The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-05
4 cH1Er OF STAFF.

A CHIEF OF STAFF.
Under the above caption the Oregoniar
edItoriaHy announces al contemplated
change by Secretary Lamont In the or
ranization Of the war department re-
epecting the duties of the genera In COM
mand for the time being. OF the army
BY placing all the heads of bureaus OIL
the war department upon the stan Oh the
general. Tn view OF the retirement OF
General schofeld and the succession OF
General MEes to the command, word OF
two OF past history may not be inappro-
prlate. Secretary Lamont appears In the
role of a new discoverer, and thinks TO
signalfze his administration by this re-
form. He reminds one of the famous
hon mot of the First Napoleon to an
aspiring authoress. Sire" she said
what do you consider the most re-
marlkable thing In my wrltingsT Mad
ame," ne replied, ito me the most re-
msrkable thing gather from your works
is that you appear to consider virtue as a
new discovery" Were Secretary Lamont
even superficially acquainted with the his
tcry and traditions OF the war depart
ment he would doubtless pause and re-
feet before revamping before the pubic
an Old and worn out theory. But this
administration is famous for demolish-
ing traditions.
When Secretary Stanton retired from
the war department in the latter years Of
the administration OF President Johnson,
he was succeeded by General Schoheld,
who had been nominated to and confirm
ed by the senate as secretary of war,
and who continued in that office until
the opening weeks OF the administration
OF President Grant. General Sherman
was about to assume command OF the
army. 1t was about this time, that Sec
rotary OF War Schofeld and General
Sherman put their heads together and
represented to General Grant, who was
about to appoint General Jno. A. Rawlins
10 the position OF secretary Of war in
his new cabinet, that as Rawlins was in
feeble heath, II would be well to relieve
him OF the burden OF the official business
80 far as practicable. and that General
Sherman would gladly take upon himself
that end they recommended that gen.
eral order OF the war department be
issued. placing under direction Of the
general al OF the administrative bureaus
OF the department to-wFt: The adju.ant
generals Office; the inspector generals;
the quartermaster generals; the paymas-
ter generals; the surgeon generals; the
judge advocate generals; and the engln-
eer. ordnance, and subsistence depart
ments-their chiefs TO be placed on the
stan Of the general
General Grant listened 10 this recon- !
mendation with some doubt but finally, !
being moved thereto by consideration for
Rawlins feeble health, he consented to
the issue OF the order. and It was pro-
claimed to the army about the first week |
OF March, 1869, being signed by Secretary
schonelu. About two or three weeks af-
terwards. Rawlins. in the meantime hav-
Ing been confirmed by the senate as sec
etary OF war, proceeded to the war de- |
partment to enter upon his duties, ana |
found, much to his chagrin, that under
the operation of the order referred 10
he had no duties to perform except yhe |
perfunetory signing OF such papers as ,
were submitted to him by Sherman, even
to drawing funds from the treasury. He
found himself stranded high and dry
upon the barren rock OF official figure |
headism. and substantially deprived of
his munitions as constitutional advisor OF
the President, in respect to military ad-
ministration, the supervision Of the esti-
mates. expenditure OF The public funds,
purchase care Of and distribution OF
military supplies and munitions of war.
OF forts, arsenals and public works, and
generally of al those duties which as
head Of the department OF war were de-
vowed upon him by Jaw. The heads OF
bureaus, whose offices were established
under authority OF statute, were TO know
a new Moses. and the control and d.
rection Of their affairs pass to the gem
eral IN command OF the forces. Rawllns
made study Of the laws affecting his
office and responsibilities. and finding no
duties prescribed by statute for the gem
erai. but such as the president, the COM
might assign, he lost
no time in paying visit to the White
House and rendered his resignation as
OF war, much to the surprise
of the president. who asked him his rea-
'on. Rnwllns replied. in language more
'orcibie than elegen4. thar he did not
'are to hold an office that had tho CUTS
ut out OF 1t. After some explanation.
leneral Grant stated that he had only
onsented TO have the order issued be-
anso ne though II would be agreeable
0 RawlIns to have the burden OF details
n<en from his shoulders. and at snce
rdered IT'S revocation The time between
le date OF IT'S issue and revocation was
bout three weeks This revocation was
verv sore naafter both 10 schcAeld and (
-. ...i1 e,ss,aoo,,anttx, uhan c,an-