The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-30
CONGRESSMAN and
SECRETARY DIFFER
Hitch Over Improvement Of
Army Organization.
OFFICERS OFFER OPPOSITION

The War Department is experiencing
no little trouble in securing the co-opera-
ton Of Congress in the improvement OF
the army organization. Tt is an omen Sc
cret that many of the members Of the
Senate Military Committee are not in har-
mony with the ideas Of the Secretary Of
War f.r changes in the staff.
This situation has been brought about
principally through the objections Of
army officers TO the Gour-year detailed
stan system and the selection Of junior
officers TO head some Of the STAFF depart
monts. This principle was agreed to by
Congress at she last session, but not be
cause the Senate Military Committee
cared for the plan.
Now that it has before IL the names Of
three officers for confirmation the evil
denee Of opposition has shown itself more
strongly than ever. Il is prac. lcally ad-
mitted that General Crozier. who was
promoted from the rank OF captain 20 De
Chief Of the Ordnance Depa rtment, is Op-
posed by the majority of the Military
Committee and mere particularly by ser
ator HawIcy and Senator Proctor VINO
do not favor the selection Of junior Of
/ fcers over the older officers of higher
rank.
Differ on Construction of EEII.
An important difference Of opinion also
exists between Secretary Root and the
Senats Committee as to the construction
Of the army organization bill passed at
the last session. Secretary Root is Of the
& b..
select any officer from a stan corps. not
+ below the grade Of captain for detail in
/ the corps from which he is selected and
! that he may select from the army at
I large officers not below the grade Of lieu
/ tenant colonel.
The Senate Military Committee sent Sen
{ at0rs Proctor and C0ckreu as a subcom-
/ mittee TO talk this over with the Secre-
/ tary OF War, and they failed TO agree with
/ Secretary Roots position and so reported
( TO the Senate Committee. Since then
they have held up the nomination Of Cen
I eraI Crozier, 70 be Chief Of the Ordnance
Department, General Davis TO be Judge
Advocate General and General Gillespie
/ TO be Chief Of the Engineer Corps.
OHicers AOt Agreed
The opposition to the changes in the
military organization are not confined to
members Of Congress. but also appeared
. among staff officers Of the War Depart
ment Affected ty Secretary Roots pro-
( posed consolidation of the supply de-
4 partments. In order to meet the wishes
( Of the officers now at tie heads Of these
/ departments. Secretary Root had draft
/ Of his ban made and sent to them for
{ remark.
The replies received from the Quarter
+ master General. Commissary General. and
Acting Paymaster General were so ad-
( verse that the bill was altered and re-
turned 10 the officials who were cOnsU-
tuted a committee on the drafting OF g
( bill to carry out the scheme. Half .
I dozen bills have now been drawn. h..t
/ an agreement has not yet been reached
TO Continue Transport Service.
Tho plan to abolish the transport serv-
/ ice of the army has also been objected. as
I ii is now proposed 10 continue he service
/ for another year. Provision 1or the ap-
/ preparation Of the money for this pur-
I pose has been made by the Military
! Committee OF the House and Will be
/ included in the military appropriation
I bill soon 10 be reported to that body.