Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25
FOR fewer CLERKS
Gen. Wood Advises One Quar-
ter Less in War Department.
ARMY FEUD AGGRAVATED
Gen. Ainsworth Scores Recommends
ton Of Chief Of Staff.
PLAN MAY BE EXTENDED
Other Departments, It Is Rumored,
Likely to Be Pruned as Result
of the Suggestion.
ARMY FEUD AGGRAVATED
PLAN MAY BE EXTENDED

The latest development in the Wood
Alnsworth feud and in the long standing
controversy between the line and staff of
the army Is the recommendation made
by Gen. Leonard Wood, as chief Of staff,
to the House COMMITTEES on appropriations,
that the clerical force Of the War Depart
ment be reduced by Is per cent
Appearing before the appropriately
subcommittee. which is preparing the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priatfon bill, just q few days before Gen.
Ainsworth's summary removal from the
post of adjutant general. the chief OF
staff bitterly criticized that officers ad-
ministration. declaring the paper work
Of the department was treble what 1t
should be, and insisting that reduc-
ton of the present force by one-quarter
would be beneficial rather than other
wise.
The committee considered Gen. Wood
criticism Of Gen. Ainsworth as so severe
that the latter officer was sent for. Gen.
Woods testimony was read to him. He
was asked If he had anything to say.
IF Gen. Wood knew anything about
the War Department" he is understood
to have replied, his comment might
have some value
A few days later Gen. Ainsworth was
removed from office. and then applied
clause. A good many members of Con-
gress profess to believe that while Gen.
Ainsworth's remark about the chief Of
staff was made at an executive meeting
Of the committee, with no outsider
present. it may have reached the
ears of Secretary of War Stimson and
Gen. Wood, and have had something
to do, as cumulative provocation at
least. with Gen. Ainsworth's summary
removal.
May Be General Pruning.
The serious, feature Of Gen. Wood s
recommendation, SO far as the army of
government clerks in the executive de-
partments in Washington is concerned,
is the fact that the legislative subcom-
mittee seems inclined to believe that not
only will it be possible to abolish great
many positions in the War Department.
clerks in the other departments and that
general pruning would save an i'm
mense sum Of money to the govern
m.ent.
At present the subcommittee is under
stood to have agreed to Gen. Wood 8
Recommendation that there be cut of 10
per cent in the clerical force of the War
Department in 1912, a 10. per cent cut in
1913 and another cut of or 10 per cent,
depending on the needs of the service. With
d
other departments, where q similar or
lesser cut is possible without Impairment
of the efficiency of the service. 1T is quite
probable that the reporting of the legts-
lative BILL which carries all appropria-
tons for the clerical personnel of the
executive departments. will be held up
for several weeks while the subcommittee
goes thoroughly into the matter.
Gen. Wood, when before the committee,
declared that the clerical work Of the
To, IONS pfy 10 n ga
be an absolute failure in time of war. 1t
simply wouldn't work, and was expensive
and complicated out of all proportion to
the results attained. His criticisms, he
itary establishment itself. and to the
clerical force of the army.
Gin all departments-adminis and
supply, comm isSary, quartermasters, ord
nance, medical, Inspector, signal, pay and
judge advocate and, above all. the ad-
jutant generals said Gen. Wood, I'VE
are trying to simplify the paper work"
He added that NEARLY all' Of these
bureau chiefs were anxious to simplify
the system.
Still Chance for Economy.
The committee was much interested in
Gen. Woods declaration that a quarter
Of million had already been saved as
result of consolidation Of administra-
tive work at division headquarters.
This is an annual saving" he said,
but it is an insignificant amount in COM
parison with what / think we can do
when we are able to accomplish a thor
oligh simplification Of our methods OF
paper work. Opportunity for economy in
this matter is to be found in all phases
of administration"
Gen. Wood, after SO severely critfcising
the adjutant generals and other depart
ments. paid high tribute to the simpler
methods in force. in the navy, which.
he said, "have been brought about largely
Of detail in Washington" This was get
ting right down to brass tacks on the
matter Of controversy between the line
and staff, andthe chief Of staff was heard
with closest attention.
Gen. Wood criticised the publication OF
army orders by the adtutant generals
Office under Gen. Ainsworth. referring to
the practice Of printing and distributing
Is COO copies of general orders when, In
MANY instances, he said, fifty or 100
copies would be entirely sufficient. He
added that the reports, returns, ETC.,
required by the adjutant general gave
the officers in command Of troops the
most annoyance and required the most
time for preparation.
Other, criticisms directed at Adjt. Gen.
Ainsworth were spoken by Gen. Wood, and
IL was after he had concluded his tes-
timony that the committee sent for Gen.
Ainsworth and secured the latter's opin-
ION that Gen. Woods recommendations
were not valuable because he knew moth
ing Of the War Department.