Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-22
MIR. ENDICOTTS WORK
The Secretary of War Reviews His
Administration.
IMPROVING THE SERVICE.
he l. satisfied That lie Eas instituted
Many Necessary Reforms and Made the
Army More Observation-Disclosures
Methods Simp,isied.

BALTIIc Re, Feb 22.-The Sun publishes a
review of the work Of Secretary Endicott
obtained from interviews with him. 1t is
mainly as follows:
''dr. Eaii,ott spoke very frankly of his
efforts to improve the service and to make the
army more efficient With reference to the
work in.tfe departlia il he said it had been
systenati1cd ami grsltly improved A num-
Der of ine ncient men had been discharged,
and the working capacity Of the de-
partment had been materially increased.
When the civil service law went
into operation before the Cleveland admins
tration was installed its provisions were
made applicable to all the department en-
ployes, SO That none could be removed except
for cause. Many had been removed on this
ground, Tut Secretary Endicott says the
merits of the civil service law cannot be
tested until the entire force in the department
is employed in accordance with its provi-
sions.
"New life has been infused in all the
branches Cf the department work, and marked
evidences Of the improved condition Of things
are to be found in various directions. In the
surgeon generals office, for instance. the work
of the record and the pension division has
been greatly expedited Thousands Of un-
answered calls for information from the COM
missioner of pensions hal accumulated prior
to Dec. Is, 1856. 1t was not unusual for cases
to be delayed for two and half or three
months and some for a longer period
Repeated efforts by the department 10 Sc
cure greater expedition having failed, it was
deemed necessary To relieve the chief of the
division, DR. Pope, and detail another officer
in his place, which was done early in Decem-
Der. Other changes were also made in the
bureau. In less than three months thereafter
the great arrearage which existed was en-
tirely reduced. The discipline of the force
was improved Thirty disabled clerks, who
for various reasons were entitled to considera-
ton, We're assigned to such duties rs they
could efficiently perform with comfort to
themselves, and twenty worthless clerks We're
discharged
Secretary Enlicott has taken great inter-
est in the simplitication of busin IS methods
in the department, and has been especially
firm and energetic in bis efforts u ro)t out
every species OF favoritism in the service.
One of the most important changes is the
new system of staff appointments. Formerly
the heads Of bureaus were perm tied to select
their own subordinates. Now appointments
are determined solely ON the merits of The
individual applicants.
$50 far as the army itself is concerned
there is little opportunity for snowy work 1t
is mere skeleton of an army, its chief use
being as a sort Of Indian policy, but Secretary
Endicott's efforts have been steadily and con-
scientiously directed to improving it. He has
introduced a number of changes which have
contributed materially to the comfort and
convenience of the men, notably that of me $
ing by commands instead of by companies,
and has rendered an important service TO the
country by his successful efforts to improve
the morale Of the service