The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-19
RED TAPE AND OREGONIAN HYs-
TERICS.


volunteer to become historical. That
however, is the condition of the public
mind in San Francisco, if the express
ions of the local press are to be taken
as indicating the condition there of
public sentiment, relative to the Ore
gon soldiers just returned from the
Philippines.
The returned troops were landed at
San Francisco and marched to the Pre-
sidio, where of necessity, they went
into canvass quarters. They came
direct from the tropics and were thus
plunged into conditions in which the
weather is very changeable. San
Francisco with it's eccentric and unsta-
bic climate treats the troops to cold
afternoon winds, foggy evenings and
drizzly and chilly nights. They are ill
clad for such climate, since they re-
turned in their light, well-worn suits,
adapted only to the tropics where the
less one wears the more comfortable
his condition. There We're few double
blankets in the outfit, and fewer over
coats. Thereupon a general alarm was
sounded that the men were in danger
of pneumonia and a variety of ills, and
were suffering for want of sufficient
clothing
An which is unquestionably true. But
s there was no need of becoming hys-
terical about it nor indulging in the
In,
ever, San Francisco did not fail to have
genuine fit of Mysteries concerning the
chilly conditions of the Oregon men.
nor did she fail to curse the Govern
ment for not having overcoats on tap.
Let us see just what the facts are.
The men were shipped from Manila in
a perfectly comfortable swift steam
transport for Portland, Or, where, be-
ing among friends, they would have had
instant care and every comfort. But
on arriving in San Francisco bay. they
Joined in the clamor of San Francisco
to have the regiment landed there that
it might have good time," as a lead
ing paper put it, 1t was a fine oppor-
have the regimental pay spent in the
bay city. That clamor prevailed and
the War. Department reluctantly yield
ed and landed the men at the Presidio.
This raised an unforeseen condition.
Each soldier is allowed a given sum
for his clothing outfit. The Oregon
men had drawn their allowance. But
in the Philippines overcoats We're not
needed, nor yet double blankets. The
majority of these articles were there
fore discarded, either thrown or bar
tered away. At any rate the men
came back without them. This thrust
upon the Government the necessity of
encamping the men in a foggy and
gusty place without sufficient clothing
But whose fault was 1t? Certainly not
that of the War Department. But be-
cause the department did not forth
with hand over new blankets and over
coats to the men great hullabaloo
was set up about "redtapeism."
Let US see about that also. The
Quartermasters are charged up, of
course, with all goods furnished TO
them. They are to disburse these sup
plies strictly according to regulations
or face courts-martial, and these reg
ulations are based on law necessarily.
1t Is therefore. essential, especially
where millions are concerned and hun
dreds of officials are acting, that the
line be drawn strictly as to all official
performance. These officials must not
be allowed to exercise their discretion
4 in disbursing supplies. They must ac-
count for every item down to button.
Records must be kept of every mans
account, receipts passed, acquisitions
honored only on due authority, and the
answer to the demand made strictly in
compliance with the regulations.
Any other system would result in
confusion. loss and peculation. That is
and rigid procedure in handling Gov
sernment stores and in paying out. That
s .sred tape" bears hardly upon impa-
thence at times is certainly true. That
it is slow of movement and cautious
and exceedingly exacting, is uncontra-
dicted. But that it is necessary, com.
mon sense and a moments reflection
serve to convince.
If subordinate officials were permitted
to disburse Government stores at will
to give out goods when they think
it necessary, to permit the soldier 20
take as he pleased and as often as he
wished, it will be perceived that chaos
would soon follow in the Quartermaster
departments, and not all the wealth of
the Federal treasury could meet the
cost In this whole Oregon regiment
overcoat business. there has been moth
ing done by the Government justifying
the hysterical screeching of San Fran
cisco ancients. Had the Government
directions been followed in the first
instance, and not been broken down
by the whoop to have the troops land
ed in San Francisco. where they do
not belong, there would have been no
trouble whatever, for in Oregon at sew
eral points the Government has ample
and warm quarters in which to lodge