New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
BUREAUCRACY IN CUBA.
so,rr OBSERVATIONS OF ARMY STAFF
SYSTEM METHODS.
VOW AN IMPOSING SPECIAL COMMISSION
GET ABOUT SELECTING CAMP SITES
EXAMINING THE ISLE OF PINES.

washington. May 3.-An American who has
,osn IN Cubs for several months past has taken
Inns 70 thank The Tribune for its explanation
=, the workings of bureaucracy In the War De-
.ortnent. His own observations have enabled
s,r, 70 understand the necessity Of some expla-
cation OF that complicated machinery.
.1 am a civilian" said this man. land or
.orrse take my hat off to our institutions and
,.onerate them especially when they are moss
crown still always supposed that the Presi-
aart was Commander Chief Of the Army. and
that his Cabinet officer. the Secretary OF War
Nod something 10 do with the War Department
put after seeing 1t in operation during our
nsacefnl military occupation of Cuba have
changed my mind. i know now that the war
Recruitment IL composed Of an indefinite num-
hor of independent principalities. powers ana
kingdoms each of which has its own sphere OF
Influence and warns everybody to keep OH the
grass within that sphere. Here is the plain tale
=, how these spheres Of influence were mani
tested in Cuba:
.,you know in the first place there was the
Evacuation Commission sent to arrange with
t,a Spanish authorities for getting the Spanish
,roops off the island. 1t was thought at the
time that they would have some other duties IN
nrenaring for the occupation by the American
troops I guess the members OF the commission
g., ,ha+ ,daa themselves but they knew better
after little experience with the bureaus OF the
War DEPARTMENT. The Commission was COM
roeed ~ two major-Eenerals OF the Army ana
ora rearadmral Of the Navy. OF course the
admiral did not count. bnt 1t was supposed the
-,aior. generals might have some influence with
the War Department
.rh,s Evaouation Commission had occasion
,o send ont it's staff officers 10 look INTO the
s,oto ~ the island generally. both with refer-
enca N the industrial conditions and the places
which would prove convenient and necessary lot
occupancy by American troops Having 10 oe-
tern,ine that matter. they also thought IL Wouid
not be outside their functions to gather up
little information about the location OF camp
sites Well that is what they did Ma)or-Geh-
eral Wade as the head Of that Commission re-
norted to Washington the number or troops
which would he needed in the different provinces.
Having this responsibility. 1t may have been
natural for him to suppose that he would be
asked where the troops should be located IN the
different provinces. and where the camp sites
should be placed. Well that was all wrong
THE CAMP SITE COMMISSION.
.In October there arrived in Havana a special
Commission 10 locate the camp sites. peheNe
# was Joint sanitary and engineering COM
mission but of course the sanitary experts
from the War Department were Independent OF
the engineering experts. and vice versa Alto
eatber the Commission made a very imposing
body. with a lot Of baggage, clerks, typewriters
and other impedimenta. The thoroughness with
which II was organized reflected great credit on
the bureau system in the War Department. 1t
.ook the whole floor of leading hotel and got
down to business It's members travelled over
the island in special trains and In proper state
.arhey seemed to have lot of trouble in To-
eating the camp sites They would pick out one
place. and after the engineers had staked II OH
by the rule of three the sanitary members
would find that there was something wrong with
the water supply. that sewage was expected to
run up hill. something of that sort Some
body suggested that, as the Evacuation Com
mission had gone over the ground It's work
might be useful to the other Commission. That
was a mistake. The other Commission had
nothing TO do with the Evacuation Commission,
didn't know Of its existence and had no use for
its information. About this time there a
good deal Of talk of the jealousy and contro-
versy between the two bodies. That gave
Judge Advocate General C1ous the opportunity
to deliver the dictum that has made him au-
could only be controversy between equals. and
as the Evacuation Commission was composed Of
generals and the Camp Site Commission was
composed of colonies there could be no contro-
versy between superiors and interiors.
SELECTED AN OFFAL DUMP.
But to return to the camp sites. The colo
nel's Commission picked out one at Guanabacoa.
across the bay from Havana. Then the hygienic
portion Of the Commission found that the loca-
ton was unsanitary. Next site was found on
the hills beyond Moro Castle and Cabana
Fortress. Both the engineering colonies and
the hygienic colonies satisfied with that
until some other colonel discovered that water
could not be piped there without piping 1t up
hill. Then they found place closer to Havana
which seemed to fit the typographical and by
gienic requirements perfectly. 1t was level. and
water pipes could be laid without having to run
up hill or down hill The engineering colonies
and the medical colonies were so pleased
with this selection that they started in to locate
the camp at once. They took the manager Of the
railroad company, which would have to do most
Of the transporting Of material, out to see about
running switch. He looked at the camp site,
then he looked at the colonies. There's only
one thing wrong with this place he told them.
You've picked out the dump for the offal from
the slaughter-house and for the refuse Of the
city The Camp Site Commission drove back
TO Havana without making further preparation.
Finally. they picked out a place near Venta-
which is close to the waterworks that supply
Havana It is a very picturesque and beautiful
country around there.
We'll by the time the camp site at Venta had
been selected General F. V. Greene had arrived.
1t was thought at the time that he was going
10 be the Military Governor. He brought his
stan and a batch Of engineer officers. They
went out and looked at the camp site at Venta.
They found lot OF objections General Greene
decided that It would not do at all. But he
could not make change until he had run
against some bureau other in Washington
s+ooa In The NAV getting nermission.