El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-31
CHANCE
FOR ARMY BILL
Status Of Temporary Off.
GERS and Promotion TAX
en- Up bV Department.

/ Washington. D. c.. May 3L-Not
much viii be done in military way
at the special session
Representative Kahn. chairman Of
the house military committee in this
congress. does not believe that much
VIII be accomplished in the way Of
service legislation beyond the passage
Of bills providing necessary funds,
leaving such matters as legislation az
feeting the personnel to the regular
I session. II that is done. some detri-
mental results viii accrue, particu-
iarly with regard to the commissioned
personnel Of the army.
OF course the mum Der Of commits
stoned officers depends upon the size
that may be fixed for the regular
army. While the war department has
recommended the authorization of
( 100000 enlisted men for the present
the tendency in congress viii be TO
authorize a materially smaller force
Mr.. Kahn is not in favor OF more
than 125,000i but some Of his associ-
ates on the house military committee
and some Of the members OF the SEN
ate committee are in favor Of Z50, 900.
The number fixed by the national de-
fence act of 1916 is approximately
226.000.
No matter what the outcome as to
the size OF the regular army, il is felt
in the service that there should be no
delay in enacting legislation author
izing the appointment, within fixed
limitations, Of those qualified officers
Of the temporary forces that wish TO
remain In the army. Without new
legislation, none Of them can be re-
tanned beyond the period OF demobi-
lzation-
skould Act New.
Many Of those in a temporary status [
who have signiGed a desire TO remain /
permanently in the army would be
valuable additions TO the service. The /
longer the matter is put off the I
greater the number Of such personnel I
that VIII be lost Many who intended l
10 seek permanent appointments al l
ready have severed their temporary |
connection with the service and no 1
longer wish TO come back, and others I
are destined TO take the same attitude /
under the continuing delays in en- 4
actment Of the necessary legislation I
TO apply 70 them il is easily seen 4
that il such legislation is postponed /
until next winter the number Of tenn
porary officers who viii take penma-
nent commissions VIII be compare
lively small
Accordingly. the military authori-
ties believe that, even if congress at
the extra session does not 90 into the /
entire personnel situation, it should
az least pass a law under which tenn
porary officers may be kept in the
service when they SO desire and are
found qualified within the fixed limt-
tations as TO age
Irrespective Of the extent to which
congress at the extra session may 90
INTO service legislation, the war de-
partment is preparing to make ex-
tensive concentrations on the per-
sonnet subject
suggest Various Plans.
Among the projects to be submitted.
IS one relating to the promotions IN
he permanert force. one plan is TO
apply a system Of elimination 50 as
% transfer from the active list an
hose officers who are not capable OF
.ully performing all duties devolvlng
ipon them according TO their rank
Ind arm OF the service, and thus ac-
.elerate promotion
Another plan contemplates revival
If the old project OF promotion on
Jingle list containing the names OF al
,ffcers Of the several arms OF the
service. There has been much obJec-
ion to this plan within the service,
which viii be renewed when congress
.ooner or later takes up the SUBJECT
The same is true Of promotion by Sc
ection-
Intinations have come TO the war
Iepart-znt that those who viii con-
-tftute the congressional military
committees desire revised estimates
or maintenance OF the military
establishment during the next fiscal
-ear. The estimates that were the
.asis Of the army appropriation PHI
RAT failed OF enactment in the last
orgress are regarded as imperfect 20
he extent that they obviously were
'reuared in haste. following the sign
NJ Of the armistce, and did not pre-
ent the matured judgment Of experts
n the various bureaus Of the army
oning them all down into one; tax
a.a|~ son