Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-18
FOUR BIG CAMP SITES
SECRETARY TAFT STRONGLY
URGES THEIR PURCHASE.
Withdraws His Previous Disapproval
of the Bill - Explains to
Senator Proctor

Secretary Taft has addressed letter 10
Senator Proctor of the Senate military COM
mittee strongly urging the purchase OF
four great camp sites at a cost of several
million dollars. which are to be used for
joint maneuvers and drills by the regular
army and the militia. The Secretary ex
plains In his letter that he withdraws his
disapproval Of the bill wherein certain sites
were named in the interest of the speedy
acquisition of the lands. This was a point
upon which he took issue with the general
staff His letter follows:
ION the 2Sth OF March, 1904 the chief OF
staff. Lieut.. Gen. Chaffee, submitted to me
a memorandum upon bill IS. SID appro-
priating certain sums for the purchase OF
four permanent camp grounds, and author
izing the enlargement of the Chattanooga
and Chickamauga National Park for the
instruction and maneuvering of troops of
the regular army and National Guard. The
chief of staff pointed out his objections to
the method of purchase, and certain crit
ciSmS upon some of the camp sites select
ed. l concurred in this memora ndum and
forwarded 1t to Senator Quarles a mem
Der of the committee by whom the bill
had been submitted for consideration by
the general staff and by the Secretary of
cation, had a good many conferences with
members of Congress and of the military
committees of the House and Senate. 1
have examined the report of Mr.. Esch.
from the committee on military affairs,
upon bill Oh. r. 9662), entitled A bin to es-
tablish four permanent cilitary camp
grounds In the states of Texas, Wisconsin.
Pennsylvania and California; and for the
enlargement of the Chattanooga and Chick
amauga National Park.
Reconsiders Decision
After what 1 hope is due reconsidera-
7 olaJ
will be greatly in the public interest if a
bill like that reported byzkhe license COM
mittee. to wit, 1861, should pass both
houses at this session. i was not aware
at the time of my concurrence In the criti-
cisms Of the chief of staff how much inves-
tigation had been made into the question
of the camp sites. and how far my prede-
cessor had gone in his conclusions as to
the wisdom of buying as recommended by
the House committee. l have consulted
with Mr.. Root my predecessor, and find
that he Is strongly in favor of buying the
sites. as recommended by the House COM
mittee. It is possible that If bill were
passed In the form recommended by the
chief of stan, giving to the War Depart
ment the right to make the selection and to
fix the price, the camp sites could be OBJ
tanned at a cheaper rate. but it is of tho
utmost Importance that the camp sites be
procured, and II Congress in Its wisdom
deems It better to make the selections IT.
self I am not disposed on the part of the
executive department to interpose the
slightest objection. The responsibility for
the selections then falls upon Congress.
which Is the appropTiating body, and which
certainly has the power, and in this case
much opportunity to exercise proper
Judgment IN the selection of the sites.
without minimizing the Importance of
obtaining such large tracts OF land at rea-
sonable prices, l do not hesitate to say
that in the development and training OF
the National Guard. ard the association Of
the National Guard with the army OF the
United States in large maneuvers. the
ownership Of such sites as Is herein pro-
posed IL Indispensable, and the necessity
for their immediate acquisition lie 30 great
as to Offset some additional cost which may
be incurred by reason of the amer of
their selection ana purchase through spe-
cific selection and legislation. take the