The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-24
THE WORCESTER SPY, SATURDAY. DECEMBER "a 1895.
BUREAUCRACY.
Gen. Howard Says He Is
Strongly Opposed to It.

Washington, Dec 23.--The war inves-
tigating commission today was reduced
to two members, Chief of Engineers
John M. Wilson and Col DENLY. Gen.
Wilson has practically transferred his
war department office to the commits
sion quarters, and today Col. DENLY
officiated as interrogation, with Cen o.
o. Howard (retired) in the witness
chair.
Gen. Howard told how disappointed
he had been in not securing assignment
for active service during the war, and
how he had done the next best thing
for his country by accepting the office
of visiting delegate for the army and
navy Christian commission, and dis
tributing tracts and other things
through the southern camps. He said
these camps. as a rule, We're in good
the railway arrangements at Tampa,
and inundation of beer in one colored
camp there. and a plague of flies on his
second visit to Mobile.
He went at some length into the
question of doors at Camp Thomas dur
ing July, where, he said, they were va
ried and repulsive. He had suggested
received the suggestion favorably, and
distributed 80 barrels of lime in one
day. The smells persisted. He said
the army and navy Christian commits
sion furnished hymn books and ice
water in appreciable quantities at
Camp Thomas, both being thankfully
received.
Regarding Gen. Lees command at
Jacksonville, Gen. Howard said he had
not believed before that it was possible
for a camp to be kept in such fine con-
dition.
Gen. Howard said he was strongly
opposed to bureaucracy and thought a
commanding general should be in alb
solute control of his camp or corps.
Gen. Wilson became interested in this
and asked if Gen. Howard thought the
management of Camp Thomas had been
hampered by BUREAUCRACY Gen. How
ard said he thought there might have
been something Of the sort in connec-
ton with Camp Thomas.
AS to the lessons of the war, Gen.
Howard said he thought it should be
thoroughly proved that troops should
not be acclimated in southern camps for
service in the more malarial regions of
the West Indies.
Gen. Howard said he had never APP
proved the law which prevented the
president from calling on retired army |
officers for service in time of war. His |
experience confirmed this, and he
thought there were many experienced |
retired officers who could have served |
the government better than some of the |
young and inexperienced men who
were appointed from civil life. Gen.
Howard was also in favor of staff for |
officers. and said all staff appointees
should be compelled to receive this
training.
Gen. Howard said he had met the |
Segurancia on her return from Santiago
and returned with her from Tampa TO |
New York. The men were in a run
down condition, and he thought they |
had been badly treated. and they were
generally against the government"
But after they had been fed and nursed |
a bit they felt good deal more kindly |
toward the administration. He thought |
their first complaints We're largely due |
to distorted mental perspective that |
could be largely laid to their recent |
sickness.
The commission then adjourned until
Tuesday next.