The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-13

this eIpedient and the results were emil
nently satisfactory. A most important
criticism by the commission Is as follows:
The routine work In the departments,
In our opinion, is far beyond what Is
necessary and each year seems TO increase
1t. The methods employed make 1t al
most impossible to transact promptly.
The heads of all departments, officers OF
large depots. chiefs of staff departments,
| corps and divisions have necessarily been
| Obliged to give the time and attention TO
details which should have been given to
matters OF larger moment. No we'll
regulated concern or corporation could
transact business satisfactorily, under
such regulations as govern the staff
departments and the fact that every offl !
Ger Of each of the staff departments hold.
ing responsible positions, has been obliged
TO ignore routine demonstrates the
necessity of a thorough inform"
The report then proceeds to take up the
subjects In their regular order beginning
with the army and says:
After s3 years Of peace, during a great
part OF which the army did not exceed
20, 600 men, 1t suddenly became neces sary
to arm. clothe, feed and equip more Than
quarter of "a million. The sudden emer-
gency which called our people TO arms,
after AN interval of half century of
: peace with all foreign powers was met by
the war department with earnestness and
energy. The situation found the country
unprepared with any large stock OF arms
ammunition, clothing supplies and
equipments. That they were duly pro.
vidsd and that the numerous demands on
tie industries of our people were met 80
promptly will remain one of the msrvels
Of history"
Speaking of the lessons taught by the
war the report says:
THE rapidity with which command
ing officers of corps, divisions bfigades,
regiments and officers of the stad depart
ments have protted by tho first six
months service is shown In the improve
ments in new camps, their location, water
supply and sanitary arrangements.
The present camps are models. the
hospitals adapted to the comfort and
care of the sick, the grounds clean and
the sanitary conditions greatly improved
Perhaps the most significant utterance
In the whole document SO far as concerns
the discipline and Ell cheney of the army
comes next:
AUTHORITY AND RESP PONSIBILITY
For many years the divided uthority
and responsibility in the war department
has produced friction, for which in the
interest of the service, a remedy If possi-
BILE should be applied. The constitution
makes the President the commander- In
chief of ths army and he cannot transfer
that authority to any other person. The
has has confidence and who Is his conf
dsntisi adviser. This commanding gen
eral Is assigned to duty as such by the
President.
Lieut. Gen. Schofsld, who has proba-
bly, had as much experience and given the
question as much thought and study as
any one in the country, says that when
he became the commanding general he
abandoned entirely all pretense of being
the commanding general. aud contented
himself with acting as the chief of
staff of the army under the secretary of
war and the President. The result vas
that perfect harmony prevail aiied.
Ihe President must have the same
power of selection of his general 10 chief
as he has of his secretary of war. without
this there can be no guaranty that he
will give, or that the secretary of war
will place In the general in chief that
con fltienoe which is necessary to perfect
harmony.
The report then takes up the war de-
partment and 1t various chiefs Of SUP.
divisions beginning with the secretary oi
war.
The records of the war department
which have been laid before US show