§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that several Army Paymasters hold Captains' or Lieutenants' commissions, while others have either been appointed direct from civil life, or, having teen combatant officers, have realized both regulation and over-regulation prices of those commissions; and, whether, with a view to placing all Army Paymasters on a footing of equality in this respect, the claims of those holding combatant commissions will be submitted to the Royal Commissioners to be appointed under the provisions of the Army Regulation Bill; and, whether, in the event of its being deemed expedient to form a Committee to inquire into the 1765 changes which may be necessary in the organization of the Royal Artillery, he will undertake that such Committee shall be of a more representative character than would be obtained by the appointment of War Office and Horse Guards officials only, and that it shall comprise at least one Lieutenant Colonel and one Captain?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the object of the compensation provided in the Army Regulation Bill is to hold every officer harmless against the effect which the abolition of purchase would otherwise have produced. Each officer who now holds a Paymaster's commission will continue to hold it on the terms on which he received it, and will not be placed in any different position by the passing of the Army Regulation Bill. I said nothing of an intention of appointing a Committee, much loss a representative Committee. I said I had requested the Adjutant General of the Army, with the Director of Artillery and the Deputy Adjutant General of Artillery, to be prepared to go into the subject.