The Washington times., 1906-08-21
Of SUPPLY
IS FAIRLY CRIMINAL.
SAYS GEN. CARTER
DenOunCeS Methods Of
OuarternnaSter' De
partment.

In my opinion the extreme centraliza.
ton existing in the administration Of the
Quartermaster's Department is unwise iu
peace and would be criminal IN war.
were It not for the certainty that tho
whole peace fabric will be demolished
when serious field operations may be
handicapped by the system"
This sweeping statement is made iu
the annual report Of Brig. Gen William
II. Carter, commanding the Department
Of the Lakes. made public by the war
Department TODAY. General Carter de
votes much space 20 a plea for changes
in the Ouartermaster's Department, con
tending that the enforcement Of the
present lew and system will tend 10 OK.
lravagsnce.
In appealing for decentralization IL
this particular department. General
Carter SAYS:
Necessary 10 Success.
''phe quartermaster's department com
prlses the great branches Of transpor-
tation. clothing and equipage and shell
ter OF the army and all the other needs
Of troops not specifically delegated 70
some other bureau. and its correct ad-
ministrstion as a military machine is IN
dispensable TO the comfort and success
OF armies.
With the passage Of the act OF Con-
gress approved March g. 1905. Il appears
TO have been thought necessary TO mod
ify existing methods. the extent Of
change being left naturally 20 the chiefs
OF bureaus responsible for disburse-
ments. Comparative little modification
has been made In the handling of bust
ness by other bureaus. but the changes
IN the quartermasteT's department have
been serious Pv an arrangement or au-
thorization On rds and pink slips and blue
slips for emergency orders an appaT-
emily perfect system or keeping accounts
and checking up the annual appropria-
tons has been secured
THAT Is all that can be said in favor
Of system which mas deprived com
handing generals and chief qUerteruas-
tiers OF AlI authority over army apprO-
V-iatlOns. and requires the most detailed
estimates. and much correspondence
concerning every petty expenditure IN
vOlviug a few cents Tho Increase Of
paper work IN the War department, at
the several headquarters, and IN the
army At large. and the loss of prestige
loss Of efficiency. AZ the first results
OF the new system
Law Needs Amendment.
Whether the existing system IS the
hest that can be devised under the new
Law Is a ma ter within the determine
ton OF The War Department II 8, Is
so odfudged then for Che sake Of army
efficiency as well as for the protection
OF a bureau whose manifold disburse-
ments are scattered from Alaska 70
Florida and Maine 70 Texas the Philip
pines. Porto Rico and Hawaii, the law
should be amended.
Its enforcement through the new sys-
TEN, IN my opinion, means loss OF mill
tarv efficiency. and in the end will
tend 70 estimates largely in excess OF
actual needs 70 avoid the danger az a
deficiency and the infection Of the Sc
we're penalty prescribed bv the act o.
On the question OF the spirit OF IN
rest" among officers inspired BY recent
ag.tatiOns. General Carter says:
Promotion by Selection.
During the past year my attention
has been frequently attracted by what
may be termed a serious spirit Of unrest
amongst officers. brought on mainly by
the public discussions Of proposed meas
ures for elimination and promotion by
selection However desirable may be
the measures designed 10 bring about
the selection OF the best qualified FOR
advancement or the prevention Of pro-
motion for those believed 10 be unit
for further command. the army is Ger
tainly AGAINST their enactment
The impression has been forced upon
ne that the officers as q body. paTtiCu-
larry those Of the line. while recognizing
the desirability OF providing promotion
FOR exceptionally meritoriOus men. are
unwilling 10 trust their careers TO boards
Of officers who. Of necessity. must base
their conclusions upon personal &C
quaintanCe OF efficiency reports, which
latter are not regarded as accurate in
dexes OF either character OF Qualifca-
ton"