The Washington bee., 1911-07-08
FOR PROMOTIONS

In view of Rev. Waldron's letter
tions of Colored enlisted men in the
army, The Bee herewith gives the
army rules and regulations covering
examinations.
As to appointment Of second lieu
tenants, the existing law, Act APPROX
ed July 80, 1892, provides that.
All unmarried soldiers under thirty
years Of age, who are citizens of the
United States, are physically sound,
who have served hOnOTablv not less
than two years in the army, may COM
pete for promotion under any system
authorized by this act
The act further provides that the
President shall prescribe a system OF
examination of enlisted men of the
army by such boards as may be es-
tablished by him to determine their
fitness ior promotion to the grade OF
second lieutenant"
:he existing regulations, prescribed
| by the President for the examination
| of enlisted applicants for appointment
las second lieutenant under the act OF
| July 80 1892, contain provisions as
| follows:
IAN enlisted man who desires to
appear for examination will submit
through military channels an applica-
ton so that it will reach his depart
lment commander on or before Feb
ruary I, of the year in which he de-
sires to take the examination.
The company commander IN for
warding such application will verify
the statement of service as given, and
will state specifically whether, in his
opinion, the soldier fulfills each of the
conditions hereinbefore required, and
will add his remarks as to the aptl-
tude of the applicant for the position
sought.
The post commander will upon the
receipt of such application cause the
applicant to be examined by a medical
officer as to his physical qualifications
and will forward the report OF such
examination with the application,
adding his remarks as to the aptitude
of the applicant for the position
sought.
- each department COM
mander will each year convene a board
of FIVE officers, two Of whom shall be
medical officers whose duties will be
Iconfned TO inquiring into and report
ing upon the physical qualihcatlonS oi
the applicants 10 GQIuuGt
the preliminary examination. He will
lorder before this board such applI-
ca1ts in his command as appear to
fulfill all the requirements herein IN
} dicated as necessary Tor appointment
lin the cavalry, field artillery, and IN
fantry, and will refer to the board
the applications of the candidates with
IlaII papers received bearing on then
4 service and character.
As TO the examination OF civilian
IaDDlicants for second lieutenants the
regulations prescribed by the Presi.
dent announce the requirements OF the
law:
THAT vacancies in the grade OF sec.
ond lieutenant occurring in any tsCa
year shall be filled by the appoint
ment in the following order, namely
First. of cadets graduated from the
United States Military Academy dur
ling that fiscal year; second, OF enllstee
men whose fitness for promotion shall
have been determined by competitive
examination; third. of candidates iron
civil life between the ages OF twenty
lone and twenty-seven years; anc
candidates from civil life will be Sc
lected by competitive examination
I from those designated by the War De
partment."
A reading Of the foregoing will con
vince even the most stubborn and un-
reasonable that an enlisted man
= hite or black, must first regularly
aonIv to take the examination for pro
r5dtion 10 commissioned officer before
he can be "ordered" by the President
70 take the examination. A reading
Tg;II nj also clearly show that President
TAFT is not, and cannot be charge
abIe with the failure of colored en-
listed men to be ordered" to take
the examination for promotion.
, RRxD THH EER.