The Washington herald., 1907-12-04

terms. The President discusses the made
quate arrangements for the transporta-
tion of the ocean mails. and says:
4 strongly recommend. therefore,, a
simple amendment 20 the ocean mail act
OF 1891, which shall authorize the Post
master General in his discretion 70 enter
into contracts for the transportation OF
mails 20 the republics OF South America,
to Asia. the Philippines, and Australia
at a rate not 70 exceed 81 a mile for
steamships of is knots speed or upward
subject 10 the restrictions ard obllga-
/ tions OF the act Of 1891 The profit OF
S3.6o0.000 which has been mentioned will
fully cover the maximum annual ex
penditure involved in this recommended
tion. and Il is believed viii In time es-
tablish the lines so urgently needed. The
proposition involves no new principle, bat
permits the efficient discharge Of public
functions now inadequately performed or
not performed at all
| More Pay for Army.
The President goes extensively into the
| question OF enlargement and increase Of
pay Of the army. Declaring that mill
tarism has never menaced this eoun-
| Try, he afirms that not only is the army
entirely too small to form even an ade-
! quite nucleus in time Of war. but that
| it is also grossly underpaid in all grades.
/ from that OF private up. The standard
Of efficiency is higher than ever before.
he says. but there are not enough officers
and it is impossible 10 secure enough
| enlisted men. Particularly ne urges
reserve force OF officers TO command
volunteers in time OF war, and a reserve
! corps 10 perform the manual labor
which helps TO make the army distaste-
| ful 10 enlisted men. The medical corps
| he believes should be increased materially,
considering IT inadequate even for peace
footing. and so small as 10 render prob
! able conditions such as deceminated the
troops in camp during the Spanish war.
IL another conflict should come Re
gardng pay. he says:
The rate Of pay for the officers should
he greatly increased; there is no higher
type Of citizen than the American regular
officer, and he should have fair reward
for his admirable work. There should be
a relatively even greater increase in the
pay for the enlisted men. In especial pro-
vision should be made for esta blishing
grades equivalent 10 those Of warrant Of
ficers in the navy which should be open
10 the enlisted men who serve sufficiently
long and who do their work we'll In
ducements should be offered sufficient 70
encourage really good men 10 make the
army a life occupation. The prime needs
Of our present army is 70 secure and
retain competent noncOmmisSioned Of
ficers. This difficulty rests fundamentally
on the question Of pay The noncommis-
stoned officer does not correspond with an
unskilled labOrer; he corresponds 70 the
best type Of skilled workman or TO the
subordinate Official in civil institutions
Wants Soldiers to Stay.
Wages have greatly increased in out
side occupations in the last forty years
and the pay OF the soldier. ike the paw
Of the officers. should be proportionately
increased. The first sergeant OF a COM
pany, If a good man. must be 6ns Of such
executive and administrative ability. and
such knowledge Of his trade. as 70 be
worth far more than we at present pay
him. The same is true Of the regimental
sergeant major. These men should be
men who had fully resolved 70 make the
army a life occupation and they should
be able 10 look forward 10 ample reward:
while only men properly qualified should
rewards The increase over the present
pay need not be great in the lower grades
for the first one or two enlistments. but
the increase should be marked for the
nonccmmissiOned officers OF the upper
grades who serve long enough 10 make
il evident that they intend 10 stay perma-
nently in the army. while additional pay
should be given for high qualifications in I
target practice. The position Of warrant
officer should be established and there
should be not only an Increase Of pay.
bat an increase Of privileges and allow
ances and dignity, so as to make the
grade open 10 noncOunmissioned officers
capable OF filing them desirahly from
every standpoint
Eliminate Unnt OmcerS.
Severe examinations 10 weed out unfit
officers UP 10 the grade OF major are ad- /
vocated, and from that grade up he thinks /
selection should determine promotion.
Continuation of maneuye-s on a large
scale is also proposed. Ability TO ride |
well and walk well and good physique I
he thinks necessary qualifications for Of |
hccrs. Concluding consideration Of this
subject. he says. after proposing the ere
alton Of the post of chief Of cavalry:
Perhaps the most important Of all I
legislation needed for the benefit OF the 1
army is a law TO equalize and increase /
the pay OF officers and enlisted men OF 4
the army, navy, marine corps. and rev
enue-cutter service Such a bill has been F.
prepared, which il is hoped viii meet with 4
your favorable consideration. The next /
most essential measure is 70 authorize a \
number Of extra officers as mentioned /
q tn 10 rTqa
I've 10 enlisted men. il is absolutely es-
sential 70 create a service corps. such as
exists in nearly every modern army in
the world. to do the skilled and unskilled
laEnT. inseparably connected with mill
tary administration, which Is now ex-
acted. without just compensation. OF en-
listed men who voluntarily entered the
army 70 do service Of an altogether DIFF
ferent kind. There are number of other
laws necessary TO so organize the army +
as 10 promote its efficiency and facilitate n
Its rapid expansion in time OF war; bur n
the above are the most important"
Plans for the Navy.
Four new battle ships, to be begun this n
year. additions to the enlisted men 10 II
man them. eosling stations. and docks on
the Pacific. and plenty OF torpedo boats I
and destroyers' sums up his plans for the II
navy Fortiications OF the best type are II
for both coasts. 10 protect n
the chief harbors. The coast defenses he II
would so strengthen that the navy might 1
be used for offensive purposes only.
Coming TO the Pacific cruise Of the bat II
lie ship fleet, the President LAYS down the
iictum that a fleet To be efficient must Il
De kept unit and that il should be
moved TO the Pacific every two years
until the Panama Canal is completed, II