Evening star., 1902-02-17
UNDER ONE Chief
Proposed Concentration of
Army Work.
SECRETARY ROOTS BILL
CONTEMPLATED CONSOLIDATION
OF BUREAUS.
Extravaganza Of the Present System
Saving Effected by Com
bination.
SECRETARY ROOTS BILL

The Secretary of War has transmitted to
Congress bill to increase the efficiency Of
the army. which contains a number OF
changes which the experience of the past
four years Is said to show to be desirable.
The bill also contains number of correc-
tions of existing law covering similar points
which Require special action of Congress.
The main feature of the bill is the proposed
cor solidation of the Quartermaster's SUBJ
sistence and pay departments and the cre-
alton of transportation division, all to
be under a chief of supply corps. 1t is
explained that this action will enable the
Secretary of War to administer the affairs
Of these great departments through one off,
Ger, who will be required to bring together
the various ramifications of the business Of
army supply and finance and produce a
more coherent action than has been posst-
BILE under the present system where each
bureau has its own chief who conducts the
business Of his department along his own
lines. without being always in possession
OF the knowledge of what the other bu-
reaus have under consideration.
Concentration Of Work.
IT is also explained that the bill is not a
general condemnation of the present sys-
tenn. because it is fully recognized that the
work performed by the various staff de-
partments has justified the statement that
the system could not have been wholly
wrong where SO much good has been ac-
ccmplished. It is believed by the authors.
however, that the bill now proposed Will de-
yeiop during its discussion in Congress Suf-
ficient evidence to justify action looking to
a concentration of the work of these bu-
reaus under chief. 1t is recognized
that there viii be many items connected
with the equity rights of officers who now
nj those 6eDarfmanfS.
ii is intended to guard their interests so as
not to leave any more cause for grievance
than IS absolutely necessary.
The second proposition in the bill is the
creation of a general staff corps In a
memorandum prepared by Col. Carter Of
tn: adjutant generals office to accompany
the bill 1t is said:
1t has been apparent to all students Of
the situation that it has become absolutely
nece ssary to have both In the army and
navy a body of officers trained to their
business to consider the military policy
OF the country and prepare COMPREHENSIVE
plans for defense. The mobilization Of
troops and similar operations require more
time and consideration than 1t is possible
for officers to give who are burdened with
the current official work Of the War and
Navy Departments. This portion Of the
bin does not give any increase Of officers
u the army as the officers for general staff
duties TO be detailed from the army at
large. In connection, however with the
organization of the general staff, the busi-
ness system of the department, which now
operates through two channels with the
Secretary of War and the general of the
army at the head Of each, will be brought
together so that the operations of the gem
eral staff will be conducted through the
Secretary of War. and the general Of the
army will be assigned to duty as chief Of
the general staff. The effort to conduct the
business Of the army with two heads-the
Secretary of War and the commanding
general of the army-has always proved a
very serious embarrassment. Every COM
manding general has encountered similar
obstacles. for they are inseparable from SO
unbusiness-like an arrangement. to those
which have operated during and since the
war with Spain.
Experience of Generals Commanding.