The Washington times., 1908-01-05
RIDING TEST ORDER
MAY Be MODIFIED
Engineers Willing to Retire
{ on Pensions and Lucra-
tive Private Pay.
Compromise May Be Effect
ed ExemPting Staff From
Full Provisions.

President Roosevelt, It is expected,
= viii be forced TO retire from the posi-
tion he has assumed relative to horse
manship in the army. From the present
soutlook the army viii lose some of Its
best engineer officers, who are not
loath TO go, for Inc reason that they
have hattering offers and can draw high
! salaries ia civil life, in addition to the
pay of a retired officer.
= This statement was made yesterday,
Following close upon the publication by
the War Department OF an order gov
erning the appointment Of persons in
civil life To the grade OF second lieu
stenant in the army, and the examining
Of Heutenants for transfer to the Ar
tiHery Corps, which included President
~Roosevelts horsemanship test as one OF
@the requirements.
Both the President and Secretary
Taft are wrestling with the problem. it
els said, in an eudeavor TO give justice
to all, and to keep engineer officers who
ARE eminently capable Of performing
sthe duties assigned them, but who are
unable to ride thirty miles three con-
secUtive days. There are a number OF
substances where officers are more than
.willing TO go.
Pension and $4,000 a Year.
This is true Of Major Crabbs. quarter
master, who was in charge Of the con-
7struetion on the Walter Meade Hospital
at BTightwod, who forced his own re-
Atirement under the horsemanship order
so as to accept a $4,000 a year position
with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
spany, and In addition draw three-quar-
tiers Of the fun pay Of a major in the
Engineer Corps. There are many other
similar cases, notably that OF Chaplain
Pierce, at Washington Barracks, who
has had three offers to preach in vari-
sous parts Of the country, including one
in an Eastern city which will pay him
as much as his present army pay. He
will in addition, have the pay of a re-
tired officer.
There are several prominent engineer
Officers directing big engineering projects
sfor the army who would be lost to the
Service should the original horseman-
ship order be carried out to the letter.
This is true in the case Of Lieut. Col
William L. Marshall, engineer officer at
New York, whose case has not been
taken up in detail because the President
eand Secretary Taft are considering the
general principles of the order, and
have not begun TO go over the indi-
viduaI cases.
Likely to Modify Order.
The general staff Of the army is op-
posed TO wholly exempting engineer Of
Sicers, and it IS probable a compromise
will be reached, so that engineers on
duty with troops in the field will have
10 take the ride.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft are considering a modification OF
the original order so as to allow engt-
neers and other stan officers to remain
on the active list without being able
10 ride.
Careful consideration win be given
each proposed retirement. and If the
officer examined is fully qualified to
perform the duties assigned him he viii
probably be allowed to remain on the
active list without riding thirty miles
three consecutive days, as was oTigi-
nally ordered.
- Brigadier General Darlington, inspec-
Sor general, has asked permission to al
1ow officers in his department two even
ings a week for practice riding,