New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-21
An 1RMY SADDLE.


The War Department rs II is now conducted
is the most complex decentralization Office on the
face OF the planet. Not only is there an i'm
mense force Of clerks employed in Washington
In unnecessary bookkeeping and correspond
encc, but large share Of the time Of officers
Of the Army is occupied in colling and uncoil-
ing spools Of red tape. The administration Of
the American Army with its effective strength
Of less than $4,000 men involves more paper
work and clerical drudgery than the maintc-
nance of the German Army. About fournflhs
Of the work Is absolutely unnecessary. and
serves TO employ large bodies Of clerks ut post
and department headquarters as well as in
Washington without accomplishing any useful
purpose.
In order to illustrate the practical operation
Of the present system an ordinary occurrence
in post administration may be cited. \ cavalry
mans saddle has been damaged and needs re-
placing The officer charged with the duty Of
keeping the equipment up 10 the proper stand
ard prepares an inventory and inspection re
port, recting the history Of the saddle, when it
arrived at the post how long it has been in
use, when and by whom it was turned over
copies are made Of this voluminous report.
which in the printed blank is perhaps yard
long One of them Is sent 10 post headquarters
with n recommendation for the appointment of
an inspector 10 condemn the saddle The com
mandant indorses II and transmits il 10 depart
mcnt headquarters. The letter Of transmitial
Is referred by the general in command To the
assistant adjutant- general who in turn refers
IL 10 the chief ordnance officer Of the depart
mcnt This officer acts favoraby upon ii. and
II is returned to the assistant acknowledgement
and by him to the general In command. The
papers are then sent back 10 the post with an
order appointing an officer TO investigate the
condition of the saddle.
The special Inspector does his work and
recommends the sale Of The saddle NJ public
anction. All tn, papers, with the two extra
copies Of the original inventory and inspection
report, are referred to the post commandment
and transmitted 10 department headquarters,
where they again make the rounds Of the as
sistant adjutant generals and chief ordnance
officers desks. Then they are forwarded to
Washington to the Secretary Of War He refers
them TO the chief ordnance officer. who ap-
proves Of the Recommendation for tho sale Of
the saddle. The papers are returned to the
Secretary Of War for signature and transmitted
to department headquarters. In due time they
are sent 10 the commandment Of the post and
referred TO the officer who originally asked for
an inspection Of the saddle. AT last, after
months of circumlocutlon, he has received au-
thority 10 dispose OF the WORKOUT saddle He
advcrtises the auction for ten days. and obtains
perhaps 10 cents for II.
The saddle has been SOLD but the trouble has
not ended In the first place the officer has re-
cciycd half dollar for II and Is under obga-
ton to send the money 10 the nearest United
States depository with certificates explaining
how he came by it. He receives In return dupl
cate receipts for the haf-dolar. One of these
he holds and the other he transmits to the
Treasury OF the United States, where It Is en-
tered and posted, credited and charged, In