The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-14
STUDYING HIS DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY ROOT LEARNING THE
ADMINISTBATIVE WORK.


PoIicy-on Important Work He
LabOrs From 10 In the Morning
Intil II O'Clock at Night.
Washington, Aug. l3.-Secretary Root
is beginning to get a firm grasp on the
administration Of the war department. He
has been at the head of affairs only ten
days, yet this has been sufficient TO show
his methods and the influence which his
vigorous personality exerts throughout
the military establishments
At the outset Mr. Root set about fam
iliarizing himself with the more Import
ant details of the department, much as
a lawyer first prepares his statement of
fact as basis for his legal analysis.
From Adjt Gen. Corbin he secured data
showing at a glance a broad outline of
the army in the field. From the quarter
master general he learned the number
of transports, their capacity ana readl-
ness to carry troops, and the exact status
of stores, clothing ana equipment, par
ticularly as to Gen. OTIS forces in front
OF the enemy.
OF the commissary general he asked just
how many rations were in actual stock at
Manila, how long this supply would last
how quickly 1T could be repienishcd ana
whether there was ample margin for every
emergency The same information has
been drawn as to ordnance, medical and
hospital supplies, engineering and signal
equipment
Each bureau officer submitted succlnct
tabular statement, and this was supple
mented by a personal talk with the sec
retary. Not only the Washington officials,
bur those at Manila and Havana have
been consulted by cable whenever i has
been necessary to add to the completeness
Of the Information at hand here. In this
way Mr. Root has speedily brought him
self into touch with every branch of the
military service and has gathered a most
complete and analytic resume of military
affairs.
The situation AneId.
While getting in hand this admlnistra-
tive machinery Mr.. Root has at the same
time made careful inquiry into the mill
tary situation in the field. Probably the
most important inquiry he is pursuing Is
as to the exact fluctuations of the insur-
rection in the Philippines since the day It
began. For that purpose a military map
is now being prepared by the adiutant
generals Office for the private use of the
secretary. showing the advance Of our
forces from day to day throughout Gen.
Otis campaign the position and move
ments on different occasions, the retreat
of the enemy and his position and force
from time 10 time.
1t will be a birdseye view of the thea
ter of military operations throughout the
insurrection Dates viii be written in 20
show the position of the army as che cam
paign proceeded, and as far as possible.
it viii convey to the eye an idea Of the
Of no ion in, L.,
Philippines up TO date The preparation
of this map has been put in charge of
Maj. Simpson chief OF the bureau of mil
itary information, who has been giving
his undivided attention to making il com
piete and comprehensive.
While going over the military phases
of the work the secretary has conferred
with the commanding general, Gen Miles,
ana wi-h Gen. Merritt, who IS second In
command, on the problems presented and
besides the military results of these coun-
sells, II has established cooperation be
tween the executive head of the war de-
parment and the ranking officers of the
army
Has Announced No Policies.
Meanwhile the secretary has announced
no f1r-reaching policies. He proceeds
slowly with the facts. If there have been |
some loose and careless statements as to |
his proposed policy, they have probably |
been as much a surprise to him as 10 the |
public. So, too, the reports set ahoat be-
fore he entered the office, that he would |
conhne his attention to Cuban affairs |
leaving the Philippines TO "the military |
authorities" have not bsen borne out. but |
on the contrary, the military exlgencies |
in the Philippines have been the subject |
Of his most earnest soucltude.
Concerning Cuba and Porto Rico the de- |
tailed administration OF their affairs, with |
tic tIa ffg fa
largely with his assistants and chiefs. ana |
he is concerning himself with the larger |
questions Of the reconstruction and future |
OF these islands, and with the subsdtu- |
ton Of orderly civil government for the !
military regime now in force.
When former Premier Rivera urged YES |
terday that an order be speedily issued for |
municipal elections in Porto Rico the sec
retary replied that he hoped these elee-
tions would occur as soon as the present |
unhappy stOrm-swept condition Of the ISL |
and would permit When Il was sug-
gested that the desolauon In Porto Rico
made opportune a remission Of duties on
articles OF prime necessity the secretary
said he was already conferring with Gen
Davis, governor general Of the island, as
to that step.
Mr. Root has little time for the crowd Of
callers with small requests He is a la
borous and methodical worker When
there was some surprise at his remaining
at his desk until o'clock Thursday even
Ing, three hours after the building was de-
serted, he explained that Il was his haoit
10 concentrate his attention on important
work from 10 in the morning until II at
night usually without the distraction Of
meals.
lie has been pursuing his studies at
home during most Of the evenings since
he has been here. The secretary is quite
reserved 10 callers listening and inqulrlng
rather than talking. His cabinet asso-
ciates speak Of his calm and delberative
manner and bis ready perception Of = Naf-
fairs
PERCY ST. JOHN Is FURIOUS.