UB f4WM^t^:^£f'mk^i DISCOHTIIJUANCE OP GRADE OF NOH-COmaSSIOKSD STAFF OFFICER DISCONTINUANCE OF GRADE OF POST NON COMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER i HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON H. R. 12827 A BILL PROVIDING FOR THE DISOONTINUANCE OF THE GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER ON THE ACTIVE LIST OF THE ARMY AND CREATING THE GRADE OF WARRANT OFFICER IN LIEU THEREOF WASHINGTON (JOVKRNAIEN'J- PRINTING OFFICE 1932 COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS. HorsE OF Representatives, Sixty-second Congress. .JAMES HAY, of Virginia, Chairman. .TAMES L. SLAYDEN, of Texas. ' S. H. DENT, Jr., of Alabama. .lOHN T. WATKINS, of Louisiana. MICHAEL F. CONRY, of New Y'oik. DUDLEY M. HUGHES, of Geor.£;ia. WILLL\M J. FIELDS, of Kentucky. DAVID J. LEWIS, of Maryland. EDWIN F. SWEET, of Michigan. THOMAS G. PATTEN, of New York. I. S. PEPPER, of Iowa. LYNDEN EVANS, of Illinois. Edwakd W. Caepbnter, Clerk. Jambs R. Baker, Assistant Clerk II JOHN M. HAMILTON, of West Virginia. K. D. McKBLLAR, of Tennessee. GEORGE W. PRINCE, of Illinois. JULIUS KAIIN, of California. JAMES F. BURKE, of Pennsylvania. THOMAS W. BRADLEY, of New York. DANIEL R. ANTHONY, Jr., of Kansas. JOHN Q. TILSON, of Connecticut. BUTLER AMES, of Mas.sachusetts. JAMES H. WICKERSHAM, of Alaska. ■U.\i A\ DISCONTINUANCE OF GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. House of Representatives, Committee on Military Affairs, Wednesday, February 28, 1912. The committee being in session, Hon. James L. Slayden (acting chairman) presiding, a hearing was accorded on the bill (H. R. 12827) providing for the discontinuance of the grade of post non- commissioned staff officer on the active list of the Army and creating the grade of warrant officer in lieu thereof, as follows : lie it enacted hij the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Ameriea in Congress assonbled. That from and after tlie passage of this act the grade of post uoncoiiiiuissioned staff officer, consisting of ordnance sergeant, post commissary sergeant, and post qnartermaster sergeant, be, and is herebj', discontinued on the active list of the Army and the grade of warrant officer created in lieu thereof, to be known as warrant assistants in their re- spective departments; that they be paid at the rate of one hundred dollars per month, with ten per centum increase for each five years of service in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps until fortj- i)er centum has been attained, and ten per centum increase over their pay for foreign service; that they shall receive allowances as now provided for veterinarians. Cavalry and Field Artillery, and be placed on the retired list of the Army, with three-fourths of their pay and allowances, upon comitletion of thirty years' service: Provided. That service and double time earned as enlisted men be computed as such toward retirement: Provided further, That when a warrant officer becomes disabled for the per- formance of his duties by reason of disability contracted in the line of duty he shall be placed on the retired list of the Army with three-fourths of the pay and allowances he may be then receiving: Provided further. That all post noncommissioned staft' officei-s on the active list of the Army at the time of the passage of this act shall be immediately discharged and appointed to war- rant grade upon their acceptance thereof within thirty days from date of dis- charge, and that thereafter appointments shall be made from the enlisted men of tlie Army, under such rules and after such examinations as may be pre- scribed by the Secretary of War: Provided further. That all warrants issued under the provisions of this act shall continue in force unless the holder thereof shall become separated from the service by reason of the acceptance of his resignation or dismissal by sentence of a general court-martial approved by the President. STATEMENT OF MR. C. A. GWINN, OF WASHINGTON, D. C. Mr. Anthony. State to the committee briefly the object of this bill. ^Ir. Gavinn. The object of the bill is to discontinue the grade of post noncommissioned staff officer on the active list of the Army and to establish in lieu thereof the grade of warrant officer, such as is now established in the Navy and is in operation in the Xavy with great success. It would give these warrant officers a pay of $100 per month instead of the pay they are now receiving as post non- commissioned staff officers. 3 4 GRADE OF POST ^'OXCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. Mr. Slaydex. How much increase would that be? Mr. GwixN. It would be an actual increase of about $55. Mr. Slayden. For each per month? Mr. GwiNx. Yes, sir. AVhereas that looks as if it would cost the Government additional money and as though it would increase the appro]:)riation for the Army, that increase is only apparent. We believe that the statistics we have here will prove conclusively that it will not result in any real additional cost to the Government, but that, on the contrary, it is an economical measure. We believe, further, that our argument will show that this is something that should be established in the Army to increase the efficiency of the Army and to do justice to the enlisted men in the Army. Mr. An- thony asked me to state the purport of the bill. As I said, it would discontinue the grade of post noncommissioned staff officer on the active list and establish the grade of Avarrant officer in the Army. It would give them the title of warrant assistant in their respective departments. Of course if the present departments are continued, they Avoulcl simply be Avarrant assistants in these various depart- ments: but if these departments should be abolished and a supply corps established, then they would have whatever title Congress or the War Department conferred upon them. Mr. Bradley. Would it in any degree reduce the number of offi- cers ? Mr. GwiNK. It would increase the number of officers available for straight military duty. The commissioned officers who are trained to duty in the line and who certainly ought to be returned to duty in the line and be kept in the line as much as possible could return to their duties, which would obviate the necessity for increasing the number of commissioned officers. Mr. ANTHO^'Y. If this grade of warrant officer was created, these warrant officers would perform the duties which are now largely performed by active commissioned officers, and these active com- missioned officers could go back to the line? Mr. GwiNN. Yes, sir. Mr. Slayden. In other words, these duties that are now being performed by commissioned officers could be performed by these pro- posed warrant officers? Mr. GwiKN. Yes, sir; and without any disrespect to the commis- sioned officers. I believe the duties could be done fully as well, if not better, by these warrant officers. Mr. Slayden. Wh}'^ can they not do it as well now as orderly sergeants, etc.? Mr. GwiNX. Because, while they have the responsibility for the property of their departments, they are not given the prestige which carries accountability with it. They do not have the proper au- thority. While they are actually the heads of their respective de- partments, especially in small posts, the position is a subordinate one. 7'he post noncommissioned staff officer is an expert and a specialist in his line, and he knows his work at the post better than anybody else does: yet he is held in a subordinate position, a position that was once considered a position of respect and honor in the old Army, but it has now sunk to the level of first sergeant of a company. The positi(m of post noncommissifmed staff' officer was established for the purpose of preserving the Government's property better than it had GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. 5 been preserved in the past. My statement here shows the require- ments for these positions. Mr. Slayden. Suppose you give that statement to the stenogra- pher, and Ave Avill read it. Mr. GwiNN. I submit these examination papers, which show the requirements for the position of post commissary sergeant. The examination papers referred to are as follows : KXAMINATTON FOR PoST COMMISSARY SKlUaCANT. FkHKUAKY. 1911. ARITHMETIC. 1. Add 8,463i and 792* aud 1,391?. Subtract S,2413 from f)9.4S3/,. Multiply 4.T2Sf by 246i. Divide 96.422* bv 14*. 2. Add $6.348.7r) and $904.5 and .$4.793.12.1. Subtract .$47,268.72,5 — $8,034.25. Multiply 8,463.75 by 231.5. Divide 59.378.48 by 31.2. 3. A buys 8,094A pounds of beef at 9.035 cents per pound ; 30.742 pounds of potatoes, at 1^ cents per pound; and S.7W* pounds of onions, at 2^ cents per pound. What is the total amount of the purchase? 4. B sells 3 gross boxes of matches, at 0.942 cent per box ; 349i pounds of ham, at 16,725 cents per pound; and 8 dozen clothespins, at 0.014 cent each. What is the total amount of the sale? 5. A conunissjiry buys 7.53,000 pounds of potatoes to store in a root house: each sack vi-eighs 1.50 ]iounds ; sacks are to be i»laced on ends in one layer: each sack covers 1.56 square inches, including space for ventilation. Plow many square feet of floor space must the commissary have to stores those potatoes? 6. If 40 bai-rels of flour will supply 200 men for 9 weeks, how many barrels will supply 750 men for 23 days? 7. If a quantity of provisions will supply a garrison of 90 men for 125 days, how long will 3 times the same amount of provisions supply 150 men? 8. A commissary owes $450 for beef, which is 20 per cent of the total amoimt he has to his credit. What is his total ci'edit? 9. If 4^ pounds of butter costs $1.60. what will 181 pounds cost? 10. Give table of dry measure, liquid measuiv, avoii'dupois. HISTORY. 1. Name the nations by which the territory of tlie United States was explored and state what portion was explored by each. 2. In what wars were the following battles fought, and by whom won ; lamdy's Lane, Cold Harbor. Brandywine. Stonypoint. Buena Vista. Chesape:. propo.-ition has been favorably recommended heretofore by the War Department officials? Mr. GwiNN. Last year a bill was introduced in the Senate, and the bill was referred to the War Department. The War Depart- ment, as I understand it. recommended or reported that the bill was a meritorious one: that they considered it a meritorious measure, but- they stated that they had other bills before Congress and other legislation Avhich they i)referred to urge. Now, I have stated the pay and the change of title. The allowances we have provided in this bill would be the allowances provided for veterinarians in the Cavalry and Field Artillery now in effect, and those are the alloM'ances of a second lieutenant. I have also a state- ment, Avhich I will submit, to shst eonnnissary, and post qnarterniaster sergeants. They are ajjpointed liy the Sivretai'y of AVar. after due examin.-ition. as follows: Ordnance sergeants from sergeants of the line who have served at least eight years in the Army, including four years as noncommissioned officers, and who are less than 4.5 years of age: i)ost com- missary sergeants from sergeants of the line who have served tive years in ttie Army, including three years as nonconnnissioned officers; post quartermaster sergeants from the most com])etent enlisted men of the Ai-my who have served at least four years. [1582i.>]l, A. G. 0.1 94. An application for appointment to the post noneomniissioned staff must be iu the handwriting of the applicant and will state briefly the length and nature of his military service, and for what time and in what organizatifms he has served as a private and as a noncommissioned officer. The immediate com- manding officer will indorse (hereon a statement as to the character, intelligence, and fitness of the applicant. The application so indorsed will be submitted to the I'egimental or artillery district commander or other proper connnanding offieer, who will forward the same, with his remarks as to the merits of the applicant, to the Adjutant Getieral of the Army. [1582^11, A. G. C] M."). While the law contemplates in these appointments the better preservation of j)ublic property at the several posts, there is also a further consideration — that of offering a reward to faitlifnl and well-tried enlisted men eligible for appointment, thus giving encouragement to deserving soldiers to ho]>e for sub- stantial promotion. Commanding officers can not be too particular in investi- gating and reporting upon the character and qualifications of apiilicants. [1.582211. A. <;. o.] II. Paragraph 3, General Orders, No. 43. War Department. .March It). 1909, relating to the examination of applicants for ap])ointment as post noncommis- sioned staff officers, is amended to read as follows: 3. On December 1 of each year the C-'hief or Ordnance, the ("ommissary Gen- eral, and the Quartermaster General will each send sets of examination papers, prepared in his office, to The Adjutant General of tiie Army, requesting trans- mission, under seal, to the proper commanding officer of one set for each soldier, who may have applied for examination during the i)receding 12 months, with instructions to have the examination held on February 1, in the jiresence of an officer, and the papers forwarded through military channels to the Adjutant General of the Army, who will transnnt them to the proper chief of bureau. Should more than one examination be found necessary in any year it will be similarly conducted upon the request of the proper cliief of biu'eau. [1.582211. A. <;. <\1 r.y order of the Secretary of War : .7. FUANKt-IX PiKI.I.. Mtiior (Iciural, Chief of Staff. Official : Hen'rv p. McCain. Adjutant (loicnil. Post noncommissioned staff officers are assigned lo duly as assist- ants to the officers of their resi)ecti\o departments, and their detail to other duties, except when the necessities of the service require, is prohibited by AiTny Keofulatioris (A. E. 97, 1908). Anion^ the du- ties performed by miMubers of the i)ost noncommissioned staff, they arc recjuired to receive, preserve, issue, and account for all the prop- erty pertaining to their respective departments and disbur.se and ac- count for funds, under the direction of the commissioned officers as- 10 GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFIOEE. signed to duty in said departments. They are also required to pre- pare all reports and returns pertaining to their departments, and are held strictly accountable for their proper and accurate preparation. They are responsible in the aggregate for over $500,000,000 worth of Government property and the proper expenditure of a large per- centage of the annual appi'opriations made by Congress for the main- tenance of the Army. While they are not held accountable for Gov- ernment property except at ungarrisoned posts, they are always held strictly responsible, not only by their superior officers but by the War Department, for the proper care and distribution of such prop- erty (A. R. 98, 1908). Furthermore, they are the only enlisted men in the Army ever made accountable for Government property under any circumstances. Of course the commissioned officers assigned to duty in the several staif departments — that is to say, the Ordnance. Quartermaster's, and Commissary Departments — are nominally in charge of the work of those departments. They sign all requisi- tions, invoices, property returns, etc., but it is the noncommissioned staff officer of the department who is required to supervise and at- tend to all the intricate details connected with the operations of the department with which he serves. He is required to prepare all requisitions, vouchers, returns of property, etc., for the signature of his superior officer and see that rations and stores are properly issued and accounted for; also that disbursements of funds are properly made in accordance with the law and regulations. He is required to possess a thorough knoAvledge of the regulations pertaining to his department, and it is upon his knoAvledge that the head of his de- partment and the commander of his post relies for the proper con- duct of the department to which he is attached. It is natural that he should be more familiar with the details of his department than Avoulcl be the young commissioned officer temporarily assigned to the department and untrained in the details of its operation. The post noncommissioned staff officer is a specialist in his par- ticular line and devotes his whole time and attention to it, Avhile the commissioned officer under whom he serves is purely a military man, trained for purely military service, and it is apparent that the effi- cienc}^ of the service- would be increased if, in the smaller posts at least, the commissioned officer was returned to the line to perform the service for which he was trained, for which he is employed or com- missioned, and the work of these supply departments turned over to the experts who now actually ])erform the work of the dei^artments and draw less than one-third the pa}'^ of the junior subaltern detailed for duty in the supply de])artments. The tendency toAvard increased efficiency and practical economy by such a step is too obvious to re- quire further argument. Since the post noncommissioned staff officer noAv performs the actual Avork of the department to which he is at- tached, is absolutely responsible for the proper administration of his department, and charged with a full and complete knowledge of all the laws and regulations pertaining to his department, Avhy should he not be rewarded as he deserves by bestoAving upon him rank con- sistent with his position and duties, and compensation commensurate Avith the serA'ices he performs? This is a question of justice as Avell as military expediency. I ask the committee to remember this fact : That the post noncom- missioned staff officer of the Arm}^ is charged with far greater re- GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICEE. 11 sponsibilities and performs far more important services to the Gov- ernment than the men in similar positions in the United States Navy, who have been advanced to the warrant grade and receive salaries rmming from $1,800 to $2,500 per annum, while the post noncommis- sioned staif officer receives only a meager $45 per month, with an or- dinary enlisted man's alloAvances. Why should we make fish of one and foAvl of the other? Wh}' not make service as attractive to en- listed men in the Armj'^ as it has already been made to such men in the NaAy ? There is no reason known why enlisted men in the Army should not be given equal advantages and opportunities with en- listed men in the Navy, but they are not, as can be readily seen by reference to the Annual Report for the Secretary of War for 1907, on pages 73, 74, and 75 of which are found tables setting forth in contrast the status of enlisted men in the Navy and enlisted men in the Army. I call attention particularly at this time to para- graphs 13 and 14 at the bottom of page 74, showing the comparison with relation to the Avarrant grade, which I will read and request that they be printed in the record at this point. 13. As a rewiird for Jonji :'iiid faith- 18. There are no rewards throujih ful service, 10 mates are annually ap- promotion for long and faithful serv- pointed from ihe enlisted men. Mates ice in the Arniy. There Is only re- usually receive special assignments to tirement after 30 years. duty at shore stations. 14. Enlisted men who serve continn- 14. 'J'here is no such ^u'rade as war- ouslj- and reach the grad( of chief raut officer in the Army. Men of long petty officer or petty officer, first class, and meritorious service can not be are eligible for appointuieut as war- promoted beyond the nonconmiissioned rant officn^rs. The pay of a warrant grades. officer is 'from .$1,200 to .$1,800 a year and allowances, and he retires at 02 years of age on three-fourths i)ay. Men may reach the grade of warrant officer in several other ways. Warrant officers are promoted to chief warrant officers, with the rank of ensign, after six years' service. Appointments to the post noncommissioned staff of the Army have always been regarded as rewards for faithful and efficient service in the line of the Army. Besides, the positions are generally considered the most important filled by any enlisted men, and such as only reliable and well-qualified soldiers are capable of filling. It is stated in the Army Regulations that — While the law contemplates in these appointments the better preservation of public property at the several posts, there is also a further consideration — that of offering a reward to faithful and well-tried enlisted men eligible for ap]iointnient. thus giving eucouiagcment to deserving soldiers to hope for sub- stantial ])romotion. Commanding officers can not be too particular in investi- gating and reporting upon the character and qualifications of applicants. I desire to say, gentlemen of the committee, that whatevei'- hope the grade of post noncommissioned staff officer may hold out to " faithful and well-tried enlisted men eligible for appointment," the hope is not strong enough to secure and retain the most desirable class of young men for the service. The promotion means too little. To jjromote efficiency in the service to the highest possible degree it is generally conceded by military authorities and others well in- formed that we should endeavor to procure the best possible type of 12 GEADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. young men to enter the service in the enlisted grades and retain in the service those who prove the most efficient. To do this we should be able to hold out to them opportunity for substantial advancement. The Army at present offers no such opportunity, except an enlisted man be qualified for a commission. Commissions, however, are hard to get, requiring a high degree of education and an education of such a nature that it does not necessarily make the possessor more valuable for the duties required of the post noncommissioned staff officer than would a common-school education combined with a proper training for the work. Besides, the age limit for applicants for commissions is so low that it precludes advancement to that grade of the most efficient and experienced of the post noncommissioned staff officers. Our Army is a volunteer arm3\ and American citizens are not or- dinarily required to take service in it unless they desire. In times of war. when men's passions are stirred and their love of country aroused, many men enlist in the Army through patriotic motives, but in times of jDeace the majority of men entering the service do so through self-interest. This fact being known, it necessarily follows that if the inducements offered are increased a larger number of men Avill apply for enlistment and more discrimination can be used in selecting men for the military service. Furthermore, desirable and efficient noncommissioned officers, instead of leaving the service, as the majority now do, at the close of their first enlistment, would prefer to remain, with a view to eventually reaching a position of increased dignity and comj^ensation. There can be no doubt but this would materially increase the efficiency of the service. Besides, the Army being in competition with private pursuits, the pay and allow- ances must nearly approximate those of similar positions in civil life if it is desired to obtain efficient men to fill the grades requiring skill and intelligence. The work of post noncommissioned staff officers of the Army is skilled work and work of great importance. It surely a])pears the part of wisdom for the Government to offer inducements such as will secure and retain qualified men to fill their ])ositions. President Taft. while Seci'etary of War. sulnnitted in luis annual report for 1007 a strong argument for the establisliment of the war- rant grade in the Anuy. This grade, if established, the report claims, should be open to post nonconunissioned staff officers. In the report referred to it was maintained that the present oppor- tunities for advancement mean too little to the enlisted man, and that the grade of Avorrant officer should be established in the Army to provide a means for advancing and rcAvarding- faithful and efficient soldiers. I will read from images 08, 09, 100, 101, and 102 of that re- port and request that the paragraphs read be made a part of this record : COMMISSIONS NOT AN INDUCEMENT. The w;iy is open now fol- the advanceinent of the enlistod mun not only through tiie nonconunissioned grades, but to the highest coinniissioned rank. The number of conmiissioued vacancies permit, of course, eompiiratively few men to be rewnrdeil in this way. :Moreover. present conditions of appointment do not permit tliis to l)e used as a method of rewarding long and faithful service in the ranks, and it is tlierefnre in no sense an inducement to make the service a life occupation in the lower grades. GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. 13 A NEW GRADK PROPOSED. So urgently lias this been felt, indeed, tbat it nas been seriously proposed in more than one instance to alter existing customs in such manner as to permit the appointnuMU to the lower (-(munissioned grades of noncomuiissioned oUicers whose long and excellent service has put them l>cyond possibility of suitable reward through promotion in the nonconmiissioned grades. So many objections exist to this, however, that it would be certain only to result in worse evils than those it seeks to remedy ; but it seems possible, without this danger, a new grade could be created wherein, by ajipointment. such service could be rewarded ami these men still kept in a line of work with which by long practice they have become familiar and in which their g)-eatest value to the Army lies. Such a grade would fall between the noncnnmiissioned and the commissioned oflicers It would not be an ex])eriment in arnnes. since it exists already with the British, whose system is the only important one allied closely to ours; and it would not be an experiment in our service, since it is already in successful operation in the Navy. 1'his is the grade of warrant officer. Many excellent reasons may be adduced for its creation. Nothing is known to be urged against it. Finally, once the ranks were full in the noncommissioned grades, both efficiency of the .service and opportunities for advancement must depend upon vacancies in those grades occurring 1 hereafter. Natural casualties would jirob- ably be insutiicient for either puipose. and some suitable system of retirement is necessary to accomi»lish both. Ihiving in view, then, the main ]mr])ose of inducing men to make of the Army a life work, increa.sed oiiporuinities for ad- vancement may be considered under [a) the noncommissioned grades; yb) war- rant officers; (c) commissioned gr.-ides; and ((/) retirement. THK NONCOMMISSIONED GR.\DES PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES MEAN TOO LITTLE. The possibility of every enlisted man of good character and of even moderate intelligence reaching noncommissioned grade not later than his second enlist- ment, and probably, under present conditions, during his first, is assured. But such assurance marks decline, not growth. It is plain that this reward is not sufficient to tempt men to remain in the service, else vacancies could not so frequently occur. The capable man is not willing to assume the additional responsibilities incident to noncommissioned rank for the insignificant increases in pay. There is nothing beyond pay. He has neither greater dignity nor more privileges. He is still the common soldier, no different from the men from whom he is chosen, and commanding no more respect. PAY IS THE FOUNDATION OF ANY CHANGE. A change in the schedule of pay corresponding to that set forth herein would, it is thought, form the foundation of a complete change in this regard. The difference in pay between the private and noncommissioned officer would then be real. It would constitute a reward that, compared even with those obtain- able in civil life, would make these positions worth the effort to secure and to retain. MOKE THAN PAY ESSENTIAL, But pay is not all. Increased privileges, allowances, and dignity may be counted upon as much as pay to make these grades sought by men who are capable of filling them. There is no danger in such a course. The man who undertakes to devote his life to this line of work is entitled for his faithful- ness to a higher degree of respect than the apprentice whose mind is still unmade. The man whose ability raises him above his fellows and whose force gives him natural control over them may l)e wisely trusted to control hhnself. Increased respect yielded from those above and required from those below will only increase his respect for himself and his pride in his work. It is this self- respect and this pride that are now so sadly lacking and that make the non- commissioned grade one whose responsibilities many men are glad to avoid. The details of this status for noncommissioned officers have already been indi- cated. Besides increase in pay they comprise separate quarters and messi'ooms and distinct privileges. For most of them only executive authority is neces- sary, but increased pay, which lies with Congress, is the only foundation ii])on which the others may gradually be established. 14 GRADE OF POST XU:XC0MM1SSI0X£D STAFF OFFICEE. WHAT THE GRADE WOULD ACCOMPLISH. The creation of this grade would accomplish several results: First. It would serve as an incentive to good conduct and continuous service. Second. It would attract a higher class of men into the service and assist in retaining them. Third. It would continue men appointed to the grade in a line of work for which they were best fitted and of most value to the Government. Fourth. It would serve as a reward for long ;nid meritorious service. Fifth. It would form a class of the same grade and the same qualities, who would naturally find therein the social relations to which their life had in- clined them. WHAT COMMISSIONS DO NOT ATTAIN. None of these, it is to be noted, is to be attained through appointment to commissioned grades under existing customs, and only part could be attained even by throwing open, as has been proposed, the lower commissioned grades to the appointment of noncommissioned oflicers of long service. The grade of warrant officer, on the contrary, would satisfy every necessity urged in sup- port of the latter project, while avoiding the evils certain to result from its adoption. The place of the warrant officer, officially and socially, would be one of dignity, yet one to which by training he would be equal, and in which in no sense he could be considered an intruder. More than all, the Government would be assured of competent men in these positions of steadily growing importance. THE ARGUMENT OF OTHER ARMIES. That possibly only one other army has this grade is no argument against its creation here. That Great Britain, whose system corresponds so closely to ours, has found it both necessary and useful is, on the other hand, argu- ment for its adopMon with us. Moreover, a similar grade under different names may be found even in nations with different systems. Thus Japan has the grade of special sergeant major, to which is attached higher pay than received even by commissioned subalterns. That it is unnecessary in the mili- tary powers of Europe indicates only the difference in the social sys'ems of the different countries. With them class dis inctions are so clearly marked and military service so Imixtrtant a feature of the nationul life that it is possible to find men with the requisite qualities for these positions nmong a class that reaches its natural level in the status of the noncommissioned grades. This is manifestly an impossibility in the I^'nited States. With us there is a place in the Army no less than in the Na\ y for this grade of warrant officer. The foregoing arguments are conclusive and worthy of careful consideration. They describe the necessity for the warrant grade in the Army far better than I can hope to describe it. I trust they will be carefully examined by the gentlemen of the committee. In conclusion I beg to call attention to the fact that almost with- out exception the post noncommissioned staff officers of the Army are old, well-tried, and reliable soldiers, with a highly developed sense of duty and responsibility. This is the result of the fact that they are carefully chosen from among the enlisted men of the Army and required to pass a difficult examination prior to appointment. I submit herewith a set of questions used at a recent examination of applicants for the position of post commissary sergeant, that the committee might judge the nature of the examination which they are required to pass. These men. are highly deserving of the reward which would be theirs if this bill should be enacted into law, and we are satisfied that they can be so rewarded without increasing the cost of the military establishment, and in rewarding them by advanc- ing them to the warrant grade Congress would thereby material!}^ increase the efficiency of the Army. GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. 15 We submit this matter to this committee, confidently feeling that it will receive at the committee's hands the careful attention it de- serves and that through the report of this committee on the measure substantial justice will be done to this deserving class of enlisted men and to the Army as a whole. STATEMENT OF COL. JOSEPH SMOLINSKI, OF WASHINGTON, D. C. Gentlemen of the House Committee on Military Affairs, the organ- ization of an army is the arranging into well-defined units, tactical and administrative, the different arms and branches of the militarj^ forces in order to facilitate not only discipline and training, but to promote the efficiency of the military establishment. The founders of our Republic and the originators of its organic laws, unable to encompass at the time the exigencies that have arisen in the progressive evolution of our Nation on lines of eco- nomic, commercial, and industrial development and territorial acquisitions, bequeathed to the people a bias against a deeply rooted and I might add universal military establishment. Ti'ue, this prej- udice has been gradually swept away in the great war triumphs of our armies and navies that have decked the coronet of our Ooddess of Liberty with added gems and created a halo of glory around Columbia's fair broAv. The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the AVar with Mexico, and the Civil and Spanish- American Wars unfold pages of history on which are recorded in letters of gold the high and honorable career of the profession of arms, forcibly illustrated in that galaxy of commanders whose chivalric daring and military proAvess liaA^e immortalized the heroes of all American wars. The career of the American soldier has been and is in sympa- thetic touch with the great civic body of the Nation, clearly defined in the Spartan virtues of a Washington, illustrated in the philosophy of a Hamilton, and depicted in the remarkable amenity of a Monroe, and even doAvn to our times indications point to the fact that the present laAvmakers of the land are apace with these men in all that legislative action can offer for the betterment of the American sol- dier and the efficiency of the military establishment. These preliminary remarks lead me at this juncture to call up for j'our consideration and action H. R. 12827, introduced July 26, 1911, in the House of Representatives, by the Hon. Daniel R. Anthony, jr., of this committee, the purport of which provides for the discontinu- ance of the grade of post noncommissioned staff officer on the active list of the Arm}'^, and creating the grade of warrant officer in lieu thereof. A bill identical with the one just referred to was introduced De- cember 11, 1911, in the Senate, under Senate No. 3605, by the Hon. Joseph L. Bristow, of Kansas, who is a member of the Senate Com- mittee on Military Affairs. The beneficiaries and eligibles of this bill are the post noncom- missioned staff officers on the active list of the Army and the en- listed men who may be promoted to the warrant grade by reason of meritorious service and competency. IG GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. It would be difficult, indeed, under existing conditions to propeily estimate the arduous labors, intelligence, loyalty, and responsibilities of the average post noncommissioned staff officer, whose onerous duties and efficiency are prime factors in maintaining the high stand- ard of the important branches of the military establishment, nameh\ the ordnance, the quartermaster's, and subsistence departments, of which they are integi^al parts. The measure in question is recognized by military experts to be of such a nature as to necessarily increase the efficiency of the Army, and its enactment into law was recommended by President Taft in 1907 while Secretary of War; his recommendations were embodied in his annual report to the President for that year. The grade of warrant officer would be an intermediary one between the noncommissioned and commissioned officer. In this connection attention is invited to the fact that when the grade of ordnance sergeant was first established it was, by the operation of law, created as a distinctive corps between the officers and the enlisted men. logi- cally, nay de facto, placing their status identical with that of the warrant officers of the Navy at that time; under existing conditions the ordnance sergeants are uoav ranked and placed as of the grade of post noncommissioned staff officer in the absence, as is seen, of the existence by law of the warrant grade, which is not a new idea nor innovation, for it is in successful operation in the Ignited States Navy and is operating successfully in the British army. Referring to the grade of ordnance sergeants under the old system ; that is. when first established, the following comparison as to their status is conclusive: 1. Their warrants were signed by the Secretary of War, as was the NaA^3' warrant signed by the Secretary of the Navy. 2. Neither grade could be reduced to the ranks or otherwise de- prived of their position. A court-martial could only discharge them in case of serious misconduct. 3. Both grades, ordnance sergeant and post noncommissioned staff officer, were accorded separate quarters, and appropriations were made specifically for the construction of such quarters distinct from those of the enlisted men proper. 4. Both grades were by laAv empowered to receive and account for ])roperty in their own names. ."). Both grades were appointed almost solely on account of merit; and there are instances of appointment by Congi'ess to both grades for especially uieritorious services. 6. Both grades were exempt from manual labor. (See Army Eeg- ulations. 1881. 1889, and prior issues.) It is evident, if we take this comparison at its logical interpreta- tion, that the primary object of the creation of this grade was to establish an intermediary corps between the officers and the enlisted men proper — in other words, a warrant grade — an object which for many years has been utterly lost sight of in the Army, while the Navy men. with the warrant grade established, have been declared commissioned. We must consider, too, that the pay of the noncommissioned staff remained staticmary from its first establishment until 1908 — a period GEADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. 17 of 60 years. During that time a number of grades were raised to or above their level of pay, while new grades were also created with the same or higher pay, leaving the pay schedule just before the change in 1908 as follows : Nameof^rade. ! ^^^^j!! New grades; pay fixed at — Master signal electrician j Master electrician, Coast Artillery Corps ' Engineer, Coast Artillery Corps Electrician sergeant, firs"t class. Coast Artillery Corps i Electrician sergeant, second class. Coast Artillerj- Corps Sergeant major, all arms | S34. 00 Regimental qnarlermasler sergeant, all arms 34.00 Regimental commissary sergeant, all arms I Master gunner. Coast Artillery Corps Sergeant, first class. Signal Corps 875. 00 75.00 r.5. 00 45.00 35.00 34.00 34.00 45.00 Sergeant , Engineers ^ j 34. 00 Sergeants, Ordnance and Signal Co^s 34. 00 Battalion quartermaster sergeant. Engineers ! 34. 00 First sergeant . Engineers . 34. 00 Chief musician fO. 00 Sergeant, first class. Hospital Corps ! 45. 00 In addition he should receive in rations and clothing the same allowances or commutation therefor as authorized for the noncom- missioned grade from which appointed, and he should be provided with separate quarters suitable to the grade. With all, he would still be receiving less than the same grade in the Navy, where the maximum is $1,800. During all these raises and creation of new grades the pay of the post noncommissioned staff slumbered peacefully at $34 per month until the raise in pay of the entire Army in 1908. Then, in addition to all others, the first sergeants of all arms were also raised to the pay level of the post noncommissioned staff; but again that old abrade was distanced, as its members were debarred from earning additional pay for marksmanship or gunnery, which is accorded to all others, except the Hospital Corps, who are noncombatants; so, in pay. they stand now sixteenth on the list, instead of first, as was the intention of Congress originally, as shown by their pay being nearly double that of the nearest pay grade among the enlisted men at the time of the institution of the grade. Eeference to Army Eegulations of 1881 and prior issues shows the po,st noncommissioned staff to rank next to the sergeant major. (This clearly for tactical reasons only, as evidenced by the great dis- parity of their pay at the time, like the battalion sergeant major to-day taking precedence in certain formations.) In rank, therefore, the post noncommissioned staff lias also been overslaughed, standing now sixth in order. The foregoing is set forth to shoAV, beyond question, that the origi- nal intention of Congress in creating the post noncommissioned staff has been lost sight of altogether during the latter 30 years of the exist- ence of the grade, and that the policy of a slow, but relentless, process of leveling has been persistently followed, by degrees relegating the post noncommissioned staff from the preeminent position they were intended to hold in the Army. • 32514—12 2 18 GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICEE. In this connection President Taft, in his arguments on the subject, favored not only the creation of the warrant grade, but recommended in his report, while Secretary of War, among other things, that — The ])ay of the warrant officer should be $1,000 yearly at the outset, and, as in the case of officers, increased 10 per cent for each 5 years' service, to. include 20 years. This would nialce tlie maximum pay of tlie warrant officer $1,400. * * * Therefore there are manj^ reasons Avhy this bill (H. E. 12827) should be enacted into law, three of which are primary, namely, economy, benefit to the Government, and justice. ECONO^MY. The act would create 550 warrant officers, and while the bill calls for mandatory retirement after 30 years' service, this will create more vacancies per year than there are commissions available for enlisted men. The bill bars no branch of the service, permitting all to compete, under such rules as may be laid down by the War De- partment. In the course of a short time only these men would, and bhould, be, by virtue of the warrant grade, required to carry and be accountable for all returns of pro])erty and stores pertaining to the Ordnance, Subsistence, and Quartermaster's Departments at posts and stations, relieving, approximately, the same number of commis- sioned officers from those duties. While this Avould not immediately etfect anj^ saving to the Government, it would do away with the necessity for any future increase in the commissioned jjersonnel for those duties. II. One supply officer only would be required at each post or depot to carry all money accounts of the station, as the subordinate branches would be competently carried on by the warrant officers under his supervision. III. At every depot of ordnance, subsistence, and (juartermaster supplies at every manufacturing establishment of the Ordnance and Quartermaster Departments there are now from one to five or even more officers detailed as " assistants " to the officer in charge. So. also, at the various division headquarters, especially in the offices of the chief quartermasters. All of these officers rank at least as cap- tains, many as majors, and some have even higher rank. They could, in almost eA^ery instance, be satisfactorily replaced by warrant officers, at an almost incak'ulable increase in efficiency £nd at about one-fourth the cost. IV. It would do aAvay Avith the necessity of high-priced clerks and induce such men to enlist Avith the object of gaining Avnrrant ap- pointments. This would retain their services for the Army. V. The Avarrant officers, on account of not being promoted, could be assigned to stations for considerably more jDermanent periods than can ever be the case with commissioned officers, thus saving large amounts in mileage and other costs of transfers. VI. It Avould save the extra pay accorded to officers detailed as connnissaries of $100 per year, probably amounting to over $10,000 annually. VII. It Avould save the extra ])ay of mounted officers in many cases of present details: A detail as quartermaster, ordnance, or connnissary officer Avith its mounted pay. GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICER. 19 VIIT. The increased cost to the Government would be only appar- I'nt, for the reason that a saving- of nearl)^ three times the diiference in cost would be elfected by the enactment of this hnv. as is shown bj'^ the following: Present pay nnd allowances of the jiost nonconiniissioned staff, esti- mated strength of r)50 men : Pay, at $45 per month (base pay only) $297,000 Ration, at 25 cents per day 4U, 500 Clothinjj, equipage, equipments, etc. (estimated) 30,000 Quarters (1 room, at $12 per month) 79,200 Fuel (at $7 per long ton. hard coal) 29.755 Light (at 8 cents per 1,000 kilowatt hour) 9,152 494. ()07 Proiiosed pay and allowances of warrant officers (550 men) : I'ay at $100 per mouth (base pay only) GGO, 000 Quarters (2 rooms, at $12 per month) 158,400 Fuel. 2 rooms (at $7 per long ton. hard coal) 71,500 Light (at 8 cents per 1.000 kilowatt hour) 18, r}04 908, 204 Apparent difference 41.3, 597 Against this apparent increase, the following economies should be considered : Assuming that only 250 oflicers would gradually be relieved from duties as ordnance, commissary, and quartermaster otficers, and assuming their pay to average that of first lieutenants : 250 officers, at $2,300 per year $575,000 Quarters for same (3 rooms, at $12 per mouth) lOS. 000 Fuel (at $7 per long ton. hard coal) 38.775 Light (at S "cents ju-r l.ono kilowatt hour) 12,480 Pay of 300 clerks, relieved (at a conservative average of $1,400 per year) 420, 000 Extra pay to commissaries (estimated) 10,000 Saving on mounted oflScers' pay (estimated) 20.000 1, 184, 255 Deducting from this the increase 413. 597 Leaves a biilMUce as saving of 770.058 The longevity pay for that number of otficers and for that of the entire j)roposed warrant grade would ])ractically cancel each other. Hence in about two years the actual net saving effected by the enactment of this law would undoubtedly reach the stun of at least $7;")0,000 per anntun. not reckoning incidental savings on mile- age, subsistence on transports, hotel bills, cost of crating and trans- portation of baggage, etc.. probablv raising the grand total of saving effected to $1,000,000 annually. BENEFIT TO THE OOVERNMENT. I, At a conservative estimate the i)roperty pertaining to the Ord- nance, Subsistence, and Quartermaster's Departments amounts to over $r)00.000,000 in value. Less than 20 per cent of this is at ar- senals and depots, and the balance is scattered among the military posts of the United States and its i)ossessions. The safeguarding of this enormous property is certainly a fii-st necessity and its eco- nomical use of the greatest importance. 20 GRADE OF POST NONCOMMISSIONED STAFF OFFICEE. The enactment of this bill into law Avould unquestionably be a great step toward that end. II. The proposed warrant officers would remain jiermanently in their respective departments and would be detailed to posts and depots. Such being the case there would be no necessity to move them each time troops are moved, as is now the case with regimental officers detailed. These now have to be left behind to turn oA^er the property in their charge to officers of the new garrison, probably new to such duties. This causes confusion and involves delays often for weeks and sometimes even longer. III. The enactment of this law w^ould therefore insure unham- pered mobility to all officers of mobile or other troops, and thereby greatly enhance the effectiveness of their organizations in case of need. IV. It would create a corps of experts in the various departments thoroughly versed in the innumerable details demanded not only in the accoxmting for stores and property, but in the practical pro- curement, handling, shipment, transportation, storage, and final issue of the gigantic quantities of supplies required at posts, depots, supply stations, maneuver camps, on transports, and more especially in cases of active field service — a corps now utterly lacking in the Army. V. It Avould insure healthy and keen competition among the en- listed men for these positions, and the very best men could thus easily be selected for warrant officers. VI. It would induce the present force of civilian clerks, who are already trained to parts of the work demanded from the Avarrant officers, to seek those positions. VII. It Avould attract a higher class of men to the service from civil life. VIII. Although it would effect a saving of approximately a mil- lion dollars yearly, the enactment of this law would nevertheless doubly increase the efficiency of the three departments concerned, while it also Avould considerably increase the mobility of the entire Army. JUSTICE. I. On the first establishment of the grade of post noncommis- sioned staff officer (ordnance sergeant) it was entirely synonymous Avith the Avarrant grades in the NaA^y at that time, and such was evidently the intention of Congress. II. Only one increase in pay has been granted this grade in the last 60 years or more, Avhile during that time the pay of other grades has been doubled and even trebled. New grades have also been created with nearly double the present pay of the post non- commissioned staff. III. No other grade has property responsibility thrust upon it by law. IV. In the ultimate issue, and with very feAv exceptions, the entire appropriations made by Congress for their respective departments pass through the hands of these men either in the form of stores, property, or funds. Thereupon, at 12 o'clock noon, the committee adjourned.