New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
THE FETCH or RED TAPE.

The statement by Major-Genera Wheeler to
q reporter of "The Journal" In which he at
tempts 10 place the responsibility for a failure
TO furnish proper food to the troops at Camp
WikOff upon Commissary General Eagan, and
the reply of the latter throw very curious
light upon the methods under which stores and
supplies are distributed by the War Depart
ment. General Wheeler 1t appears, ordered
n large plumber of supplies for the sick and con-
valescent in the camp, including 5000 pounds
OF ham, 200 cases of chicken soup, 10000
pounds of evaporated apples, a similar amount
Of peaches, go pounds OF tea 80 boxes Of lem
ons 100 boxes Of oranges, and 50 on. The
supplies so ordered were on their way when
they were stopped by order of COmmissary-
General Eagan upon the ground that the requisl-
ton was in one way or other irregular
We confess we are unable TO discover in Gen
eral Eagan's statement the exact degree or ex-
tent of the irregularlty; but we have no doubt
that the red-tape Brahmins of the War Depart
ment chuckled superior chuckle when they
came TO pass upon General Wheeler's reQuisition.
Had they ever seen such innocence before? Had
anybody ever heard Of feeding sick or dying
soldiers, except under Paragraph A. Section IL.
General Orders No. A: Poor Joe" Wheeler
and his blunt and direct ways OF ordering sup
plies would demoralze the service. to be sure,
and lead to chaos and the end Of things. 1t
would never, never do. In the mean time. we
note that the Brahmins aforesaid have neg
lected to suspend the laws Of Nature, for not
only are hungry soldiers getting hungrier. sick
soldiers sicker and complaints louder, but the
very supplies ordered by General Wheeler and
countermanded by General Eagan are, accord
ing to the statement OF the former spelling
at least the perishable portion Of them. This
will, Of course. entail loss upon the Govern
ment, but the dignity of Paragraph 4, Section
II, General Orders No. Al will have been main
tanned. The fetch of Red Tape will have
scored another triumph. and Regularity will
once more have been indicated
Much Of the criticism directed nowadays
against the staff bureaus Of the War Depart
ment, we feel confident is ill-founded or at
least. unjust. in view of the enormous diff
culties that had TO be overcome. Some Of the
attacks upon persons in authority indeed, are
not only ungenerous, but cruel and brutal The
Tribune has been unable. in the light of de-
vclopments so far. to fix the blame for existing
shortcomings upon any one in particular, but
1t finds no difficulty in believing that the need
less privations and sufferings to which the re-
turning Army Is being subjected at home arc
In a large measure due 10 system or clrcuin
locution and red tape which stealthily and un
observed has grown up in Washington within
thirty years of peace. Under such conditions
II Is only natural that clerks and chiefs Of bu
rpaus. who are fearful Of having their tenure
OF Office cut short because there is no work fol
them. should. and actually do. lie awake nights
to devise ways and means for creating work
which will Justify their retention in office. In
this way have grown mp systems Of checks and
control, Of audit and accounting. elabo