The Washington bee., 1911-07-01
THE ARMY RULES
HasThere Been Amy Discrim-
ination?
EXAMINATION FOR'PROMOTIONS

u . .1azg ~ = = = :.
In view of Rev. Waldron's letter
to President Taft regarding promo
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 apprOv-
ed July 80, 1892, provides that.
"AU unmarried soldiers under thirty
wears Of age, who are citizens OF the
United States, are physically sound,
who have served hOnOrably not less
than two years in the army, may COM
pete for promotion under any system
authorized by this act"
The act further prOvIurs 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 for promotion to the grade Ot
second lieutenant"
The existing regulations, prescribed
by the President for the examination
Of enlisted applicants for appointment
as second lieutenant under the act OF
July 60 1892, contain provisions as
follows:
AN enlisted man who desires to
appear for examination will submit
through military channels an apphca-
ton so that it will reach his depart
ment commander on or before FEB
ruary 1, of the year in which he de-
sires to take the examination.
The company commander III for
n
the statement of service as given, anC
will state specifically whether, IN hl'
opinion, the soldier fulhlls each OF the
conditions hereinbefOre required, anC
will add his remarks as to the apu
tude of the applicant for the postor
sought.
The post commander will upon tn,
receipt OF such application cause the
applicant to be examined by med1Ca
officer as to his physical qualification:
and will forward the report of sucl
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 bOar'
Of FIVE officers, two of whom shall b.
medical officers whose duties will b.
confined to inquiring into and report
ing upon the physical qualifications o
the applicants to COnduC
the preliminary examination. He vii
order before this board SUCH dppll
cants in his command as appear t.
fulfill all the requirements herein IN
dicated as necessary for appointment
in the cavalry, field artillery, and in
fantrv, and will refer to the boar
the applications of the candidates wit.
all papers received bearing on thel
service and character
As to the examination of civilian
applicants for second lieutenants tn
regulations prescribed by the Presl
dent announce the requirements of tn
law:
That vacancies in the grade Of sec
Ond lieutenant occurring in any hsca
year shall be filled by the appoint
ment in the following order, namely
First, of cadets graduated from tn
United States Military Academy dur
ing that fiscal year; second, OF enllste
men whose fitness for promotion shaL
have been determined by cOmpetitiv
examination; third, of candidates frOr
civil life between the ages of twenty
one and twenty-seven years" an
candidates from civil life will be sc
lected by competitive examination
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 mar
white or black, must first regularl
apply to take the examination for pre-
motion to commissioned officer befor
he can. be ordered by the Presiden
to take the examination. A readin
will also clearly show that Presider
Taft, is not, and cannot be charge
able with the failure of colored er
listed men TO be ordered to tax
the examination for promotion.