The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-27
GREAT GRAFT OF
GENERAL WOOD
Government Paid the Bills and
Granted Leave for Trip Around
the World.
C0RBIN TRIED TO WORK 1T
SECRETARY TAFT BEFORE SEN
ATE COMMITTEE.
C0RBIN TRIED TO WORK 1T

Washington, March 2e.-Secretary
Taft discussed today with the senate
committee on military affairs the rec
ommendation Of the president regard
ing the distribution Of army officers
among the army posts. He criticised
the present system. saying that it is
deficient in that IL does not afford Off
GERS an opportunity for exercising COM
mand over large forces. He attributed
the system to the fact that IN the ear
Her days many posts were desira BILE
on the frontier, and that it is difficult
TO discontinue system once estab-
nshed. Yet, he said, there is a tendency
toward an Improvement, as seen in the
establishment Of regimentaI posts in
this country and Of brigade posts IN
the philippines. Forts Riley, Leaven-
worth, Russell and Sam Houston I'm
this country can. he said, be easily
transformed into brigade posts. At all
those posts there are large reservations
while to establish large posts I'm the
east would require vast OUTLAWS to Sc
cure maneUver grounds. It is not the
purpose to do away with the small
posts, said the secretary, nor would it
be necessary to do so.
General Woods Graft.
Senator Overman brought up the sub
Ject Of travel pay, especially as to the
payment OF General Woods expenses
on the occasion of his visit to the Unit
ed States from the Philippines asst
summer for the purpose of having a
surgical operation performed. Secre-
tary Taft said the first intimation he
had had that the general desired to
come TO Boston for the operation was
received IN a cablegram from General
COrbin, who said that Wood was suf-
fering from injuries received seven
years ago in the line Of duty and he
asked secrecy because he did not want
to alarm General Woods mother. Wood
was granted leave Of absence by Cor
bin, and he went TO HOngkOng on the
BufOrd, which was sent there for re-
pairs. The injury making necessary
the operation was received by striking
his head against a chandelier while he
was in Cuba. No effects were felt un-
til the service in the Philippines be-
gan. He was then attacked by severe
cramps, and the surgeons in the Phil
fppines attributed the difficulty to pres
sure on the brain. The Philippine sur
geOns declined to undertake the opera
ton and issued a certificate recon-
smending his return to the United States
for the purpose of having the skull ire
phaned.
vi Culy STATUS
4 met General Wood IN Chicago. He
explained the circumstances and in ac-
cordanCe with the custom In the army 7
ordered him TO Boston as the proper
place for the operation"
The general explained that he had no
S-<sans except his salary and suggested
that he be on duty status which the
secretary told him could be done. his
aide, Captain Dorey, being permitted
TO accompany him. They had not trav-
eled on a transport because of the
crowded condition Of these vessels and
vouchers for mileage were issued for
the transportation for both the general
and his aide from Manila to Boston via
Hongkong, but the mileage from Ma
Mia TO HOngkOng was reduced because
or the use of the transport.
The secretary said that the BOSTON
operation was not entirely satisfa Glory
TO the generals friends in the Tinted
states. including the president: accord
ngly the general remained here from
July Z, when the operation was per-
formed. until August "a when at the
suggestion of the surgeon general the
president issued an order directing
General Wood to return to the PhiIiD-
pines via London for the purpose of
consulting a specialist there. Accord
ingly Military Secretary Ainsworth is
sued an order directing Wood to pro-
coed to London on confidential service
which the order said had been ex-
planned to the general by the presi-
dent.
Taft's Excuses.
Secretary Taft said the allowance
came under the regulation for payment
for public duty. He cOntended that an
officer was as much on public duty
when protecting his health Is at other
times.
Senator Overman called attention to
the fact that General Wood first left
Manila ION leave" but the secretary
said the regulations fully cover the cir
cumstances- He, how did not con-
slider the allowance of mileage from Ma
Mia to HongkOng ana from Hongkong
TO San Francisco as legal. He had been
absent at the time the allowance was
made and upon reviewing the case he
had reviewed the former finding and
directed that the mileage allowance be
changed so as to make il an allowance
for actual travelling expenses. The en-
TIRE trip or Wood and his aide around
the world had. he said. cost the gov
eminent about s.. O00
DO You know of any other officer
VINO has travelled on a liner and had
his expenses paid instead OF using a
transport asked Senator Overman.
corbin Tried to Work the Game.
This question. at which the witness
laughed aloud. was followed by another
Inquiry as TO whether General Corbin !
had done so. He replied that Corbin !
had not He applied for an order but
I did not give it, In this connection /
he referred TO his last summers trip 10 |
the Orient, saying that he had told the |
army officers on that triD they would |
be allowed their expenses but not mile |
age.
when We got to Hongkong." he said /
81 received an order from the presi- /
dent to go 20 Canton to interview the /
Siceroy on the boycott and the officers /
accompanied me in uniform Suisse /
quently L gave them an order for the /
nav of their mileage. ON that trim sun