- tails.
 Also Affects the Navy.
 "A similar legislative policy exists in respect to the navy and the records of the Navy Department furnish evidence of the character, service and ability of all officers of the navy founded upon the official reports of those officers whose duty it is to make them. These reports are sufficiently specific to enable the de- partment to determine the particular duty which each officer is fitted to per- form without the intervention of re- quests, claims or influences from sources outside the navy.
 s,It is therefore announced that in fu- ture, appointments details, transfers, and assignments in the army and navy, the executive will be guided by the official records of the war and navy departments respectively to the exclusion of other sor/es of influence or information; but ir case an officer has performed any special act of bravery or courage, or rem deis specially efficient service of which there is no record or only partial record in the war or navy department testimony of any nerson who as an eye witness of the same may be submitted for con sderation.
 "sheuld it be discovered that since the publication of this order, an officer or the army or navy has sought recognition or support from sources outside of those named aboved this fact will debar hlm from obtaining the particular advance ment. assignment or detail wnieh ne mas bv such means attempted to secure, and inc fact that he has sought such fnfiu- ence will be noted on his official record
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"