Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-08
THE SECRETARIES LITTLE LIST.
Army Officers to be Catalogued on the
German Plan.

Army Onicers to be Catalogued on the
German Plan.
| SECRETARY PROCTOR WANTS TO KNOW WHAT Or
TIGERS ARR GOOD FoR-AS ORDER WHICH IT 10
EXPECTED WILL EXCITE coMnEST-wHAr TIE
SECRETARY SAYS.
Secretary Proctor has just taken q novel step
in the way Of army reform that will probably
cause great deal Of comment among officers
and no little criticism and grumbling. It is
based on the custom Of the German army
chiefs OF keeping q constant record
OF the special attachments and qualifications of
each officer, and is designed to fill . want that
has OF late years been seriously felt in our own
army whenever it has been necessary to send
| an officer on some special service for
which peculiar qualifications fare required.
In all such instances it was found that there
was IN the War Department no information
garding the accomplishments of ofhcers, and
all that came to the ears of the Secretary was,
In q large measure, incidental. accidental
or personal Secretary Proctor has
therefore devised the plan Of obtaining con-
slant and official information in regard to the
officers of the army such az shall aid him in
the preparation of records that will show him
just what manner Of men they are.
TO GET REPORTS FROM COMMANDERS.
His order cOntemplates systematic render
ing OF reports by commanding officers throw.
ing light upon the qualities and natures of the
officers under them, on the theory that such
reports would be as far as possible free from
prejudice or error, and in the end the Secre-
taty hopes to have near at hand an album OF
portraits as 1t were, Of every man wearing the
shoulder straps of the United States army.
WHAT THE SECRETARY SAYS.
He said this morning to a STAR reporter that
he had found since his entry into Office great
difficulty in obtaining any Information what
ever that would guide him in making the
proper choice OF men for special service,
recruiting duty, foreign attache
service or any special investigations. He had
no means of knowing the particular men who
were most efficient in certain lines of work,
IN fact he knew nothing about any OF the 2, 500
officers Of the army except those who
happened to come under his personal
observation. He wanted little more
OF an acquaintance with them than the bare
data the Army Register gave him. OF course
the theory is that all army officers after their
graduation from West Point are equally
equipped mentally for the duties before them,
but the fact is that the element of
human intelligence is strong even
among these neil, trained in the same grooves,
that year after they have received their COM
missions they totally unlike in their ten
denotes, ambitions and even their habits. 1t is.
in view of this fact. that Secretary Proctor is
in search Of the open sesame to the mind of
each OF these men.
THE QUESTION OF PERSONAL HABITS.
There is clause in the order that is going
to cause trouble. This is that among the
other items of information to be forwarded to
the Secretary is a statement as to the
habits and conduct of officers, with
particular reference to temperance. 1t
ia hat will ha
sible obstacle to the complete success of
the Secretary's plans. All endeavors to inquire
into their personal lives aud habits is sure to
raise u storm OF protest among officers. 1t will
be an interesting contest between the Secretary
and those OF the army who do not relish being
| labeled in his album in black and white cipher
| signs.
THE ORDER.
The order is as follows: A record will be
kept in the War Department of the services,
efficiency and special qualifications of officers
OF the army, including the condition of their
commands and the percentage of assertions
therefrom, to be compiled from the records
and reports already available and from further
reports made for that purpose, as follows:
l. Every officer Of the army below the rank OF
| colonel will report on the LIST day Of May ne xt
whether and TO what extent he has engaged in
any professional study or in any special course
OF reading or investigation additional to his
regular duties: ana also whether he has had
any business training or experience.
2. Post and regimental commanders will
make report on the 1st day of May next of
the professional ability and practical efficiency
OF each officer below the rank of colonel Of
their respective commands, and whether he
is attentive to duty and of exemplary
conduct and temperate habits. Also the
condition and discipline Of the men under
his immediate control, and his care for and
attention to their welfare. Whether he has
any peculiar fitness marked ability for
college, recruiting or other detail in any
branch Of the military service, and if so. what;
| and if he has had any special duty under the
reporting officer, how he performed the same.
3. In case the report concerning any officer
is untavorable with respect to his conduct or
habits, attention to duty or the care of his
men, the commanding officer making such re-
port shal show the same to the officer affected
thereby giving him an opportunity to make an
explanation In writing, which shall be for
warded with the report, but if he does not care
to make such explanation then that fact shall
be noted.
4. In making details for special duty and de-
tached service due consideration will be given
to the efficiency, zeal and reliability of officers,
as evidenced by this record, and in particular
it is the desire Of the department to detail Off
GERS for recruiting duty who are shown to have
rendered the most efficient service in the care
and of hair