Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-09-04
New Quartermaster General is
Right Man in the Right
Place.
MAKES GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
Handling Immense Body OF Men is No
Small Task--Milnons Repre-
scented in Appropriations.

Washington. ID. c.. Aug. s1.-The
ilrst report OF the new quartermaster-
general OF the army. James Il. Ale
shire a native Of Ohio. who entered
the military academy In 1876 from
which he was graduated IN 1850 with
honor. shows In every subject con-
sidered. not only a comprehensive
knowledge OF the needs Of the great
department OF the army, but a sympa-
thetic interest In the broadening and
developing OF the department over
which ne has been called upon 10 pre-
side. vice Mai Gen. Charles +. Hum
phrey. retired.
Unlike many soldiers, Gen. Aleshire
believes In giving credit TO whom
credit Is due and In the first para
graph Of his report to the secretary
OF war he shows the stun ne is made
OF by paying a most deserved cOmpli-
mcnt TO General Humphrey who. he
says. had planned and outlined in
memoranda the scope Of the report
and his ideas have been followed as
closely as possible. II was desired and
deemed proper that Gen. Humphrey
sign this report. but his absence from
the city and the impossibility OF de-
laying its submission prohibited
MOANE THAN ABLE.
The report is an exceedingly inter-
esting document following closely in
the footsteps Of the reports made by
Gen, Aleshire's Immediate predecessor
who Is deservedlv classed In army cir
Giles the best quartermaster-g general
the department has ever had. Having
served with Gen. Humphrey during
the campaigns in China and the
Philippines the younger man has Inn
bibed the enthusiasm and the fearless
ness OF the older and 81 is very gen
orally predicted that Gen. Aleshire
will more than meet the requirements
Of the position which Ia growing hard
CT 10 MI every year by reason OF the
work required in the duartermaster-
generals department
DESERVES GREAT CREDIT.
It Is 70 Gen. Aleshire that the largest
measure Of credit for having establish
ed. while chief quartermaster IN the
Philippines a system OF supplies for
military posts on the coast through
water transportation. Gen. Aleshire
took up and perfected by means OF
transports a thoroughly equipped sys-
TEN whereby all coast stations IN the
islands were visited regularly by
transports, thereby affording the troops
an opportunity to get fresh meats and
vegetables. besides mail, clothing and
other supplies. Before ne became chief
quartermaster OF the Philippines the
troops In the far east were compelled 20
depend upon irregular boats and some
times for weeks at a time our soldiers
were compelled 10 go without fresh
meats or vegetables, depending upon
the natives for subsistence. All this
Gen. Aeshire changed. After Gen.
Humphrey left the Philippines he was
placed in charge OF the water and land
transportation In Manila and he per-
formed the duties In so splendid a man
ner that he won the heartiest Of con-
CALCULATIONS from his superiors. When
Gen. Humphrey became quartermaster
general his assistant was Col. Pond.
now on the retired list, and upon the
retirement OF Gen. Pond, having sue
ceeded to the rank Of brigadier gem
eral, on retiring. Gen. Aleshire was
made principal assistant 10 Gen. Hum
phrey and. very naturally, should sue
coed him.
AN ARMY's EXPENSES.
Perhaps no better idea can be OBJ
tanned Of the magnitude Of the depart
ment 10 the management OF which Gen.
Aleshire has been called than by SIM
ply considering that IL has at its dispOs-
al during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1907, appropriations aggregating $685.
55l. 769. Since the occupancy OF Cuba
by our American soldiers and delicious
ly called the army Of pacitication,' the
quartormaster's department has ex-
pended for this occupancy S2.554. $40
which Is reimburseable TO the American
treasury by the Cuban government
when II gets on its feet once more.
Gen. Aleshire calls attention 10 the
fact that larger appropriations must
be made for his department due 10 the
increasing cost OF labor and supplies.
He says the Increase of cost I'm almost
all directions is Of such general knowl-
edge that he does not deem II wise 20
cite any specific cases Al times IL has
been necessary TO submit deficiency es-
Inmates. sometimese for large sums, but
In some Of the deficiency estimates they
have arisen through causes no human
foresight could anticipate and others,
Gen. Aleshire says, may be expected IN
the future. While the quartermastor
general makes a plea for economy he
Il bad economy 20 cut down
estimates on the theory that a policy
which looks only 10 the immediate saw
Ing Of money may IN tho end prove un-
economical
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.