New-York tribune., 1906-02-26
PED TAPE RECORDS.
accumulation of Useless Papers
r,nbqrrasses War Department.
IRAN TIE Tribune Buresu.l

- 9s-Charges OF red tape have
as-sn been laid at the oooF OF me war depart
SO or me interest attaches TO communica-
1neHt - acting Secretary OF War ohver has sent
aol r-sss begging that steps De taken TO allow
70 O~,.,+ 10 dispose Of the enormous number
the cepai aoords and papers that have been
q Use'eN -, ,r the flies for years past, occupying
ScculA~.o-ta Ne spaee Many Secretaries OF War
n0oh No,5 >, Congress fer the same relief and
haNs =. - resulted IN the passage OF law oy
u - = rrhich provides for the appointment OF e
Co''sie -it,ee OF the Senate and the House 10
-, an examination ana report upon the ace
MAKE % ...less government papers and files In the
lauoH -. = The commission. under the act, is
oel3'' - two Senators and TWO Representa-
20 c0N.. = ,.- as the War Department. the chief
uNeS =, concerned, the commission has never
SIN = s1en been appointed. Mean"t'ie' t1-'
ac'e aust covered old papers have peeil s'eao'4S
s'SeA ,,ntu in some Of the rooms OF the war
s1.---,eut they reach UP 10 the ceil-ns-
Dep@l4.- :, War Oliver now asks Congress 10
seo!e'A-' ,.ss cumbersome law and one that VIII
fnSAe a. MT in operation. He recommends mat
ae'us-s - so amended as 10 authorize the heao
ule a." s.--n,eut when useless papers nave sc-
o. - "a an uncomfortable extent, 10 convene
consisting of three chiefs OF bureaus 10
Do-- r,su he referred statement OF the conoluoh
W bsrsoter OF the books ana papers oeeineo
"'I ,hIs hoard 10 make an examination ana
usel7ss - -. head OF the department, who shall
s,srse ot the papers. The law provides that
- --srs not needed or useful in the transac-
~ - tnsipsss and that have no permanent Vslue
'iO' .-..l interest" shall be destroyed or sold.
~ rb re act appointing coilliilit,se o.
4h0-e.-s rbo dles meant 10 auord q IeiheuS
20 e1Al. ,-1,,lsrion il has been found IN practee
tor ne NAe NSc-sIe- Of the House or president of the
LhaI 70 ~ Seen intrepid enough 70 ask any OF the
seAass - either brsnch Of Congress 10 perform
fneAiDss s,,rS-s crtv OF OVerhaullng whole lot OF
tle Sscol-shelVes IN some obscure part OF gov
o1s.. S-11Sirg and the law is one OF those tiat
eII-.-- - rTe statute books without ever Soiis
!ttpoSs So The enormous accumulation ~ me @lle
-. - Y0e---,ent may be estimated somewhat NlSl
y a. o-si5,re6 that IN the judge advocate genera ;
= = .-,s-r alone there are thousands or Ola coui
-io1 ees -ecores OF privates long ago dead ana
T.. ssS ana humorous petitions, while In the pay
pt- --s1eraI's once there are inventories or
.eoir ,,snecrion reports and applications Ior Ger
sses9os IN bundles that would III many trunks;
- 80 s-cineer Offices there are likewise lot OF
si-ss records and also in tbs bureau OF ordnance
eessrfsrf generals Office and signal corps.
-srar-labls instance Of the way papers mat AT
- time might have had an historical interest
-. bsve no value now. accumulate Is cited IN the
80. ss,,ocare generals Office The papers are Pc
s,1 Cor clernency in Is82 IN the case OF sergeant
|HS- Mason for attempting 20 XIII Cherles J.
...e1 S9ia. who assassinaIed President GaTneid-
rsaS rn-,nrfse MANY thousands OF names. together
j,E nosfei cards etc, and occupy seven cubic
-, - sosce u one OF the rooms OF the Depart
,5srt me soldier has been paroonec ana al I'D
e-v snCe SO but under The law no disposition OF
ne records ne made.