Evening journal., 1922-08-18
That June Outrage
(From the Army and Navy Register)

welfare OF the service. A step in
this direction has already been TAX
en- by the announcement Of the ex-
animation of candidates for second
lieutenant TO be held in September
The number OF applicants will be
Increased II there can be some rea-
sonable assurance that promotion to
the grade Of first Lieutenant will be
unblocked. of which there is evil
dence in the plan Of elimination. II
there is appreciable delay in OBJ
/ taining second lieutenants. II there
Is any such failure as has prevailed
since June 4. 1920, 10 fill these va
cancies. Congress will certainly take
more drastic action. II need sur
prise no one. in the event OF such
failure, II the critics OF the Army
in House and Senate proceed 70
legislate out OF active service all the
surplus officers or "additionals" that
remain. II is felt that those in
charge Of Army administration must
now turn their attention to the fu-
ture and endeavor TO build up TO its
maximum the personal efficiency ac-
cording 10 the authorized strength.
II can do this only by completing
as speedily as possible the redistri-
button OF numbers in grade and
stabilizing promotion. BY such
agencies alone will II be possible to
attract to the service young men
who recognize as profitable a mill
tary career. All of this, of course.
ignores everything that precedes
unFah effrHasfas4 gv. he 90
fairness in the treatment OF hun
dreds OF officers whose efficiency and
loyalty are rewarded with anxieties
and the possibility OF real hardship.
The numerous Army officers who
will be adversely affected by the in
quitous elimination law. with those
whS may escape. but who for the
present must entertain apprehension
regarding their future status. will be
interested in learning of a sugges-
tion that might, under proper con-
ditions, lead 70 a repeal, or at least
to an amendment. Of that statute.
OF course. the chances are admit
edly remote, and the whole thing
is largely dependent upon the ex-
tent to which appeals may be effec-
lively addressed 10 representatives
end senators. the vast majority Of
whom had no idea OF the character
OF the legislation or the slightest
comprehension Of its far-reaching
and general consequences. In neither
House nor Senate was there any op-
portunity 10 discuss the project when
the Army appropriation bill was
presented for debate or, later. when
the report OF the conferees on that |
measure containing the elimination
clause was presented for adoption.
On the latter occasion in the House
for example, one inquiry was made,
that OF Representative Mckenzie,
from Representative An
thony the complacent admission
that the elimination was certain 70
include many officers who were ef- |
icient-in other words. that the re- |
1uction in personnel would not be /
confined TO those who could be dis /
charged or retired "for the good Of |
he service" or for any improvement /
n efficiency. In the Senate the pro- /
vision submitted by the conferees |
was adopted without inquiry from |
any source. II may not have been |
actually "railroaded" through Con- |
5ress, but it invoked no interest and |
was not explained voluntarily by .
those responsible for II. Il Is proper /
TO assert that hardly any representa- .