Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-03-16
REORGANIZATION OF
THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Retirement Of MeikIeJohn and Ap.
pointment of Colonel Sanger
the First Step.
THIS is OF FIRST IMPORTANCE NOW
since Spanish War Military Department
Has Become Ono of the Chief Govsrn-
mental Branches-spends Twice ~
Much as Amy Other Department.

Washington, March 9.-The selection
Of William Carey Sanger OF New York
to be assistant secretary of war, an
nounced yesterday, came as an abso-
lutte surprise to the officials of the war
department. While they knew that Mr..
M~eiklejohn's resignation was In the
hands OF Secretary Root, they did not
Expect that a recognition Of the same
would take place for some time.
Colonel Sanger is in New York and It
s understood that the announcement
came from the New York end. instead
IF from Washington. Senator Plat
stated that he had not been consulted
in the matter and that he had nothing
10 say in regard to the nomination,
should it be decided upon.
New York, under these circum-
stances, will have control of the war
department, the secretary and assist
ant coming from hat state. Whether
this Is good politics from the viewpoint
OF republicans is largely speculative,
but undoubtedly there is a disposition
TO rotate these Offices to various
states. - Colonel Sanger went abroad
last year to write a story of the militia
Va ~ vi IIuIOPC dl tnC JoliAt
request OF the secretary Of war, Elihu
Root, n the then governor of New
York, Theodore Roosevelt. Sanger Is
a rich man, also a club man and Is
o upon by the administration un.
dcubtedly as quite an acquisition to the
official family Of the president. He has
long been the choice of Secretary Root
To serve as his assistant in pisposing
OF the rapidly growing business of the
NJ - damn ~ f,annt IIt1 .atlita-xK n~vNA~t
ence and legal ability are said to have
been the chief elements which led to
his selection for the office which,
though already n of considerable
dignity and responsibility, II Is the In
tention of the president and Secretary
Root to make much more important In
every respect.
An Important Position.
Since the war department has como
to be the branch of the government
that spends more money than any W.
Of the other departments combined. the
need of a thoroughly capable assistant
to the secretary has been most press
ing. The treasury and state depart
ments each have three assistants, the
postoftice has four, the interior two n
the. others have one each. Colonel
Sanger, at the outset, will have charge
Of the recruiting service, which Is now
raising the army to q strength OF
100, 900; Of all matters relating to en-
listed men, their discharges, quarters
and rations, their courts-martial. in
Guiding the exercise Of clemency and
matters relating to prisoners at mill
tary prisons and penitentiaries: of all
claims and accounts Of appointments;
transfers and promotions in the civil
service, and everything that affects the
great civil force Of the war depart
ment; the military departments and
the military government in the Philip
pines; of insular customs M tariffs;
also of sales Of subsistence and quar-
termaster stores to civilians, matters
relating to national cemeteries, boards
of survey and open market purchases.
and on his judgment all medals will be
awarded.
Under the contemplated reorganiza-
ton of the war department, which Is
to be made in the coming summer,
probably at the end Of the current ls-
cal year, June 80, other duties will de-
volve upon him, and in addition he
must act as secretary whenever Secrs-
tary Root is absent. The last respon-
sibility is understood to be the chief
motive for Colonel Sanger's selection,
as Secretary Root cannot conflne him
self so closely to his desk as he has in
the past without serious consequences
to his health.
A Washington paper, in discussing
the prospective change. says:
THE administration has entertained
the hope that Mr.. M~eilklejohn would
be elected to the senate from Nebraska,
although 1t has not. openly at least,
aided his V The administration
and the war department would then
have been relieved Of any embarrass-
ment, as he would voluntarily have re-
signed. It Is now expected that he
will soon tender his resignation, al
though his chances OF coming to the
senate are not bright"