The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-06-16
INCOMPETENT OFFICIALS.

defective.
1t was simple thing to call for
the trooos needed aud to depend on
the Governors of States to fill the
quotas. Before a month had elapsed
more than 100000 men organized
into companies and regiments were
turned over to the National Gov.
eminent.
Eut, the supreme difficulty, the
detail 10 which the military author
tiles have failed, was in clothing
and cquipping the men. Three
ago Congress placed at the
disposal of the war managers fund
of $4,000, 600 for war expenses.
Any person with reasonable com.
mon sense would have known that
the greatest part of these new levies,
if not every man of them, would
require to be clad in the regulation
clothing; bnt it has not been done.
In vain have the gallant tars de-
stroyed the Spanish fleet in Asia.
In vain~have they battered down
tho Notifications of the Spanish
West Indian towns. The navy can
not fight on shore and, having open
ell the way for the army, everything
is waiting for the land forces.
Should the War Department, by
its DEFICIENCIES, cause a serious mill
tary disaster, there will be an upris-
ing of the people to aveDge it.
Times Democrat: The condition
of affairs in the volunteer army Of
the United States is little, if any.
thing, short Of public scandal.
1t is now two months since the
volunteers went out to join the
ranks, and, in many cases the uni
forms and supplies have not been
furnished Two regiments Of Louis.
lana troops are suffering for shoes
aud clothing. Their feelings are
touched and their self respect is in
jurcd that their fellow-citizeus
should see them in the tatterdema-
lion condition to which this govern
meut has reduced them. They are
ashamed, aud very naturally so, to
be seen without shoes to their feet,
like so many tramps, and with their
clothes in rags; end yet it Is no fault
Of their own, poor fellows, that they
are in such q miserable plight.
Poultney Bigelow writes from
Tampa to the st. Louis Republic:
"The army has been made a means
Of political jobbery ioan extent IN
dreamed of at the beginning of the
Civil War. The President is too
weak to check an appointment, no
matter how scandalous. Every reg
ular soldier blusbed at the thought
of epaulettes upon Russell Harrison
and a whole lot of the same s,ripe.1
''Close to Tampa axe camping
grounds where the men would have
bad abundant water supply and
where two competing roads would
have greatly facilitated the comis.
sary question. Why did not the
War Department choose such a
place7 Why did the Secretary Of
War treat as au impertineuce any
reference to the bad state of things
at Tampa? Why are all regular
army oflicert outspoken on this sub.
ject when they are talking to d
friend, and why they are afraid te
be quoted? The rerson is that they
all feel that some one at tue head
has political or peculiarly interest
III perpetuating things as they are
aud that officers are not thanked fol
telling the truth"
| II have accused the army admin.
istration of serious incompetence, j
not political Jobbery, and I cheer
fully renew this charge, because il
is we'll founded. Can you ask more
evidence of political jobbery thar
that, with the whole of Florida t.
choose from, our Secretary Of Wa
should have Insisted upon locating
our main army of invasion at ;
point where only one line of railwa,
could furnish the supplies; wher'
that one line of railway owned :;
virtual monopoly of all the trans
portation, and where the Govern
ment pays two cents gallon 70
water cODsumed?'
Charges Of iucompetency ant
neglect of duty have been officiall,
made against Gen. Ludington, quar-
termaster-general; Gen. Aiken, CON
issary general, aud Gen. Flaglel
chief of ordinance. The charge
state that the condition of affairs a
Tampa is simply appalling, an,
; these incompetent officials ar
charged Individually and collective
~ with gross ineficiency.
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