Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-25
MILES, STATEMENT
As Toned Down by Permission
of Committee
Does Not Seem So Savage as Was at
First Reported.
Spoke from Long Experience and for
Good Of Army.

Washington, March 24.-The state
ment of Gen. Miles before the Senate
committee on military affairs, as it will
appear in the official records, was made
public, tonight. The features which
caused something of sensation when
published the day the statement was
made do not appear, and the following
colloQuy at the close OF the hearing eX-
plains it
Mr.. Pettus-Mr. Chairman, l think
there ought to be some mode of having
the notes revised.
The Chairman-That will be done.
Mr.. Pettus-The report of the pro-
ceedings should be submitted to Gen.
Miles with permission to strike out
such portions as ought not to be pub
lished.
MIR. Proctor-That is it.
Gen. Miles, do not know that there
is anything to be stricken out.
The Chairman-We have been in the
habit of submitting to the witness be-
the stenographer's report of his re-
marks for correction, of course"
Mr.. Pettus-I wanted to go further
than that. The stenographer has no
doubt taken down correctly what the
general has said but there are some
things that he said which he may de-
sire to strike out and 1 think he should
be allowed that privilege.
The Chairman-He must be the judge
of that.
Mr. Pettus-He should be allowed the
liberty of striking out anything which
ought not to be published, even if it is
stated correctly in the report.
The stenographer's report was sub
mitted to Gen. Miles and that official
report indicates that ne followed close
ly the written statement he had pre-
pared and read to the committee.
The main facts of the generals OPP
position to the war department staff
bill were given at the time. Some OF
the features of the statement, however
not reported at the time, are of interst
Concerning the inspector generals de-
partment he said:
'In the bill under consideration, it is
proposed to abolish entirely the corps
of inspectors who have been most in
strumental in keeping the army up to
it's high character and efficiency and in
discovering defalcations, in efficiency
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., and, on the
other hand, in encouraging and re-
porting meritorious conduct, efficiency
and ability in all the different COM
mands and departments of the SERVICE
Speaking of the general efficiency OF
pay, uuartermaster's and commissary
departments he said:
1.-The three departments mentioned
have rendered most efficient service in
the great Civil War, the wars of the
frontier. the Spanish-American wal
and in the Philippines and Cuba. The
maladministration in the commissary
department that occasioned so much
suffering in 1898 was not the fault OF
the system, but of those responsible for
its administration, and since it was eX-
posed and corrected j am not aware
that a single case has been reported
where a soldier has not received his
daily food and his pay when due from
the commissary and pay departments
respectively, and these have been
promptly transported to him through
efficient management OF the quarter
masters department"
Furtner along beti NiicS Sdiu.
at is Capitalization of the most pro
nounced type, augments the power of the
staff. and in effect removes it further
from touch with the fighting force of tbs
army The scheme is revolutionary, casts
to the winds the lessons of experience
and abandons methods which successfully
carried us through the most memorable
war epochs of our history
THE proposed plan is but an effort tc
adopt and foster in a republican form CT
government such as ours a system pc
culiarly adapted to monarchies having
immense standing armies. 1t would seem
to Germanize and Russianize the small
army of the United States"
Gen Miles said that before the Span
ish war he called on President Mckinley
and when the President said he supposed
the army was ready he Gen. Miles, re-
piled:
THE army, as far as the personnel Is
concerned is ready for any service. but
there is much to be done in the way oil
equipment and the defence of the coast
which ought to be supplied at the othei
end of the Capitol.
The President, he added, consulted
members of Congress and the s5o,Voo,W-
defence fund was voted.
In addition to that portion of the state
ment heretofore published showing how
the President could by promotions make
a captain chief of staff with grade Of
lieutenant general, Gen. Miles said:
1T seems to me you are throwing the
door wide open for future autocrat oil
a military despot. 1t is not, in my judg-
ment in accord any with the principle
and theory of democratic government
and for the best interests in the army
which has existed more than 100 years
and fulfilled all your requirement, to
adopt such scheme"
Cholera at Mecca.