The evening times., 1899-07-26
HARD WORK FOR MIR. ROOT
The War Department Likely to Be
Reorganized.
DemoraIixinE Conditions That Have
Long Existed VIII. Ii I- Said, BE
Chiefs Apt to be shorn of Power.
Fair Trentment for General Miles.

In the interim between now and August
4, when he is to take the portfolio of War
reiinquished By Secretary Aiger, Elihu
Root will familiarize himself, as far as
practicable, with the important subjects
now before the department and requiring
action. His visit TO Washington was de-
voted in the main TO conferences with the
President and Secretary Alger. The former
explained TO MIR. Root the larger subjects
demanding consideration.
1t has been decided that before entering
upon the work CT recognizing the War
Department and in bringing it, as far as
possible. out OF the demoralized condition
into which il has sunk through the mis-
management CT certain officials, Mr.. Root
will hold further conferences with the
President, al which the new Secretary viii
learn the wishes Of Mr.. Mckinley con-
cerning certain reform measures regarded
as imperatively necessary. Mr.. Roots
knowledge of affairs and legal acumen will,
it is said, enable him to readily grasp
problems which a man OF Secretary Alger's
capacity was unable to comprehend. 1t is
the judgment Of the heads Of bureaus in
the department, but upon all important
matters will take such action as he may
think best, regardless of what these Off
cials, who have heretofore had pretty much
their own way, may have to say
The system of the War Department is
one In which the head of a bureau is prac-
tically paramount in his authority, brooks
no interference, and regards the failure of
hn d.1-..a Do
tion as equivalent to a reproof. These
officials are all brigadier generals. appoint
ed TO serve as long as they are on the
active list and under the law they cannot
be removed except for cause. as in the
case of Charles p. Eagan. Even then
they continue to draw the full pay of their
rank unless dismissed from the army. Ii
has been frequently stated, to the dis
credit OF the army system, that while
there have been scandals and convincing
evidences of incompetency, on the part OF
these heads of departments. few. il any.
removals have been made except by the
findings of a court martial.
In the war with Spain there was not one
of these department chiefs who escaped
censure. except the Chief of Ordnance and
the Paymaster General and ii was gen
orally conceded that all deserved condem-
nation. While these officers in some in
ACit IOl TtSpbISiDit AOA
the blunders that brought down on the
Administration the sharpest criticism. the
Government service, ii is claimed. would
have been vastly improved and some OF the
errors committed might have been obvi-
ated had il been possible to select depart
ment heads from thoroughly competent
men.
When the war bagan il was found that
the whole machinery of the department,
- -
was inadequate for the increased demands
Every bureau chief seemed unable to dis
charge the obligations imposed by the re-
QurementS of the service. There were sew
eral old men who had pottered along as
heads of departments in time of psace who
had to be continued as heads of depart
ments because the law provided that they
should. There was not one under sixty
years of age, and of the number General
Flagler has since died and Paymaster Gen
eral Stanton has retired.
Mr.. Root il is said, has been directed
by the President to act more on his own
judgment than that of the department
heads and not to be guided solely by their
advice and the recommendations they may
make. If he conducts the department along
these lines he is likely TO become most un-
popular with the department heads. but
he may be enabled to bring the War De-
partment up to a standard approximating
the Navy Department
The relations between General Corbin
and the new Secretary must be left TO fu-
ture developments. Should Mr.. Root pre-
fer managing the department according to
his own views, there will, il is said, in all
probability, be a clash. General Corbin is
said TO be as close to the President as al
most any member of the Cabinet, and SO
far has had his own way not only in mat
tiers pertaining TO the army and its opera
tions, but in regard to appointments and
the assignment of high-ranking officers.
As has been said heretofore, il is the
Presidents purpose that Assistant Secre-
tary of War Meiklejohn shall have more
authority than he has previously exercised.
With the great problems now before the
department it is claimed there should be
division Of authority in certain matters
rather than one officer attempting the man.
agement of every branch of the depart
ment
General Miles position is expected to be
considerably improved through the tact
which is said to be one of Mr. Roots
strong points. His opportunities for ex-
ercising this tact in harmonizing differ
ences that have resulted in open ruptures
and a general disorganization of the whole
stan corps in Washington are practically
unlimited. IL may be necessary, report
says, in addition. for the new Secretary to
apply heroic measures which will end a
situation that still renders it impossible
for the department to work as one great
machine.