The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-24
Congressman Attacks System of
Promotion to Generals Rank
for One Day.
62 ONE-DAY BRIGADIERS
IN LAST THREE YEARS
903 Retired Army officers Cost
the Government 50, 100000
Annually.

WASHINGTON Feb 23.-The House today
refused 10 ADJOURN In celebration OF Washing
lnston'S birthday and its members porticl-
poted IN q general feld day OF debate on tn"
army appropriation BILL
Tho speeches took wide range. First thc
system OF promoting and retiring army officers
attacked by MT Prince OF lllnois. VINO
aIIritcd MANY comments from members in dis
approval or tho methods for which nc said
tic President and Senate were responsible
md which ne pointed out has resulted In
OF officers who. he said. were holding the nag
with one hand while the other was In tho
treasury for money that had never been earned.
An exhaustive discussion OF ship subsidy wa"
made by Mr.. Gilbert OF Kentucky. who de-
olored tho American merchant marine Is now
tho finest Of any nation and INCLUDED Ls MOT
Eun shipo under the British and German nags.
In OF war, he said, their only protection
would be the United States. wherein belonged
their owners and the capital invested.
President Is Big Boss.
Mr. Prince Of Illinois was the first speaker.
lie mentoned the fact that there were half
million pcrEons under tho direct control OF the
prcsldcnt-SOO. coo under the civil service 5000
in the ormy l5 900 In the navy and marine
q, rps: 1000 postmasters aud fully $500 not
classified
Congress acts come from this great army OF
employees
II was too much to expect the President to
mako personal scrutiny OF estimates.
Referring 10 the question Of the retirement OF
officers aud the abolition OF the Crude OF Lieu
tenant General. Mr.. Prince criticised the Sys-
tenn by which 1t was possible to have q large
number Of officers the retired list.
With an army of 20 900. he said there were
nov 9D3 officers on tho retired list drawing an
average OF 5000 a year or total OF A2NpV".
There had been SiHty-two Brigaaicr-Gcnerals
who served for one day In that rank ana were
then retired. from January l. 1850. TO January
I. 1905 And he continued j am inclined
TO think the moving picture is going on todoy
the same rate.
one day's service was giving unearned money
TO these officers continued Sir Prince. AN
OF o
they will be retired at higher rank"
The gentleman, It seems to me. has shown v.,
a very outrageous abuse OF power and prlvi-
losS on the part OF s9me one 5 sad Ar %w Ibn,
makes the promotions?" he asked.
President Promotes.
Tho President has the right and Is the only
one who has the right to make promotions and
the Senate confirms them." replied Mr.
Prince.
Mr. Gilbert OF Kentucky. who took the POSI-
tlon that ships could be built cheaply In
/ this country as abroad.
| possessed the finest merchant marine hsot of
any nation in thls no included the l25
ships OF the Morgan Co. ownership sailed
| under the British and German flags
| Asked TO explain this. ne quoted English
was not entitled TO the protection of those
| countries unless completely owned by their
| subjects Should trouble come. the Morgan
ships would have TO be- protected by the Amer
| Such bills az the ship subsidy bill. he said
| were always drawn In the Interest OF the
| shipping trust or tho milllonares.
Grosvenor Heartily Greeted,
! When Mr. Grosvenor (OD took the floor he
i was greeted by prolonged applause from both
sides of the House. IL being understood as ON
expression OF regret ut Mr.. Grosvenor's fall
| urc OF denomination
| 4 hope this does not come out OF my time %
| smIlngy remarked Mr.. Grosvenor. He then
| proceeded first TO pay his respects to Mr.. Gil
| bert, who had just concluded speech the
! ship subsidy.
| There never have been compressed into an
| hour mary erroneous statements Z were
made by the gentleman from kentucky " de-
| care1 Nj. Grosvenor, who announced that
| some time later he would reply in detail
| Mr.. Grosvenor concluded his speech with Al
| vigorous protest against tho provision OF the
| army bill abolishinG the grade OF Lieutenant
| General He declared he should make point
| OF order against the provision for the reason
| that It would shut out Gen. Corbin. whose
| service a soldier he reviewed NJ some
| length 1t would also bar Cen Macarthur.
| Tho House adjourned at 6 705 clock having
| finished the general debate the army bill