New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22

for service at Washington by Republican secretaries
were ordered post haste to Their regiments. lhere
was to be no more INC tilizng" of officers IN WASH
ington during the Lamont Administration. Inc
place for officers was with the troops. shouted the
Cuckoos. and they 10 join the troops anu serve
with them not act as carpet knights d. the zap
ital
All these promises were duly published In the
Cuckoo press they were embelished with startling
headlines to call attention to the determination OF
Secretary Lamont to reform" the War Department
and the Army Great edit was given to the Sec
rotary for his decision TO send officers 10 ana 10
keep them engaged on their Legitimate duty some
OF the older heads in the Army made the prediction
that II would not be many days before secretary
Lamont had in Washington number Of favorites
to fill the vacancies that his reform" order had
created Those who made these predictions were
right. Hardly had Mr.. Lamont fired the small
group Of officers on special duty here "favortes OF
Others" the Cuckoo press referred to them when
orders were issued. not publicly, but prvatsy HILL
ing their For example, Secretary Elkins
Dapray. He was ordered TO his regiment In not
haste. To-day there are at the War Department
1t asserted-three officers, two OF the line branch
and one of the STAFF. Their names as The Tribune
fantry; Captain T. H. Barry. 1st Infantry. and Cap,
tain r. II. Bliss, Of the Subsistence Corps 1t Is said
the Secretary has other aids but their names cannot
be learned
In the Cuckoo cries OF reform the point was
their regiments officers who had been brought 70
Washington by Secretaries Proctor and Elkns was
that they mad been away from the troops more than
three years or Secretary Lannon'S present advisers
Official records show that Major Davis has not served s
with the troops for over eleven years captain Bliss
absent from his regiment Tor over nVe years
previous his appointment to his present corps ana
he has never served with the staff corps to which
he was transferred by the President more than
three
Officers OF the Army recall occasion when the
Secretary OF War has had such corps of conf
Dental advisers as Mr.. Lamont has. They say that
NJ at been
factory TO other Secretaries with respect TO number
and ability and that actually no other counselors
needed. They resent the Idea that the Secre-
tarys three junior advisers should have the great
and say that some OF the radical propositions 10
change laws relating to the Army emanatcd from
these youngsters" they call them. Particular
mention is made OF remarkable recommends
In this report the Secretary said. In effect. that
existing Inv should be changed and that the
President ought 10 be authorized TO select TOT APP
pointment A. the head OF stan corps any oficrr
place. The suggestion was revolutionary in the ex-
IRENE. and stirred up the stan corps OF the Army
seriously. IL at first supposed tnat MT
Lamont's motive in the matter was TO be In posi-
ton TO grant political favors. Tribune CORE
spCndcnt was told yesterday that this was mistake
and that the recommendation was strongly al
vised by the Secretarys junior counseildrs ne
Tribunc's informant did not say that In urging the
Secretary TO adopt the Idea the aus had IN itnu
their personal benefit. but he intlmated that that
was his own belief and the conviction OF nunper
OF his friends the Army. He explained that
under existing la line officer could not be MADE
the head OF stan corps, but that II secretary La
mont's recommendation adopted by Congress
Major Davis. for example. could be appointed
Quarterma ster- General or Adjutant-General when
a vacancy occurred IN either Office.