The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-15
Consolidation OF Several Depart
mentS Provided FOr--TranSpOrt
Division Is Also to Be EStab-
liShed--General Staff.

washington, Feb. f5.-Secretary Roots
Army bill. providing for a general staff
and the consolidation OF the quartermas-
ter's subsistence and pay Departments into
one supply department. was transmitted
to congress yesterday.
Secretary Root was assisted in the pre-
paration OF the bill by Lieutenant Colonel
Carter. General Corbins assistant In the
Office of the adjutant general. Colonel
Carter made public yesterday afternoon
a statement which he has prepared, Civ
ing his Interpretation OF the amendments
proposed He says:
'The main feature of the proposed bill
ID a consolidation of the quartermas-
ter's subsistence and pay departments,
and the creation of a transportation di-
vision. all to be under a chief of supply
corps
The bill Is not a general condemnation
OF the present system. because IL is fully
recognized that the work performed by
the various stah departments justified
the statement that the system could not
have been wholly wrong where so much
good has been accomplished.
The second proposition In the bill Is the
creation OF a general staff corps. This
Is discussed fully by Colonel Carter. who
does not hesitate TO attack the present
system of having n commanding general
Of the army stationed I'm Washington.
He reviews the difficulties which the
commanding generals have had with sue
cesstve secretaries OF war and declares
that "there has never been q command
Ing general who has been able TO occupy
the narrow limits prescribed for the duties
Of that office in the war department with
out encountering much serious difficulty"
In its present shape the bin places Gen
eral Miles at the head OF the STAFF corps, |
the duties Of which shall be:
~ .~.tIt
country and prepare comprehensive plans |
for tho national defence and for the |
mobilization of the military forces In |
time of war.
To devise means for the cooperation OF |
the military and naval forces OF the |
United States, with a view to harmonious |
action In time of war.
To prepare and supervise the prepara-
fj0n and arrangement of material for the /
military history OF the United States and /
TO serve as an agency through which all 1
means OF professional military informa-
ton shall be- at any time, at the disposal
OF the war department.
The general staff Is to consist OF a |
lieutenant general, a major general, a
brigadier general, four colonels. six lieu
tenants colonels. IL majors and IL cap
tains. mounted. IL is further provided
that as long as General Miles continues
on the active list he shall he the chief
OF the general staff. The chief OF artil-
lery Is also 10 be member OF the staff
Inspection OF troops is TO be made by
officers OF the general staff. and the in
6pection of money accounts heretofore |
performed by the inspector generals
department is to be transferred after
next July TO the treasury department
With the retirement of Inspector Cen !
eral Breckinridge, the inspector generals |
department is to abolished. Colonel Car
ter pays no attention TO this feature OF
the act but says OF the effect of the bill
on the commanding general:
THE effort 10 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 seri-
Gus embarrassment Every commanding
general has encountered similar obstacles
for they are inseparable from so unbusf-
ness-likc an arrangement 60 those which
have operated during and since the war
with Spain" Tie continues:
although General Washington was an |
pointed as commander-in-ohief OF the
army In i1sa. he did not have an Office IN
the war department, no attempt 10 COM
duct affairs according Ia the later prac-
tice. IN isS General Macomb was assigns
ed 20 command the army BY the president |
without any specific authority OF law he |
being the senior general of the army.
From that time fortheach OF the senior
officers has been assigned 20 duty az com
1
fieo Of an administrative character have
been encountered by all Prior 10 the out.
break OF the Wal 81 the Rebellion General
Scotts headquarters had been removed 10
New York city ~ reason OF his long-can-
finued difficulties with tho secretary of
var, Jefferson Davis. and others Trou-
HES between the secrctnry of war and
General Scott were 10 acute that rsrorts !
<r the snrne case were finally transmitted
by the president 90 cOngress and the pub
iicaiione made large volume
General Sherman became oisc,'nientcd
IN The efi+ee -s--d requested that fts head.
uuartcrs be removed % ~ Louis General
Sheridan had considerable difiouity which
Was finally adjusted by Secretary of War
Robert Lincoln who took issue with Gen-I
eral Sheridan and specifically prescribed
the duties o. the Office ss far ss It was
Dopsfble 10 90 60"
Ths next provision proposes q system
~ which only non-oor1missioned officers
vuj bs eons'd,rss Ger prcmoiion f0 no