The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-13

nation entered upon the war with Spain, the
resulting and almost inevitable confusion in
bureau and camp, to many dltncuitles OF arm
ing. assembling and transporting large bodies
of hitherto unframed men, the carrying on a
series of operations in two hemispheres. the
people of the United States should ever be
proud of it's soldiers, who, cooperating with
its sailors, in less than three months put an
end to Spanish colonial power, enfranchised
oppressed people and taught the world at
large the strength and the nobility OF a great
republic.
The early portions of the report re-
late to the organization of the commits
sion, its methods of procedure, its call
fer testimony and other matters of
routine already familiar The first
general finding set-forth is as follows:
1t may be said now, at the beginning of
this report that there has been no evidence
before US that any one in or connected with
the department has dishonesty received a
dollar. We have made persistent efforts to
secure the attendance of persons to whose
names rumor had attached allegation that
they knew of corruption Of officials in the war
department, but these men have either denied
the statements attributed to them, or have
maintained silence when invited to tell what
they knew.
Other general conclusions follow,
among which the following are the
most ilnrCrtant:
Under existing laws the officers of the army
are retired when they reach the age Of g.
1t does not appear reasonable that an arbi-
trary law should prevent, during the existence
of war, the use of experienced men merely on
account of their age. We think it would be
wise to make it discretionary with the presi-
dent to use officers on the retired list for fill
ing positions during war;
The commission recommends for the future
a strict examination into the qualifications Of
all officers appointed to the army, regular or
volunteer.
A most important criticism by the commits
sion is follows:
The routine work in the department. in our
opinion is far beyond what is necessary and
each year seems to increase it, The methods
employed make it almost impossible to trans
act business promptly. No well regulated
| concern or corporation could transact business
| satisfactorily under such regulations as gov
| ern the staff departments, and the fact that
| every officer of each of the staff departments
holding responsible position has been forced
to ignore routine demonstrates the necessity
of new form.
The report then proceeds to take up
the subjects in their regular order,
beginning with the army, and after
| reciting the facts in evidence rs to the
raising of the army and the numerous
| errors which developed in the early
| days of the war, there is the following
recommendation for the future:
| One of the lessons taught by the war is
| that the country should hereafter be in a
better state of preparation for war.
| Perhaps the most significant utter
| ance in the whole document, so far as
| concerns the discipline and efficiency
| Of the army, comes next:
| For many years the divided authority and
responsibility in the war department has pro-
| duced friction, for which in the interest of
| the service a remedy if possible should be
| applied The constitution makes the presi-
| dent the commander in chief of the army and
| he cannot transfer that authority to any other
| person.
| The commission then by implication though
| not directly makes a finding by indorsing
! the following statement by Gen. Schofell
| formerly in command of the army:
The president must have the same power OF
selection of his general-in-chief he has oil
! his secretary of war. Without this there can
| be no guarantee that he will give or that the
| secretary of war will place in the general-;n-
| chief that confidence which is necessary for
| the control of the army. Neither the president
| nor the secretary of war should have in COM
| mand of the army person who is not work
| ing in harmony with them.
| The report now takes up the war de-
| partment and it's chiefs Of subdivisions,
| beginning with the secretary of war.