Evening star., 1899-07-15
DEPRIVED OF THE HONOR
Gen. Miles Not Allowed to Act as Secre-
tary cf War.
The Department Mail Held Up-Situn-
History of the Department..

A most peculiar state OF affairs existed at
the War Department today and the depart
j ment was practically without head ex-
cept in so far as Adit. Gen. Corbin may be
considered as directing the business of the
department. The situation arises out of
the aatagOnism, more or less openly ex
pressed, between Secretary Alger and Gen.
Miles.
Although the strained relations between
these officials have been matter of pub
lie notoriety for many months, dating back
almost to the beginning of the war with
Spain, the rupture was never manifest
or pointed it was today. Rather than
have Gen. Miles enjoy the empty and per-
functory honor of acting as Secretary of
War, the entire business of the department
was practically suspended today and all
the current mail requiring the signature
of the Secretary or his representative was
held up until the Secretary returns on Mon
day.
Under ordinary circumstances the major
general commanding the army invariably
acts as Secretary of War in the temporary
absence of both the Secretary and the
Slstant secretary, and he does this in vir-
tue of an act of Congress made for the
special purpose of providing against the
joint absence of the Secretary and his
sistant.
Nearly all of Gen. Miles predecessors
acted as Secretary of War at frequent In
tervals, and Gen. Miles himself performed
the functions of that office prior to his mis-
understanding with Secretary Alger with
regard to the conduct of the war with
Spain.
Evasion at the Department..
A mysterious silence is maintained by the
officials of the War Department in regard
to the situation. and it IS almost impossible
to obtain any direct Information even on
the simple point as to whether General
Miles is is not acting as Secretary of
War today
OF all the officials having direct knowl-
edge on the subject. Adjutant General Cor
bin is the only one who says that Gen.
Miles is acting Secretary. He admits.
however. that there is nothing for him to
do. Other officials who would naturally
know the facts, either eyade the question
say that Secretary Alger arranged yes
terday morning for the dispatch 3f ali of
tOdoy's business, and that there is nothing
for an acting secretary to do.
All Mail Held Unopened.
The statement was made In several quar-
ters that not a single paper requiring the
signature of acting secretary of war
was submitted to Gen. Miles today, and
that all mail requiring the attention of
such official will be held to await the
return of Secretary Alger.
General Miles was on duty at headquart-
ers as usual today. and was prepared to
transact any business pertaining to the Of
fee of acting secretary, but Up to a late
hour this afternoon he had not been called
upon 10 act IN that capacity. and the pre-
dicuon was freely made in the department
that he would not have the opportunity of
signing his name as acting secretary to
any paper, no matter how routine or unin-
portant Us character, as a consequence of
the absence of Secretary Alger at Long
Branch and OF Assistant Secretary Meikle-
john n Wisconsin.
The situation is without precedent in the
history Of the War Department and nat
urally is the subject of considerable gossip.