The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-24

WESTERN POSTS OBSOLETE
LARGE SUMS OF MONEY Ex.
PENDED ON THESE GARRISONS
EVER SINCE THE INDIAN HAS
BECOME PEACEFUL.
(By Mrs. John A. loqan)

1u daAlS, / J. lOulu that Lie .
is objectionable extravaganza in the
army through the failure of many Of
ficers to enforce proper economy in
the use of Government property. They
have discovered unwise expenditures
in the erection of quarters and other
buildings at almost every post, and
reckless destruction of supplies of all
kinds.
1t may be justly claimed that Off
GERS in command of posts do nothing
without orders from headquarters. but
the orders are issued upon the recon-
mendation of these officers, conse-
quently they are responsible for them
and also for the economic execution
Of all orders.
Americans WastefuI.
1t goes without saying that the
American army requires more comfort.
able housing and provision of every
kind than the armies of Europe. Our
people, in all conditions of life. are
naturally the most ~extravagant of any
nation on the globe; therefore, if they
enter the army without having learn
ed of economy, it is not surprising that
they are liable to continue to waste,
when everything is issued to them
from the storehouse of plenty.
One officer may have disciplined
himself strictly as an economist and
nave a keen sense of his responsible
ty in the expenditure of funds and of
handling property, while another may
never have overcome his innate prod
igal predictions.
Discipline is the keynote of economy
in the army, as elsewhere; hence the
inspectors have found that where
strict discipline prevailed, more con-
sentative management was manifest.
Unfortunately, few officers pay much
attention to economy in the admins
tration of %pecuniary affairs, and their
example is followed by the men under
them. Frugality does not seem to en-
ter into the ambitions of either Off
GERS or soldiers.
Much complaint has been made in
the past that needless military posts
have been established, some Of them,
at least, in ver in~convenient locali-
ties, that We're not naturally adapted
to the requirements of the army, and
where, in overcoming the natural de-
~ficiencies, it has been necessary to ex-
pend large sums of money.
Don't Need Western Posts.
westward. ho!" the course of the
am Miro hoe {aGon &c 0D,,rco or ,,c,:Jl,,
and the Indians having almost passed
away, military posts west of the Mis-
sissippi River are no longer required,
consequently many magnificent posts
on the frontier have been abandoned.
The large sums of money expended
in erecting quarters, barracks, stables
and other necessary buildings nave
been a total loss to the Government,
as they could not be utilized by set
tiers. They were indispensable when
the army was stationed in the West,
as the severity of the climate and ex-
posture to Indian raids made it obliga-
tory to provide for the protection and
comfort of the officers, their families,
the soldiers and the animals indis-
pensible to the army.
1t is possible that in some cases too
much money was expended, as it has
been evident for many years that the
larger cities and centers Of civilization
would require the army more than the
far West, the population in many Of
our larger cities being more difficult
to manage at times than were the In
dians in their most savage state.
One excessive extravaganza to
which the army has been subjected
lately is the frequent change of uni
forms, following visits of officers of
the United States army to European
countries for observation and educa-
ton. Many suggestions have been
made and adopted that were rarely an
Improvement upon that Of the uni
forms of the regular army Of other
days.
Hard or Officers.
Since we have had possessions in
the tropics, it has of course been nee
essary to make a change in the cloth
ing of officers and soldiers adapted to
warmer climates, but every new order
must apply to the whole army, inflict-
ing serious hardships on officers on
account OF their being obliged to pur-
chase new uniforms every time chang
es are made in the color or cut.
A few years ago this happened so
repeatedly that very few officers were
out of debt for their uniforms under
n order when they were obliged to
make another change.
The old regulation blue worn during
our victorious wars, it seems to US, is
after all the most appropriate for the
American soldier. 1t would be wiser if
the pay and allowance OF officers and
men were increased, and more rigid
economy enforced in the use of gov
eminent property and supplies and in
the expenditures OF the appropriations
for the maintenance of the army.
81f7ed.