New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
DRAIN ON THE TREASURY.
EVILS OF TOURS OF INSPECTION BY
BUREAU OFFICIALS.
orrrcERs MAKE PROFIT ON THE TRIPS
"MrLEAGE FIENDs" - CAPTAIN GRO
zIER's REPORT A CRITICISM
~ ppvcrNT METHODS
ON PRESENT NET
t, rr,rcp.pH TO THE TRIBUNE


ON PRESENT METHODS.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
washington. Nav S-Several straws indicate
that The Tribune's criticisms OF Army stan
methods are having a most favoraoie ehe''
There is not only an awakening on the pa'' VI
accounting and disbursing officers having 10 10
with staff expenditures, but DETERMINATION 10
manifested on the part Of a good many senators
and Congressmen to reorganize as quickly do
possible the staff substantially along the lines
of Senator Proctor's bill, which fell oy reaso"
~ the ADOPTION Of the Cockrell compromise
Army measure in the last days of the late SEES
sion Senator Proctor will unquestionably again
,..roduce his measure at the earliest date pos
sbIe after Congress convenes, and perhaps his
nav scheme OF reorganization will be more rad
,cal than the one proposed at the last session.
He believes that a majority of the Senate Is In
favor Of a complete reorganization or the s'an
system Of the Army.
The Assistant Controller Of the Treasury rem
dered a decision the other day which, although
n does not wholly reach the root OF very great
abuse. makes greatly for its speedy curtailment
The decision. IL not overruled Will cut down
certain travel perquisites OF officers OF all the
bureaus The Assistant Controller, MT Mitch-
ell. wisely rules that an engineer onlcer' traV-
elling within his own district in the prosecu-
ton Of his regular duties is only entitled 10 a
remuneration for his actual expenditures ana
not at the rate Of seven cents mile as II max
ing journey to some new station, or on
special order independent Of his regular duties
within his district. The case was this: Colonel
Peter c. Ealnes. Corps Of Engineers, is Division
Engineer of the Southeast Division, with head
quarters at Baltimore. He recently direct
ed To proceed to Savannah. ST. Augustine and
Kev West on duty connected with the fortifca-
lions The mileage asked for is denied, on the
ground that there was no change OF station;
that the duty assigned TO Colonel Haines In the
travel order was not additional and independent
of his duty as division engineer, but was nee
essary part of such duties as prescribed by the
Secretary of War
CLEAR PROFIT FROM TRAVEL.
This decision will have a tendency TO restrict
the summer junkets of staff bureau officers at
the expense OF the public Treasury 1t is an
abuse which has In recent years grown to alarm
ing proportions. and annually costs the Gov
eminent an enormous sum- A civilian Official
making journey. say from Washington TO New
Orleans and return allowing two or three days
at the other end Of the line for the transaction
OF his business would make the journey at the
expense to the Government OF about $40. lie
would receive his railway fare. living expenses.
etc An Army officer making the same journey
would, under the mileage system. receive at
least $50 more than the civilian. The longer the
Journey made. the more profitable It Is for the
officer making It. The difference between his
travel charges and that OF the civilian IL, OF
course clear profit 10 the Army officer, and that
is why SO many Journeys" Of inspection are
being constantly made by War Department off,
Gals connected with the staff bureaus. All Army
officers receive the same rate for Journeys or
dered by their superiors, but officers OF the line,
unless they are fortunate enough to be on detail
here at the Capital receive very few orders"
for travel.
MILEAGE FIENDs" IN THE ARMY.
An evening paper states that General Wilson,
the Chief OF Engineers is about TO make tour
OF inspection to the Pacific Coast. which. by the
way IS subject annually to no end Of inspec-
lions in the summer months. Under the pre-
vailing system his mileage for the Journey TO
the Pacific Coast and return would amount to
not less than S440. 1t can be respectfully made
for less than half that amount. 1t will be per-
ceived that an Army officer on duty at Wash
ington can make a good deal Of money, aside
from his salary II he has pull" to procure
orders for long journeys and 1t is indisputabe
that some Of the most influential Of them have
this business reduced to a system-they go
where It is desirable to go at the most desirable
season Of the year. and as often as they choose.
They are known in Army circles as mileage
fends." One of this class, not long since at
tached to one OF the War Department commits
sions ran UP an account for travelling expenses
of over 81 900 In few months. Among his
numerous Journeys on business for the Gov
eminent" OF course were couple of junkets
TO Chckamauga timed when there were some
interesting battlefield ceremonies. besides sew
eral long business" Journeys to other timely
points Orders" for long Journeys are the ones
mainly sought after by the professional mile
age fend.'
HOW INSPECTIONS ARE MADE
II Assistant Controller Mitchelrs decision holds
good in the Haines case. General Wilson's Pa
cifc Coast trip will be cut down TO his actual
expenses because 1t is held that his sphere Of
action" as Chief Of Engineers is the entire
country. If Mr.. Mitchell is sustained, these In
spection journeys will greatly abate in the fut-
ure. It is the practice OF the Secretary Of War
to go on inspection Journeys often at least as
Is necessary He carries with him generally a
party consisting OF his private secretary an
aid -de-camp. and almost always Is accom-
panied by bureau chief or two. OF course, all
the actual expenses of such a journey paid
out Of the public Treasury. Meanwhile, 1t is safe
to say that a special car has been rendered the
Secretary, and that railway fares. meals. wines
he ,art1-