Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03

There Is much good reading in the annual
report of the Secretary of War, not alone
from Its literary qualities, which show
that Secretary Lamont has not lost his
newspaper instinct, but from the many
valuable suggestions that are contained
therein. The needs of the army. which is
certainly too small today when the great
size of the country Is considered. are fore
IDLY set forth. The relations between the
army and the militia are beginning to be-
come important, and Secretary Lamont has
perhaps laid the foundation in this report
for the establishment of a stronger feeling
of co-opera ton than has heretofore existed
between these two branches of the military
service. Each side. he says, has much to
learn from the other; the militiaman may
profit from observing the close attention
to details of the regular, and the latter
may be benefited by an acquaintance with
the soldierly qualities of the militiaman.
1t is to be hoped that this suggestion will
be followed up by the adoption. in the near
future, OF some system whereby militia
officers may be given actual service for
stated periods at the posts of the army.
In the matter of administration the Sec
rotary makes a most important recommen-
dation, looking to a simplification of the
machinery of the war Office. To this end
he recommends that the quartermaster,
subsistence and pay departments of the
army be consolidated into one bureau, to
deal exclusively with the supplies of the
army. He shows by figures that this will
result in great saving to the govern
ment. 1t will surely tend to reduce the
red tape, the paper work, of the Office
and the entire army. There Is too much
Journalism about the service today, and
such suggestions are In the line of prac-
teal reforms. So, too, is the recommended
ton that no more useless army posts be
established in response to local calls, which
are based upon selfish interests rather
than upon any real occasion for the pres
cree Of a garrison. The civilization of the
west Is tending to make the army post far
less needful than 1t was twenty years ago,
and a great deal Of expense may be thus
saved by the concentration of the troops
at convenient points, from which, by the
rapid means Of transportation now avail
able they may be distributed as occasion
may require. Another reform is obtained
by the reduction of the recruiting ma
chinery, much OF this work being done now
at the posts themselves. The secretary
takes vigorous stand on the matter of
appropriations for coast denfense, and
:"
ends will be thus served. The long delayed
work may be begun, and large amount
of money put into circulation. Another
valuable suggestion comes in the form of
a recommendation that there shall be a
permanent board appointed to select de-
signs and sites for future monuments in
this city. There will be much sympathy
with the secretary's plant that the best
artistic results have not in former years
been obtained by the prevailing system
of occasional boards appointed perhaps
for political reasons, and perhaps from
personal feelings. He also urges that Con-
gress speedily make provision for the erec-
ton of a statue to Gen. Grant in this city.
His renewal of his former recommended
ton for the erection of the proposed Me-
mortal Bridge across the Potomac may
and should bear fruit in Congressional
action.