New-York tribune., 1907-11-04
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Serious Prospect for the Pay In
crease Project.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.I

Washington. November 3.
DAMAGED BY INFANTRYMEN-There is an
intensity Of feeling developing within the military
service which promises to surpass the old line
and staff feeling in the navy Organizations have
been formed at army posts to hold up the service
pay bill unless provision Is made adjusting IN
tantry officers pay so they may get the additional
pay received by mounted officers of cavalry and
field artillery. It is evidently considered that the
moment is now opportune for this piece Of STRAIT
egy There have also been formed other organiza-
tions which aim TO protect the bill from this in
Vasion- Meetings are being held and petitions
being circulated and letters are being written TO
the newspapers, setting forth why the bill should
be amended. we'll as why the measure should
not be molested. The War Department may "get
AFTER the army officers who most conspcu-
Gus in this agitation. the most OF them by their
activity and newspaper correspondence. and It
may be necessary to address some of them direct
ly in official way. These admonitions how
ever, are likely to be OF little avail when II Is
considered that officers command or less in
fiuence which may be exerted without the knowl-
edge OF the War Department. and with no means
by which this interference with legislation may
discussion OF the plan for increasing service pay
It was feared that the naval officers would take
occasion to work into the bill some Of the many
reforms which admittedly needed in the naval
pay table. and II expected that there would
be much difficulty IN dscouraging Interference In
that quarter. So far from this beins the case the
navy Is strongly united on the proposition, and
the real trouble comes from unexpected quar-
ter. The situation Is most unpromisng one on
account of these recent developments. and the
chances of enacting the service pay bin are re-
garded as so imperilled that the War Department
has found IT necessary TO issue a warning. II IS
possible that the President may send out an
der forbidding army officers from writing to the
newspapers. since their letters. especially one
signed by Captain NJ. IS. Stewart Sth Infantry
on duty at the Naval Academy make some al
luslons TO Congress which are not likely to i'm
prove the situation The feeling is intense that
son's OF the infantry officers who regard the ser
vice pay bill defective because It does not
furnish them with all they want intend TO block
the bill until II Is amended they desire This
will undoubtedly mean that the service pay bill
will fail of enactment
COMMANDER SIMS AS AID-Naval officers
are much interested in the detachment from duty
naval aid to the President of Lieutenant Com
mander A L. Key. U. S. n. That officer takes
command OF the scout cruiser Chester, and joins
the vessel in a few weeks to superintend the pre-
lrninaries incident to the COMMISSIONS OF the
first of the vessels of that type. Another OF the
scout cruisers. the Salem. was to be commanded
by Commander William S Sims. who has made
fine record for himself inspector OF target prac
tice in the navy. and who will continue IN that
capacity by special direction Of the President,
whose naval aid he also becomes. Commander
Sims has always been consulted freely by Mr..
Roosevelt especially
as to the guns, ammunition and craftsmanship.
The change in naval aids may have some effect
upon naval personnel legislation. and there are
those who by way OF gossip believe that there VIII
be less effort at the coming session Of Congress
in behalf OF the personnel problem than in Com
mander Keys tour of duty. The latter officer was
an enthusiastic. indefatigable worker in favor Of
the plan which had been approved by the Presi-
dent. but nothing accomplished with Congress,
and the conservative naval view is firmly in
trenched in the belief that nothing can be done
at the next session OF Congress unless Senator
Hale carries out his intentions. expressed at the
last session. TO prepare naval personnel blu II
IS imagined that Commander Sims will be less
interested than Commander Key in personnel af-
fairs His influence at the White House viii be-
largely along other lines, although, of course. II
the President adheres 10 his desire 10 establish
unqualified promotion by selection, his naval aid
will assist in the realization of tina: project.
MOUNTED PAY TO BE EARNED.-No event
has interested army officers more or created
greater discussion in the military personnel than
the test in horsemanship and the prospect that
the officers who failed TO take the prescribed ride
or who were not able TO complete that requirement
will be ordered before retiring boards. Much de-
pends upon the reports which are received from
the medical officers who must conduct the
aminations. For some OF the officers this repre-
sents the third examination by the surgeons in
almost as many weeks Some of the officers who
are to be examined have escaped retirement hith-
erto mainly because there desire spare
them from retirement for physical reasons There
are one or two instances OF officers who have been
on sick leave and who have had this favor for
family reasons and because II was desired give
them every chance of recovery. The policy of the
War Department Is understood 10 be somewhat
Ienient and to take into consideration the duty
upon which officer may be engaged. If that
lty does not require him to be mounted. the fact
that he not able TO ride in the hOrsemanshp
test will not necessarily result in his retirement,
II he is able to perform the duty upon which he
is engaged. This prospect is not indorsed oy
Junior army officers. who feel that If there is a
test there should be exceptions shown ana
that officers who cannot ride, whether their duty
IS of the mounted variety not. should suHer
the consequences OF this inability. Then. too the
officers who are getting mounted pay. and who
do not ride cannot ride. are considered as not
being entitled TO hold positions on the active list
and to draw the additional pay Of mounted OFF,
GERS Altogether the question is most interest
ing one and Is discussed with more feeling BY
those who are looking COR retirement and those