The Washington herald., 1908-01-22

PRESIDENT Roosevelt has been influenced
% such a degree by the criticisms of his
order prescribing riding test as a re-
qulsite for the promotion Of field officers
OF the army that he consented last night
40 modify the order so as to waive the
test in the cases Of officers engaged in
civil duties who would not be called on
probably to engage in field operations
The Presidents decision was an out
come Of a conference last evening with
Secretary of War Taft. in which they
went over the cases of the field officers
certified for retirement because they had
refused To take the riding test or had
been found 10 be physically unable 70 I'M
dergo such an experience.
After the conference. Secretary Taft an
nounced that the President had decided
to modify the riding test regulations by
= providing that all permanent staff officers
engaged in purely civil duties. who arr Of
rank and age which would make it unde-
slrable to call on them for field opera
tons may. at their own request be ex-
cused from the test
Conditions of the Change.
This, however, Mr.. Taft stated was on
condition that any such request should
be regarded by the reporting authority
as a conclusive reason for not promoting
the officer to any position IN connection
with line duty. Mr.. Taft announced. also.
that the decision would excuse Coils. Mar
shall and Adams. and Lieut.. Col. Russell
Of the Corps of Engineers. should they
request that they be permitted 10 refrain
from taking the test.
The President and Secretary Taft de-
eided that several officers should be re-
tired fer failure 70 withstand the test. or
refusal TO take IL The names Of these
viii be announced to-day
Inc action OF President Roosevelt and
Secretary Taft, In modifying the riding
test order. is the outcome mainly Of the
case OF Lieut.. Col William /. Marshall
Corps Of Engineers. who is I'm charge of
the government work in the Improvement
or New York Harbor Lieut.. Col Mar
snail Is man of generous weight. who
mas been so busy engaged in his engineer
ing duties for many years. that he has
not had the time to indulge in riding
practice.
= Col Marshall declined 10 undergo the
prescribed riding test, and his attitude
was Endorsed by newspapers and many
cltzens, on the ground that his retire
ment would be a serious detriment to the
accomplishment of plans for the improve
ment Of New York Harbor The govern
ment was not unmindful of the fact that
Col Marshall was performing duties
which II they were performed by a civil
ian, would cost the government many
times the meager pay received by Lieut..
Col Marshall
Has Not Been Popular.
The riding-tesJ order has not been
fopular either in the army OF out OF IL.
Il was subjected to much ridicuIe. and
there were many circumstances in con-
nectlon with il which gave ample oppor-
tunity for criticism Of its business and
necessity.
President Roosevelt was stirred by
these criticisms TO such an extent that
he sent letters TO the chairmen of the
military committees in Congress in
which he cOntended that the test was
right and proper. and backed up his
argument with photographs showing
officers of foreign armies engaged In
difficult and dangerous horseback feats
Several retirements have made under
the provisions Of the order
The Presidents decision TO prescribe
a horseback riding test for field Off
GERS is said to have resulted from an
incident which came under his person
al observation, where a colonel in one
Of the cavalry regiments was unable
to mount his horse from the ground
Mr. Roosevelt is represented as hav-
ing made critical comments about