The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-09
ATTACKS ARMY RETIRED LIST.
4 PLACE ron MEN TO DRAW SAN
ARIES, SAYS MIR. PRINCE.

RE Declares That senate Amendments "a
Army Appropriation NH Are Intended
TO BENEFIT seven Men VINO Are Doing
Clerical work In the Department
WASHINGTON, May ga vigorous attack
on the Senate amendments 10 the Army
Appropriation bill directing the retirement
as Major Generals Of those officers who
served In the civil war and shall have served
two years as BriRadier-G Generals, was made
in the House Of Representatives to-day by
Mr.. Prince (Rep.,. M, a member OF the
Committee on MilitaryAfairs. He. said that
II was intended for the benefit OF the heads
of staff divisions Of the army doing clerical
work In the Department at Washington,
none Of whom rose to higher rank tnan
Captain in the civil war.
The Army Appropriation bill was before
the House on q motion to non-concur In the
Senate amendments and to ask a conference
thereon, which wa done, but Mr.. Prince de-
sired especial condemnation Of the amend
ment In question.
He said that Of the seven men affected by
the amendment three held the a OF Cap
tain In the civil war, two that OF first Lieu
tenant and one that Of sergeant. Another
was q medical cadet with one years ser
vice, and the last was q cadet at West
Point throughout the war, graduating In
1895 after the war had ended. The latter,
he said, Is George H. Burton, Inspector
General. Continuing he said: a.
these men, who did hardly anything in the
struggle from 1851 to 1895, are to be put on
the retired list with a pensionof S. 1925 a year,
while the splendid men who fought in the
volunteer army, many Of them, are to-day
starving in their houses and receiving a pitt
full pension Of six and eight and ten and
twelve dollars a month! I call upon my
colleagues to call a halt upon this sort Of
business. 1t is time for the country and
those in authority TO know that they should
not put men upon the retired list in the
absence Of good and sufficient reasons,
and put q burden on the people.
Every one Of the men who will avail
themselves Of this law has had active SER
Woe in the departments here at Washington
as InspectorIGeneraI, Paymaster- General,
Quartermaster- General, &C.
Mr.. Sutherland do not they work pretty
hardP
Mr.. Prinoe-work hard2 Yes. But so
do a thousand other men work hard in the
clerical service Of the Government who do
not receive the pay these men do. If this
amendment said dactive duty with troops
in the field " 1T would be Tar INHERENT. but
it's 30 worded that it specially affects seven
men here in the departments. tits another
evidence Of the fact that IL you want legis-
lation you must be assigned to duty at
Washington. The President is an ex-
tremely busy man, as We have heard from
some Of the 4hit dogs that yelp," who say
he Is looking after all matters from the
regulation Of the family up to criticising
Judges of the Federal courts. Now, he is
very busy doing his duty under his oath-a
splendid executive officer. He cannot Dos
sibIy know of these various orders. Under
him is the Secretary of War, who is busy
with the Panama Canal, Philippine affairs
and other great affairs Of this country.
Resolve it right down and you have q Briga-
dier-General giving orders to Major-Gen-
erals and the Northumberland.
I want the country to know how we are
legislating here, passing personal legisla-
ton for six or seven men to make them
Major-Generals for service-good it is
but not within 1000 points as good as that
Of 10, 900 men who are to-day drawing
pensions Of 81 or $40 a month.
President Roosevelt's message recon-
mending a further appropriation Of $500 900
for the relief of San Francisco sufferers
was read and referred to the Committee on
Appropriations.