New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-25

heads of the most important bureaus have died
of pure old age since the war began, old DIR.
Lawson and Gen. Gibson. The head OF the
Ordnance Bureau was removed, not without
grave difficulty, for similar reasons. A new
and most efficient head, by the best fortune in
the world, YVES given TO the Quartermaster's
Department. But, consider the prospects of
the war, with all these old gen.emen-eyery
one of them worthy of honor for past services,
and entitled TO liberal retiring pensions-lelt
on any grounds Of law or usage to administer
the immense functions of these bureaus, sud-
denly expanded into forty-fold proportions,
from the care of an army Of 1900 in peace,
to the care of Oh army of $50, eco in war
Would the country, if it really knew that any
piece of senility, Journalism and incompetency
was left sticking in any one of the great bu-
reaus, to embarass retard, weaken and dis
grace our war movements, be patient with
Congress, or with the Cabinet, moment Ion
ger than was necessary to allow the Depart.
ments time to suggest the difficulties, and for
Congress- by new legislation, to remove them.
II is true the Departments do not always
know where the difficulties lie. They are not
always even personally acquainted with the
heads Of their own bureaus. Immensely
pressed for time, new to their own duties, de-
pendent upon the knowledge of the forms ex-
listing in the bureaus for the facitation of
business, they are in manner at the mercy
of the old officials and dare not always exam
inc, perhaps do not know how to examine,
into the working or the efficiency of their
Offices Besides, all place-owDers become in a
manner banded by esprit de corps. The heads
of Departments are thus bound, in certain
degree TO maintain the stability of their bu-
reaus and they usually exhibit great reluc-
lance to remove incompetent officers, or to
confess to outsiders that they are incompe.
tent. The inward grcans Of the Secretary
over his stupid, formal, and slow heads OF
bureaus are overheard only by confden-
! tial friends--but they are often pro-
found and desperate. And yet, they
are hopeless. The President and Cabinet, ex-
cept upon actual charges, put in detail and
proved specifically, will not venture to arouse
the nest Ol OInClui "iotpt
by dispaciDg an old incumbent, with troops of
personal friends, who is simply too old, too
tied up in old thoughts and ways, to ill the
important post he holds with safety to the
country or with success to the war. There is,
too, a tacit understanding that however jealous
the bureaus may be of each other. they shall
all unite to fight common enemy! and he Is
common enemy, be he President, Secretary,
or Senator, who simply insists that incompe-
tercy, though not produced by any moral or
voluntary cause, is disqualification for an Of
fee demanding the utmost vigor, energy, and
elasticity.
is this man theft No Is he a liar
No! Is he a knavel No! Is he fool No
Il he crazyl No He is simply man Of
contracted, slow, and indifferent mind-long
passed the age-in ordinary men--of courage
of hexibliity, of energy, and therefore, as the
working of his bureau shows, unsuited to his
most under the vast demands now made upon
II. True, he does not know this standard
of efficiency is SO low True, the Secretary at
the head Of the Department does not fully
know it, "a be was never perhaps in his lie
through the bureau True Congress does not
know it--few of them perhaps knowing the
existence Of the said Bureau, much less of its
head True, the people do not know it, for
they do not live at Washington. But all who
have direct or indirect dealings with the
bureau know aud feel il all the time. There
is sad End dangerous delay, ineficiency, made
auacy, in the Army, in the Navy, in the
Treasury, and it is due to the senility Of this,
that, or the other soit.braned bureau
| We are rejoced to see that Congress is taking
this matter up. The Government Is suffering
/ from antiquated and time-wOrn officials. The
Departments need a clean-sweepipg OF all the
lockwood and dust which have been accu-
mulatiDg for years. One might fancy himself
( in an nGfmsry for decayed old gentlemen, 10
walk through the Yards Of these splendid hos
pitals Of the Government, the Treasury, the
! War, the Navy Departments. lt is not diff
cult TO find old men Of eighty coseted together
10 these cloisteTs, with serious and pressing
duties assigned them who ought to be at hoiae
snuely pensOned, bu, never trusted Ia make
T figure or sign name on Government paper
Congress, ut juncture Ike the present
I should sten TO 10 cries for mercy, have pa.
tence with no persoDal interference but AFTER
looking sharply into the condition of the bureaux,
citacr by general law, and at the sacrifice OF
few exceptional men who continue young and
energetic forever, make certain age the