The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-09-19
GOOD MEN NEEDED
FOR PAYMASTERS.
Congress Must Change Army Laws or
Lose Efficient Oficers-Need
Financial Training.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. TO-
Special. Unless Congress reconsiders
its former work, relative to the four year
detail of line officers of rank correspond
ing to thai of vacancies 10 be filed in
certain specified staff departments, the
extinction of staff officers with perma-
nent commissions in the army will result.
This is a matter of serious discussion
with the present paymaster general of
the army, Brig. Gen. &. G.. Sniffen, in
his report to the secretary OF war. I'm
Ill the act of February ,, 1901. was
passed, efficient men could be appointed
to the pay corps whose training had been
along financial lines, bookkeeping, and
the essentials which 90 to make good
paymaster. But under the act of 1901
the appointment from civil life was done
away with and now the vacancies to be
filled in the pay corps must be made from
the line of the army at the Whlm or the
caprice of the man III authority, without
regard to the training of the man Sc
lected for paymaster.
Sniffen Is Efficient.
Gen. SnitfeE, who, probably more than
any other man who has occupied the po-
sition of paymaster general since the
close Of the Civil war, has been essen
TALLY an executive man. He has served
all through the grades OF paymaStef TO
paymaster general. Before he was APP
pointed to the pay corps he was one OF
President Grants closest clerks and be-
fore he was called to the white house
under the Grant administration he ocCu-
pied q clerical position i'll the war de-
partmCut. Ills training has been III
broad school not confined To the line or
staff of the army but comprehendnE
both the line and staff he has brought 10
Il. "a H.
edge which has been accepted by his SUI
periors looking to bcttcrments Ill the pay
department.
fhe detail system undoubtedly has
much to commend it in time OF peace,
but in time of hoStiities the adequacy or
the detail system when applet to the
higher grades of major, lieutenant col
ouel. and colonel is seriously questioned.
At such IA time very few officers of the
line of such grades will he found will
ing to lose their chances for commands,
distinction and advancement and assume
the pecuniar, responsibilities ana risks
which attend ne eXigcnt and unfamiliar
dishursing duties of paymasters III the
field.
Gen. Sniffcn, who has very pro-
nounced views upon the question of the
detail system. takes the position which
has been held by his two immediate pre-
decessors. Gen. Bates and Dodge. that
the application of the system should not
extend beyond the lowest grade i'll the
army. which is that of captain, and that
the three field grades should be perma-
neut. That vacancies occurring III the
grade of major in the pay corps should
be filled by the appointment OF captains
who have served or may be serving a
detail and whose fitness for permanent
commissions shall be established by the
records they shall have made for eff
cheney in the disbursement and accounta-
bility of public funds, and that these
permanent appomtccs should be chglble
to promotion to the grade of colonel.
Officers Become Expert.
1t is an undeniable fact that the ON
Ger who dcvotas his official life to special
duties under Il permanent COMMISSION
must become more expert useful and
competent than the officer who interInlt-
tently serves for a limited period in one
or the other or all of several departments
or corps in the army subject to detail.
Unless ut the coming session of Con
gress legislation is passed changing exist
ing conditions in the pay corps the per-
munancy of the field grades will be
abolished because not later than January
l, 1908. vacancy IN the grade OF
major will occur which must under eX-
listing law be filed by detail of a major
from the line. What troubles Gen, Sniff
fen as to the efficiency of his corps.
troubles Gen. Aleshire. head of the quar-
tcrmastcr's department. the latter even
going so far as to recommend in his an
nual report a school for the training of
quartermasters with particular reference
TO the constructions of buildings and
building materials. plumbing and first
hand knowledge of textiles and their
manufacture.
The detail system was undoubtedly an
experiment with Congress and as the
practical questions growing out of tn"
system are presented To the committees
of the two houses dealing with the -nh
iec a modification of the law of 1901
would seem imperative and further RENE
dial legislation expected from time -
time and that finally a system of detail
suited to all the conditions Of the service
and adjusted to the function of each staff
department ultimately adopted.