New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-13


do not name these benehcent laborers here bu'
they will not be forgotten"
SUPREME COMMAND OF ARMY.
Perhaps the most significant utterance IN 'he
whole document 50 far ~ concerns the discipline
and efficiency OF the Army comes next under the
heading Authority and Responsibility
For many years the divided authority and re-
sponsbility in the War Department has produ'eh
friction for which in the interest OF the service a
remedy. If possible. should be applied
THE Constitution makes the President the Com
mander-ln- Chief Of the Army and he cannot trans
fer that authority to any other person 1he fres'-
dent selects his Secretary OF War who has MS
confidence and who Is his confidential adviser.
The Commanding General Is assigned to duty aS
such by the President, and under the military laws
Of the United States his duties are defined as
follows:
The command exercised by the Commanding
General Of the Army. not having been made the
subject Of statutory regulation. Is determined by
the order Of assignment II has been habitually
composed OF the aggregate OF the several territorial
commands that have been or may be created by
the President
1.-The military establishment Is under orders Of
the Commanding General Of the Army In that
which pertains to its discipline and military con
troll The fiscal affairs of the Army are conducted
by the Secretary of War through the several staff
departments. par. 49, 4. r.. 1851
An orders and instructions from the President
or Secretary OF War relating to military opera
tons or affecting the military control and dis
cipne Of the Army Will be promulgated through
the Commanding General par 1855. y. r.. 1881
Lieutenant General Schoheld. who has probab y
had a. much experience and given the question a
much thought and study any one in our coun-
try SAYS I'm substance:
Recent experience has served TO confirm all
the results Of my lifelong study and large eN-
perience that the proper position for the senior
officer Of the Army duty at Washington IS not
that Of Commanding General. a position which Is
practically impossible. but that Of General-in-
chief. which means. in fact. Chief-of-Sian TO the
President The title Of Genoral-in-Chicf was "a
permanent one during the entire history OF the
country up 10 the time when General Grant he
came Leutcnant-General
When / became the Commanding General adj
dressed to the President letter in which point
ed out to him what had been the result Of my
study and experience. and saying that the only
way WAS 10 abandon entirely which did during
my seven years Of service. all pretence OF being
the Commanding General and 10 content myself
with acting the Chief-Of-Stah Of the Army un-
der the Secretary of War and the President. The
result was that perfect harm ony prevailed during
my time and / did exercise legitimate Influence
in command of the Army; this because | did not
claim to exercise anything which the law did not
give me.
THE President must have the same power Of
selection Of his General-in-C hicf as he has Of his
Secretary of War without This there can be- no
guarantee that ne Will give to or that the Score
tary Of War will place in the General-in-C Chief
that confidence which is accessory 70 perfect har-
mOny. Neither the President nor the Secretary Of
War should have in the command of the Army an
officer who is not working in harmony with him
PRAISE FOR SECRETARY OF WAR
and its various chiefs of Subdivisions beginning
with the Secretary Of War
The records of the War Department which have
been laid before us show that the Secretary OF
War extended TO all chiefs OF bureaus cordial ana
full support and promptly responded to every
proper demand made upon him by commanding Of
No testimony has been presented showing inten-
tional neglect Of duty nor any attempt 10 serve
personal interests. The charges made that The
contracts purchases and other transactions Of the
War Department have been thoroughly examined
In the Judgment Of the Commission there was
lacking in the general administration Of the War
Department during the continuance OF the war
with Spain that complete grasp Of the situation
which was essential to the highest efficiency and
The Commission has RETAINED from criticising
certain Of the heads OF bureaus for having
psTtmens for acty w 6cfore war was "cfna
declared. because It has appeared that the Ma
uona defence fund provided by the act OF March
9. 1898 WIS not made available for use EXCEPT for
the Navy and for coast defences and the expcnd-
lures incident thereto until after the declaration
Of war
ADJTTAN1-GENERAL DEPARTMENT
Brigadier- General II. G. CORBIN. Adjutant-Gen
eral. L. s A. in charge
This Department. which organized and
trained 10 take care Of a small Regular Army was
required rapidly to provide for organizing and mus
terng in 5000 soldiers and within six months to
muster out 10000 The Adiutant-Generals Depart
ment OF the Army having fun knowledge Of the
condition OF the Army when the declaration Of war
WIS made. II could not be- surprised by the ina
biitv Of the Departments Immediately 10 respond
10 'he az maHds inc economy OF previous years.
by which nearly every article of equipment not
Immediately needed by the Army was disposed Of
ana no provision made Tor cncrgencies, rendered
immediate effective expansion ~ the Army impos-
sible. In the organization Of the Army for active
u.E provision was MADE Tor eight corps. seven OF
which were fuzzy equipped ana placed in the field
me Snkgtstlon mas been made. and opinion
eanized The Army and equipped the troops in each
lnp3lIlztd INTO nrlsadcs divisions and corps. hut
the War Department had not the officers to send
them. nor had it officers Of sufficient rank To com
mand. drill and discipline the troops while in State
lamps has The adVSniase Of yoGms the dsnrb
ing influences Of home locality.
During The organization and equipment OF the
Army daily report by telegraph from each camp
was received. Where important Deficiencies were
the fact and in cases it was found that such
deficiencies were due 10 the non-exstencc Of the
"A
There about two hundred and fifty Tcgi-
ments batteries and separate organizations la the
Army. from only twenty-five OF which came com
plants aside from those affecting the Medicai De
partment investigation has shown that the mos
Of these complaints were because OF lack Of sup
plies not obta!hable at first. or were due to the
inexpeIience Of officers In command not. far
as discover. from any Intentional neglect.
II found necessary 10 20 outside ana appoint
officers from civil life the selections being fire.
qucntly made from officers who had had expert
ence in the National Guard. graduates from mill
tary colleges and schools. and citizens whose bust
ness or professions fitted them for the positions
for which they selected. The testimony
shows that they were honest and manifested a
desire TO become efficient In their duties Not one
has been court -martiard. and but few dropped
= incompetent.
The Adjutant- General testified that there had
not been "A deficiency OF one dollar reported the
part Of ii volunteer stan officer ana thar he wished
make n q matter OF record that In the distrhu-
ton OF many millions Of dollars during his war
there Yet TO be- made the irst charbc oi dttdi-
cation against AN Army officer Regular or volun-
tccr
There have been very few complaints against
this Department The records and testimony show
that it has been prompt In Us work. ana has added