Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06
THE ARMY


future promotions of officers and their
limitation in number which is now
being discussed by Congress. The
original plan of promotion included
every officer in the Regular Army
within the limits Sc, by Inc reorsani-
cation act. These promotions are
now pending before the Senate, and
when confirmed were to be followed
by the promotion OF all second lieu
tenants and about 1000 first lieuten-
ants, the majority of whom were
emergency officers. appointed under
the reorganization act. These APP
pointees having been confirmed last
week by the Senate, are now eligible
for promotion, and it is possible that
their names may also be submitted
for advance in grade, but, should
their promotions and those of other
officers whose promotions are now
pending be confirmed. and the total
number OF officers be limited as pro.
posed by certain members of Con.
gress, the Army would find itself with
substantially all it's officers, except
the medical department and chaplains,
In grades from captain to colonel. AS
this action would absorb all the pay
provided for the Army, second and
first lieutenants could not be appoint
ed without mourning a deficit. While
this action by Congress Is possible. it
Is not likely that the incoming ad-
minfstration would favor such a pro-
cedure.
Should the original plan of promo
ton be carried out, it would imme-
diately devolve upon Congress to de-
wise a method under which many of
the recently promoted officers could
either be reduced in rank or seps-
rated from the service, SO that the
lower grades could be Allied. An al
ternatlvA
the Senate to confirm the pending
promotions. which would result in
these officers dropping back one or
more grades to that from which they
were promoted. With the addition of
the former emergency officers now &C.
cupying the lower grades, the Army
would thus be supplied with lieuten-
ants and captains. The objection is
advanced that this would result in an
unbalanced army. but advocates of
the plan believe that as the vacan-
cies would be in the higher grades.
the inequalities could be easily RENEE
died by a few promotions.
third solution proposed is that
the Seiate confirm all pending promo
tons and that no further advances
be made until the grades are equita-
bly, adjusted through retirements and
designations. This plan appeals to
ohicers whose promotions are pend
ing. but not for former emergency
ohicers whose promotions would thus
be postponed for many years. a num-
Der Of whom accepted lower grades
than that for which they were ex-
amined. with the expectation of al
most simultaneous promotion with the
confirmation of their appointments.
The promotion of officers from twenty
six to forty-three years Of age. to the
grades from major to colonel inclu-
sive. promises to bring about a stag
vyt1I al
the Army a live topic Of conversation
for many years to come
CIax. b Cases.
Successfully defending a number of
class B officers. who were threatened
with summary dismissal from the
Army. Capt. Edwin L. MacLean. Judge
advocate Of the 7th Army Corpe Area.
who has been serving as counsel for
the defense at Chicago for Army Of
dcers Professionally placed In class B.
rule Of our American
THAT. .evfden should
Of matters of fact and not
mere inference. Judgment. belief or
opinion" Capt MacLean in his brief
s s!a that the evidence q. ineni-
vistonaily placed IA Clans &, With a
viewssOf his elimination from the
a rrnys, should. under tfiespfovisions Of
section 24-(b) Of the reorganization
act. be specific and definite"
An extract from the brief of the
Judge advocate is: where an act of
Congress or law IL passed without
any definite procedure Tor It's enforce
ment or manner Of enforcement being
stated. we csn presume that such pro-
cedure WIN heheld applicable a. is the
customary procedure Of the time and
Is such in our country win be gov
erned by the laws and rules Of Amerf-
can Jurisprudence" In conclusion he
stated that matters Of adverse fact
are to besthe ibaais. or at least should
pc me nasls. OF any and all clsssihca-
!nef1ciency. And this matter Of using
facts. and not opinions 10 the only
lair. square and reasonable FONDA.