The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-08-15
" ASnINGTON LETTER.
lFrom Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, Aug. 10, 1903.

orble career IN the army of the United
States, retired from active service
last Saturday, having reached the age
limit, GA years. In bidding farewell
to the army, Of which he has been the
General commanding for eight
years, General Miles issued patriotic
and eloquent valedictory which was
distributed as general order 49,"
Immediately on the retirement of
Gen. Miles the President appointed
General S. b. NJ. Young to succeed
him. This appointment was the oc-
casion of sincere disappointment to
many of Gen. Miles friends who had
hoped that he might have the honor
of being the last general command
ing", that position going out of exist
ence on August Is, when the new law
providing for general staff goes into
effect. Gen. Young will become chief
of staff, position analogous to that
of general commanding and will
doubtless occupy that position until
he retires next January when he will
be succeeded by Gen. Chaffee.
The last general order issued by
General Miles was one prohibiting the
docking of the tails, or mutation in
any manner, Of all army horses. This
applies to horses owned by officers,
Notwithstanding the fact that many
officers buy and pay for their own
mounts, and it is believed that a gem
eral order to this effect will have a
Statutory result in curtailing the prac
tice throughout the country. In this
connection it is worthy of note that
President Roosevelt has given his
hearty sanction to a movement look
ing to the establshm ent of nom
combatant force to be detailed for du.
ty with troops employing horses in
battle, the duties of which force will
be to put out of their misery horses
80 badly wounded az to be beyound
recovery, and the further mission of
affording prompt relief to those ami
mails whose recovery may be looked
Tor II their wounds are properly attend
ed to. This subject will be given spec.
ial attention at the Geneva Convention
which opens on Sept. II and it is ex.
pected that a equine relief corps may,
az result become part of every
army.
One of the most important results
OF the postofiice investigation will be
the concerted attempt which will be
made by officials of the administra-
ton to secure Congressional authority
to completely reorganize the auditing
service Of the government. At pres
ent 1t Is the custom to appoint an
auditor for each department and in
most instances such auditor is fur
ntshed offices in that department Of
government in which he is assigned
lie is in no sense a subordinate of the
Secretary of such department, how
ever and at the same time is remov-
d from The direct supervision of the
secretary of the Treasury, The new
plan contemplates the erection of a
building for the auditors, immediate.
ly opposite the Treasury Department,
with which it will be connected by
a tunnel. There all auditors will be
gwen office room on the condition
to audit the accounts from a purely
professional standpoint, unbiased by
then evirement of the department in
the expenses. At present the
auditor in each department has as
sumed powers out of all proportion
to the original intention of the exist
ing law and TO that fact is ascribed
some of the scandalous corruption in
the postal investigation. This new
move has he approval of all the sec
letaries of the Treasury and of the
President.