Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
Private Reid's Suit for Pay.

Private Reids Suit for Pay.
At the request of Attorney General
Fouapartc. who has been served with
Tarcrs -r-om the circuit court for the
southern district of New York in the case
CT Private Reid. one Of the members of
Gbmuany &. o5th Infantry (cOIoreD, who
sA,S for pay. after being mustered OUT,
Secretary Taft has directed the judge ad-
Vtcue general OF the army TO cooperate
H the defense of that suit with one OF
dc special attorneys Of the Department
df Justice. In view Of the novel form
az the action in this case it is expected
ciat- the government Will make a de
tEmined effort to have it thrown out of
diurt on demurrer based on the con-
Esntien that the Court of Claims is the
daily tribunal to deal with the issue.
II Rifles for Army and Militia.
ten. Crozier chief of ordnance is TAX
ing steps to ascertain when it will be
possible to furnish the new Springfield
rife to the entire army and the National
Guard. The matter all depends on the
uroGress of work at the Springfield and
Hpck Island arsenalS. The number of
1f4w rifles required is practically 10000
Thus far 10000 rifles have been furnished
to the army in the Philippines and the
Philippine Scouts and 5000 TO the army
in Cuba. The latest reports from the
arseuals are very encouraging and it
S,ems not improbable that with an output
di go rifles a day the number required
d3n be completed by the end of next
Machias to Be Rebuilt.
4 The United States gunboat Machias
now lying at Pensacola, Fla, will leave
in few days for the Portsmouth navy
yard to be rebuilt The collier Hannibal
viii make the tow.
Riding Tests for Candidates.
the regulations of the War Department
governing the examination and appoint
ment of civilians TO be second lieutenants
in the army have been amended so as to
prescribe that all such applicants shall
he examined carefully as to their fitness
for mounted service. taking into con-
sideratiOn only the degree of proficiency
Shown by them in riding and horseman-
ship and their size. when so great as to
indicate present or future unsuitability
for mounted service."\ Like the cadets
of the L. 5. Military Academy these
L applicants are to be classified by name
in three groups as -deterrnined by the re-
~sult of the examination. wiz: list, those
considered specially qualified for mounted
service; 81. those considered qualified; 3d.
those 1onsideDed not qualified.
mpfov1ngdspRdard of Army Horses
Continual NJ aints Arise from the
cavalry brancS the rmy concerning
th9 quality Of hSses fu finished in recent
ye,trs by the Aua 4 ermaster's department.
1t is said ese-|r briou4 inspectors have
taken -upoa---I- mselves the privilege of
using tleir own judgment in accepting
ause b icy realiZztbat superior horses
could noa Ua rs|at the price specified
in q, 20 raai, In every such case it is
Jeclarrds+hs they are simply aiding and
abejttu= the contractor in defeating the
aims and mEoses of the quartermaster's
department Eouxh without any such in
teation. In a recent communication sub
mitted 70 Acting Secretary Oliver by
Gen Bell. chief of staff. the assertion il
made that ne Guartermaster' $ department
can neverssucceed in raising the standard
sof horses Fsupnlied the cavalry service
until the fpspectIng officers realize the
necessity for holding contractors up to
q strict compfance VITA the specifications
contained in the<contract regardless Of
contract Drice) by refusing to accept any
horses that do not comply with the speci-
fcations. which contain in their language
an the elasticity the government desires
L. enhodv in them.
No Trial for Capt. Bickham.
There viii he no court-martial pro-
cc.dirgs in the ease Of Capt. y. s. Bick-
lam OK tie auartcrmastcr's department
lut he VIII be given an opportunity to
file am official explanation of his conduct.
1t is alleged that Capt. Rickham pro-
vuk.d a fight with another officer on the
army transport Thomas last August.
Tiir officer is in tie Philippines and near
" all the witnesses are IN the United
states.
Col fuckers Case.
Thc case % COL. ". II. Tucker Of the
pay department. stationed at Chicago,
has been reopencd by the presentation of
consideraole additional evidence against
tile Officer The papers in the case are
row before Secretary Taft hut it Is not
likely that Io will he able to give it final
consideration for several weeks yet.
Want Two Afternoons Off.
Tle Authorities of the War Department
are f.lsorably considering a proposition
tl,at officers of the staff departments at
WASHINGTON %" allowed two afternoons
81 duty each week, in order To practice
lfsfirg IN prepare tiuu for the niuety-mile
practice ride prescribed 10y President
Roosevelt.
To Appoint Another Brigadier.
Ger. NoGorem Crawford. Just promoted
fam colonel OF the Coast Artillery Corps.
VIII r.. retired for age on the 9th in
tsF}, "Nt enc ittSlptNl Will tnCn nave
an opportunity TO appoint another briga-
dicr general OF the line.
The promotion Of COL Crawford causes
the following promotions in the Coast
Cutlery: Lieut.. Col. John r. Williams
becomes colonel Ma w. G. Rafferty, be-
comes lieutenant colonel, Capt II. D.
Todd. jr.. becomes major. First Lieut. r
G. Marshall becomes captain.
A New Army Paymaster.
Mai 'Delamere Skerrett of the Coast
Artillery Corps. stationed at Governor
Island. y. Y. has been appointed a pay
master iu the army. with the rank OF
major. 10 ~! the vacancy caused by the
recent death Of Maj. NJ. b. Curry of the
pay department.
Food for the Big Fleet.
Arrangements have been made to supply
tie ships of the Atlantic fleet. now en-
route to The Pacific. with 2J0.OJO pounds
Of fresh potatoes at Callao. 1t is esti-
mated that the potatoes now on hand