Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-09

OMAHA June Z. 19lL-Honorable
G. M. Hitchcock, United states Sen
ator. Washington, d. c.: According
to a Washington dispatch appearing in
this mornings World Herald. Omaha
Will not suffer much as result OF
the changes in army departmental and
divisional headquarters" The article
goes on TO say this is made clear in
a report sent to the senate by the War
department today June 6th) In re-
Spouse 20 a resolution OF inquiry by
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska"
II the information which we have
at hand in authentic, and we have It
from sources that command our con-
fidence and respect, but which we must
protect, the War department has only
treated the matter in a general way
and has withheld detail. which II
given, would have made It Impossible,
in our Judgment. for your correspond
ent to send such dispatch as he did.
From the various newspaper items
and from other confidential sources,
we learn that our department head
quarters will lose Colonel Gray (chief
surgeon) with three clerks and one
messenger: Colonel Mccarthy (chlef
quartermaster) with fifteen clerks and
one messenger; Major De Wore (chief
of stafO with seven clerks and two
messengers; Majors Dundy and Las
sitter inspectors generaD with two
clerks and one messenger, Captain
O'Connor Gudge advocated with three
clerks, Major Walker Cchief engineer
officer with two clerks, Major Lord
(chief paymaster) with two clerks and
one messenger, Colonel Eastman will
loose his office of chief commissary,
carrying with 1t three clerks, but re-
tains the office of purchasing commits
sary.. We will lose one clerk each TO
the present aides, who act as chief
ordnance officer and inspectors small
arms practice. This makes a total Of
eight officers, thirty-nine clerks and
six messengers a grand total Of
fifty-three men, whose monthly sal
aries will amount to over 5000, an
average of about S115 each SO much
for the loss Of officers, offices and men.
That is bad enough, but from a COM
mercial standpoint that is not the
whole story.
In the transfer of the chief quarter
aaster and chief commissary from
Omaha to Chicago is Omaha's greatest
loss, for the reason that after July
all acquisitions for either quarter
master or commissary supplies for
this department will go direct to Chi
cago instead OF coming here and the
purchase and shipment of supplies TO
fill same will be directed from there.
The natural tendency of these two de-
partments Will be to buy everything
through the purchasing departments
at that point. What will be ordered
purchased here will be comparatively
insignificant. although the War de-
partment would have us believe that
the retention of purchasing commits
sary in Omaha will give us practically
the same business in the future as in
the past. 1t looks to US as II out gen
eral issue and supply depot, for which
we. have worked so many years TO es-
tablish and build up will be practically
wiped out II not entirely, It will be
, a long step In that direction. It
looks as If the influence Of Chicago in
the purchase of government supplies
is almost beyond our ability to meet.
We have but recently come through a
hard tussle with them on Indian sup
piles and only succeeded when we
showed them In black and white that
the business belonged here and that
: goods could be purchased to best ad-
vantage through an Omaha depot.
But with three Chicago men in the
presidents cabinet, we do seem to be
up against II. 1t seems as II Chicago,
New York and San Francisco are GO
ing to be the three market points that
are to receive Uncle Sans favor in the
future.
No matter what fine distinction
may be drawn between administrative,
territorial or the tactical handling of
military divisions, the Department of
the Missouri loses Forts Russell,
Riley and Leavenworth. These being
commanded by brigadier generals,
become separate and independent mill
tary reservations, 50 far as this de-
partment Is concerned. and will, after
July l, report direct to Chicago. The
enlargement OF this department by