Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-19

An important order dividing the work Of
the several bureaus of the War Department
under the new general staff law was one of
the last acts of Secretary Root before his
departure today. The full text follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
August 10, 1908.
'Tn order to simplify the business methods
and expedite the work Of the War Depart
ment the following division of work between
bureaus Of the department is ordered:
THE adjutant generals Office will retain,
and in future will have charge of, such cur
rent business of thatoface as relates. in prae-
senti. to the command or administration of
the military establishment, including all Of
ficers and enlisted men so long as they
shall remain in service. With the foregoing
exception the record and pension office will
have charge of all business of a historical
nature relating to either the regular or the
of or to former officers or enlisted men
thereof.
Applications for Information relative to
the military or medical histories of former
officers or men, or for Information to be
used by other branches of the executive in
other claims based upon the service Of such
officers or men. viii be recorded in and
answered through the record and pension
office and not otherwise
The following transfers TO the record and
pension Office are hereby made: From the
adjutant generals Office the returns divi-
sion and the rolls division. AS organized on
June 80. 1903. with the records, files, en-
ployes. room. furniture and other property
In use by them or under their charge on
that date, except c1Tent records made
since January l., 1897 such other records,
files. employees. rooms, furniture and other
property as 1t may be 9ound by the board
hereinafter provided for can be transferred
without material detEttnent to the current
business relating to tif present command
or administration of the military establish
all medical and hosPilat sFecords of the
character Of those .heretefofe transferred to
the record and pepstoE Office. including
cards or TRANSCRIPTS se 1
future as records Of tfft 7charae ar of those
hereby ordered to be transferred to the
record and pension Office accumulate In
other bureaus or offices of the War De-
partment they will be transferred to the
record and pension Office within one year
from the date of their receipt
"A board Of officers consisting Of the chief
of the record and pension Office, the acting
adjutant general Of the army and Brigadier
General Tasker H. Bliss will investigate
and report as to the records, files, employees
rooms and property, other than those spe-
officially transferred hereby. that should be
transferred to or from any bureau or office
of the War Department. and the transfer
or retransfer of employees for the purpose
Of giving full effect to the intent Of this
order, which is intended to concentrate in
the record and pension Office the historical
records and business of the department,
including all pension and other business re-
lating to the military or medical histories
of former officers or enlisted men of the
regular or the volunteer army, leaving to
other bureaus offices such business of
current nature as relates in the present to
the command or administration of the mill
tary establishment. The report of the
board will be submitted to the assistant
secretary of war, who is charged with the
execution Of this order.
"ELIHU ROOT,
Secretary of War"