The evening times., 1899-01-25
The Army Bill.

Chairman Hull in urging the passage
of his army reorganization bill. affirmed
that the situation is dangerous and the
Importance OF action cannot be exaeger-
ated Perhaps this is true, but those who
oppose this measure have abundant cause
TO hold out. in spite of the possible con-
sequences. 1t is known that the scandals
Of the war were made possible by the sys-
TEN. which Secretary Alger hope~ to per- /.
petuate by the adoption of this particu-
lar bill The statement that il is the sys-
TEN and not the man that was at fault is
cnly half true The system permitted the
Secretary of War and the Adjutant Cen
eral to suspend the Commanding General
in time of war without the consent of the
President and TO destroy the character
of the most useful of all Offices, that
of the Inspector General. II is on this
Office that every department depends for
knowledge of the condition Of the army
in the field. and when it was disorganized
to such degree that General Breckin-
ridge found he could be more useful in the
active command OF troops than at his post,
all official criticism Of the army
virtually ceased. Then followed the
scandals. Among them was the appoint
ment to important staff positions of civ
ilians who were without any military
training through the influence of leading
politicians 1t would have been possible
for a Secretary of War like Stanton TO
avoid every mistake of the Spanish war;
but with politician in that place. poll
tician without executive qualities and dis
posed to consider politics more than ell
cheney. the scandals were inevitable
1t is certain that even military man OF
great experience in the Office Of the Adju-
tant General could not begin TO discharge
all the duties and make wise use OF all
the power this bill would allow him 10
assume. AS a matter of course he Will
/ grasp all the authority the system will
! allow. The present official, who will re-
+ main for seven years longer. is not Il
/ trained soldier. and his own statements to
/ the Military Committee OF the House
/ proved that he was ignorant of many OF
the most vital facts in relation TO the
! army. There is no surety that Mr.. Alger
| is TO be retired, although there is a grow
ing hope that the recent restrictions
placed on his Office by the President mean
that he is TO go. Until his successor has
been appointed, the legislator is bound 10
consider the consequences of his abuse of
the power which the Hull bill confers on
him.
/ There is no desire on the part of the
! opposition to embarrass the Administra-
ton. On the contrary, it is its distinct
! aim to save the President and the coun-
try from the perpetuation of a system
that gives room for abuses such as will
bring reproach on the Administration and
demoralize the army. What those who
object 10 the bill want is what General
Schofield. General Niles and other officers
of experience who have shown themselves
to be disinterested, consider essential TO
! army efficiency. They are right To insist
that extraordinary authority shall rot GO
into the hands of the present officials OF
the War Office. 1t is not their faut il
they are forced. in behalf of the army. to
postpone the muster out of volunteers
who are eager for release but the fau.t oi
those who use the situation to the in
jury of the military service.