New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-28
CHANGES IN THE STAFF SYSTEM.

The sections relating 70 stan organizations pro-
vide for the abolition OF the present system OF
permanent stan appointments ana lor me suDsLltq-
OF four years, unless sooner terminated by the
pirarou Of detail the officer shall serve al least
one year in the line before ne is eligible for another
be passed in any branch Of the service 10 which
the officer shall be assigned by the Secretary OF
War. These provisions apply 10 the adjutant-gen-
erals inspector-generals. Quarrermaster ana Sub
Corps Officers OF the Engineers Corps while their
serve one year of five with such branch ~ rbe line
az may be designated by the Secretary OF War.
be manifold 7 think the change viii break
~ 80 prevent Ine tendency 70 bureaucratic
When a permanent body separated ror life
from the remainder Of the Army is placed
in control OF the great and powerful departments
on winch the efficiency Of the Amy depend think
tie staff by breaking down the division between
snTai 5 ~ sdC d more lnt;InaIe anl per
and the needs of the ether. by creating a larger
the service and competent for any command in
stead OF men who have been trained in one branch
the line; and perhaDs more i111orrarf SIN II nil
DO away with the feelings that have undoubtedly
existed throughout the line that the stan constI-
the natural object Of criticism and fautfndIng
l think the men who come into the stan from
the line will bring in vitality and new ideas and
the who go back 10 the line from the star
will cary with them instruction and kindly Judg-
Inc provision which Permits the President TO
portance It is most important in its appicati5n n
the most important positions those OF the chiefs
OF the several stan corps and bureaus. Nothing
could be more impractical than the present per-
President as Commander-in-Chief is responsible
for the efficiency of the Army IN time OF war he
use. He can determine who shall command The
aF F! ne can cnarSe seheEaIs IN command as
another ana another without limit, until he finds
ne IS absolutely powerless 20 the heads OF these
great departments which organize and assemble
equip ana care cor the Army anu
Victory CT defeat IS organized IN the stan de-
partments before a shot IS fired IneficienCy in
them means necessary disaster at the beginning.
and the expenditure OF countless treasure and the
sacrifice OF countless lives Yet no matter how
these departments may De the PRESIDENT Is power
less 70 make a change unless the officer commits
he can De court-n1arJiaIIed and dismissed the
service Clearly this ought TO be changed, and the
the soldiers in the field Great care has been taken
the present tncumbents OF these staf offices I be-
the great majority OF them consider that il has
Cheerfullv and with public spirit understand ,bs+
there are few-and they are very tew-who are
It is the same kind OF opposition which has r9-
years set 70 work 70 undeTnalne retard and defel-
No Improvement was ever suggested I'm any svs-
TEN which did not ind opposition from some --s
who wanted to be Iet alone but public consids-
tons should prevail over personal considerations
the efficiency OF the service IS more important than
before " han
Comes-and General Sherman said II az
ways comes unexpectedly-che people OF the United
States want an organization which viii organize
and and equip and ClOthe and feed and give
medical attendance 70 young men IN tho
camp and the battlefield with the utmost nos
sible efficiency that Will save them from all avoid
able confusion. mistake, disease and death The
subject is grave 70 be treated in a narrow and
personal way. 7 think the Overwhelming opinion ~
the Army and The common sense OF the American
people is IN favor Of this plain, practical improve
ulent in organization.
There is one clause about which there has bean
misrepresentation Perhaps the words used
are broad make Il natural II is Section
u which authorizes the President 10 transfer anv
That designed 70 affect the substance ~
any OF the bureaus corps. but 70 enable me
great variety or little questions between then,
which possibly be settled in Congress- %
be settled matter OF administration in the
War Department Shall the Ordnance or the
furnish the knives and forks Shall the commits
sary Of subsistence ship the goods that he blrys
their destination shall the 1uarteruaster shin
them2 Shall the electrical appliances in our rOrti
hcations be provided by the engineers or BY the
ordnance And such questions as these which
matters OF administrative detail and which
neither Congress nor your committee ever VIII
really consider
In order that the power may be unquestionahIv
confined TO such matters I suggest that there
be added 10 the section the words 'But this seq
ton shall not be deemed authorize the abolition
Of any corps or department its merger with
any other corps or department
PROVISION FOR ARTIIL ERY.
The sections relating 70 the artillery provide
nrst Tor an increase OF $500 almost al in the coast