New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-17
TAPEWORM OF THE ARMY.
BUREAUCRATIC PROMOTION AND IT'S
EFFECT on THE SERVICE.
11SswoRTHs RISE TO POWER, AND COCK
RELIs WORK IN CONGREss-wHERE
THE DANGER LIES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

RELLS WORK IN CONGRESS-WHERE
THE DANGER LIES.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSEl
washington, April 16.-The expansion of the
rphlc service. particularly the War Depart
,rsnt. in recent times, although largely unno-
.,ced by the general public, is nevertheless
alarming The closer the subject is examined
the more serious becomes its aspect.
The Cockrells and the Germans. standing in
tbe way Of the necessities OF the Administra-
tion. have held forth in the Senate about the
danger 10 American liberty from large stand
,rg military establishment. but the real menace
,es not in the Army in itself but its bureaucratic
enactment concentrated at the capital 1t is like
come huge grewsome but unsuspected tape
orr, IN the human body. Fastened in the midst
=, the body polite II grows and thrives unseen
"a unnoted There is this singular antithesis
hovvever: The tapeworm with its everything
,ood clinging in the vitas of its victim, mysteri
os,v sapping his life forces cannot in the nature
=. things expand beyond a certain limit Here 1t
.,ons. II dies by sections at the tail. but is as
ns+antlv renewed from the head. Not so with
cha staff bureaus: there appears TO be no limit
g.. their EXPANSION. True in some degree they
aoav and wther away at the head. out are
o,stantly invigorated by new blood In IN
rsased volume at the tail, and between the
hesa and tail they ramify in branches. whlch
,r turn begin a new perennial growth all their
own. o., ,;rs-
The incongruous promotion of Gehera Aio'-
r,o-th by the last Congress In its last hours mas
olrAadv been alluded TO. This officer ana the
origin Of the bureau OF which he is the heao are
pseful 10 illustrate the seemingly irresis'ioie
growth Of this staff monstrosity. Newspaper
naragraphs ascribing these criticisms OF var
Department methods to personal motives DO not
alter facts nor correct any abuses.
HOW THE DEAL WAS MADE.
General Ainsworth was an Army surgeon,
v,r,e and efficient administrative man. About
ten wears ago at his instigation an order was
issued bv the Secretary Of War consolidating
several divisions Of the different bureaus OF the
War Department into one, and Captain Aims
worth was assigned to it's charge. These piece
meal divisions mainly included the archives and
clerical force having TO do with soldiers records
and the pension business Of the Government. At
first nobody had any idea that this order practi-
callv meant the formation of entirely new
bureau. No new officer was created for 1t, nor
were any new clerks required to conduct It's
business In fact, 1t resulted in temporary re-
duction of the clerical force. Ainsworth, with
great energy and well-directed executive capac-
ity. soon brought order out of chaos, and greatly
expedited the Government business and pro-
NOTED the general efficiency OF that service.
Meanwhile the Adjutant- General of the Army,
from whom Ainsworth had derived the greater
part of his machinery, complained that his OFF,
ciaI domain had been forcibly invaded and his
duties and prerogatives infringed upon
The new system introduced by Ainsworth.
and the energy he infused into the work, soon
attracted the attention not only Of his immed-
ate superior, the Secretary, but Of Congress it.
self Ainsworth is not one to hide his light un-
der a bushel. BY precedent, and subsequently
by law this new creation soon began TO rear
its head as ar independent bureau. although at
first the willy chief careful to keep that
idea in the background much possible to
~ old the antag gonism of the other bureau chiefs.
who soon evinced great personal dislike Of Aims
vorth and his methods But at the proper mo-
nent a bill appeared in Congress creating a
permanent head of the Record and Pension Bu-
Of the War Department with the rank of
colonel in the Army. with all that officers pay
and emouments. 1t was bitterly opposed by
such men as Senators Sherman. Plumb and
Spooner but In spite Of every obstacle was
Iassed mainly through the tireless solicitations
of Senator Cockrell. whose appeals were power
fully aided Of course by the excellent record
Ainsworth had made as an administrator. to-
eether with his unexcelled methods lobby
'st On the representation of prominent Sen
stor the bill was vetoed by President Harrison |
on constitutional grounds Then again in spite |
ot the opposition, il forced through the sue
oeeding Congress modified 10 meet the objec- |
lions interposed by the President to its first |
form. 1t signed. and DR.. Ainsworth by |
process of law became a colonel in the Staff |
Department. and by long odds the biggest |
in It.