The times., 1899-07-13
A WAR OFFICE CONTROVERSY.
Authority of the Inspector General
Brought Into Dispute.


controversy that may lead to action by
the Secretary of War further defining the
duties of the Inspector General of the
Army is now going on in the War Depart
ment. Ever since the beginning of the
war with Spain General Breckenridge, the
Inspector General of the Army, has insist
ed upon the authority of the inspectors of
his department to make inspections of
property to be condemned or otherwise
disposed of. He has claimed that it is
within the scope of his department to in
spect all branches of the service, including
the work of the Medical Department, Quar-
termaster's Department. Commissary De-
partment, and Ordnance Bureau.
Within the past few weeks several ques-
tions as to the power of the Inspector Gen
eral have arisen. The first question to
arise was during the absence of General
Breckenridge on his tour of inspection in
Cuba and Porto Rico. at that time il was
discovered that officers OF the Inspector
Generals Department were performing in
spection duty without the direct authority
OF the Secretary of War and as this in
spection neeessitated some travelling an
order was issued directing that inspectors
general should be granted transportation
only upon the authority of the Secretary
of War.
Since then several other cases have been
brought to the attention of Secretary Al
ger of officers about to perform inspection
service that the department did not con-
slider necessary. Only a short while ago
| an inspector general was sent by General
Breckenridge to make an inspection of
some ordnance property about TO be con-
demned. Before he had completed his
work, however. orders were issued from
| the Secretary's office directing the inspec-
| tion by officers of the Ordnance Bureau.
Within the last few days it was proposed
| by the Inspector General of the Army that
! the inspectors general of his department
make inspections of transports and their
supplies before their departure from this
country for Cuba, Porto Rico, and the
Philippines. This recommendation was
made through official channels to the Sec
retary of War and by him referred to the
| Quartermaster General, who has super
| vision of the transport service. The papers
containing the recommendation were re-
| turned to the Inspector Generals office
| with the endorsement that the transport
| service needed no inspection by his depart
ment. 1t was pointed out that the service
| is organized with a general superintendent.
! who has general supervision. a marine
| superintendent, who makes inspections of
marine affairs. an engineer superintendent,
| who inspects the machinery of the vessel.
and a medical officer on each transport,
who reports regarding his department, and
| a commissary and quartermaster officer
| who has charge of food ana quartermasteI
| supplies. 1t was claimed that these Off
GERS could perform all the inspection duty
necessary, and that it was not seen that
the service could be benefited by an addi-
tional inspection by officers of the In
spector Generals department
II is not known if General Brecknridgt
will insist upon his claim of authority tC
direct these inspections Independent of ar
official order from the Secretary of War
Inspectors general are on duty at each o
the principal cities where the transport
service is established, and as they receive
their orders direct from the Inspector
General of the Army, it is not improbable
that the issue will be raised by their at.
tempting an inspection without specia
| orders to do So