New-York tribune., 1909-05-30
HUNGRY ARMY TO FEED
MR. DICKINSON,S CARES.
President Demands Economy, but
Soldiers Must Eat.
EFrorn The Tribune Bureau !

Washington. May 29-Jacob NcGavock Dickin-
son Secretary Of War and Democratic member OF
the Taft Cabinet IS in awful fix II fact he is
probably the unhappest man in Washington Con-
gress has asked him perform a miracle of multi
plication and the President demands miracle Of
subtraction. The new Secretary of War has dis
covered that there is limit TO the appetites Of
Uncle Sans soldiers. that there is fixed limit 10
appropriation bills and that The penalty of exceed
ing that limit is Imprisonment. That is why the
Secretary Of War wears such q troubled and
ious look these days. and those who enjoy his
hdence know tlat the prospect Of solitary confne-
ment for thirty days. with perhaps one day off for
good behavior. stares him in the face Even
his sleep is troubled, and visions OF bills for pork
and cabbage and -four end beans and fodder haunt
his dreams.
The army Is eating his head off; not its. but the
Secretary's. Already the commisesry fund shows
deficit OF 100000 and Yet the soldiers eat and eat
and expect the portly Secretary Of War 70 provide
the wherewithaL II costs money To feed and clothe
seyenry-f1ve thousand men. and several thousand
horses can consume more feed tllan erer raised
on Belle Meade stock farm.
Then the President has casually intnated to Mr..
Dickinson that he is expected cut S300po@o from
his estimates for next year, has threatened all
sorts OF dire things if the cut s not made. and has
suggested that the vials Of anathema viii be Wis
tied 0 the Cabinet officer who does not practise
sconornv- The Secretary believes he can make
some cuts in structural work. that disappearing
guns and expensive fOrtIfCatlOnS can be CurJalled
but he IS convinced from his experience this year
D. that rations ard fodder cannot. Therefore he Will
try I save the necessary S2o.1lo.o0o on improve
rlents 1Ten older IN the Var Department than he
tel him that Congress viii stand for too
great decrease Of work Of this character. will
restore many Of the items he Of That does
not Worry AIr- Dickinson. however. as the Pres-
dent viii be satisfied If his estimates are small
enough.
But The co-nmissa-y deficit does worry the Secre-
tary- He is 10 public life. and there is no -one
tell him how 10 escape the terrible penalty
which Congress has provided for Cabinet officers
VINO exceed their appropriations In the urgent De
hciency bill Of 1897 Congress stipulated that no
Cabinet oficer must exceed the appropriations pro
vided by Congress or incur z debt not authorized
by the national legislature. The penalty provided
for violation Of this law is summary removal from
ONCE and q fine Of not less than $l'9 or imprson-
nent for not less than one month
That is why Secretary Dickinson dreams Of COM
missary bills and solitary confinement on prison
fare IN fact Jacob AIcGayock Dickinson is ready
70 admit conhdenIa Ially. that between seasick trips
10 Panama and soldiers who viii eat more than
Congress DEGREES they shall. public life is not the
long, sweet dream he fOndly imagined when he
condescended 10 serve railroad Tor four times his
present salary and n-kied away his summers on
his beautiful Tennessee farm