Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15


efficiency, in the direction of simplifica-
ton and reform.
The memorandum recited on its face
that it was given to you by my direction
To the chief of staff February a
memorandum dated February ). In TINS
paper you impugn the fairness ana m
telliycnce of the Secretary of War, under
whose authority the proposition in queS-
ton was submitted TO YOU You also
crfticise and impugn the military capacity
and experience, the intelligence and fair-
mindedness. and, finally, question the
the general staff and the War College
whose plan you were directed to discuss
Quotes From His Letter.
Thus. in response to my direction that
YOU submit your OPINION upon proposi-
ton. the ultimate decision as to whlcn
rests with me. you say:
I'm compliance with the second part OF
the accompanying call. the FOLLOWING
statement is submitted although 1t Is
recognized that n will be difficult If no!
impossible to formulate any staleine t,. !
that will carry conviction 10 any one wiz
is so unmindful of consequences or SO I'M
Informed as to the needs of the govern
ment and the public with regard 10 the
matter in question as seriously 10 pioPosse,
to abolish one "a tine most important, II
not the most important. of all the recofos
of the War Department.
However the statement is submitted
i'm the confident expectation That wheh
other. if not wiser. counSeis ShaiI pre-
vail and after experience with the
proposed plan or any similar plan snaii
have shown the. inevitable evil eHects
thereof this statement Will receive 'he
consideration that may not be given 10
ii now.
L. of the Articles of War:
eft is proposed In the accompanying
memorandum of the chief Of stan TO
avade this requirement of law by call
ing the pay rolls of June 80 ana De-
cember 81 muster and pay roils' en-
tering thereon the data required by
article Il, yet maintaining the monthly
ceremony of muster. But the ADOPTION
of this proposal could hardly fall to ne
regarded generally as a mere suDter
fuge of a kind that would be scorned
by honorable men in any OF the rela-
lions of private life, and that would be
most discreditable to great depart
ment of the government in Its manage
ment Of the affairs of the nation.
Their Judgment 1mpugned.
And further:
1.-THE proponents of the truly remark
able plan now under discussion have be-
trayed a lamentable lack of knowledge OF
the nature and uses of our so-called de-
scriptive list. Of which it Is proposed that
there shall be made but a single copy,
which shall follow the soldier throughout
his entire enlistment. IF they had nao, or
had profted by. even little service as
company commanders In recent years
they would have learned that our descrfp-
tive list is primarily an organization rec
cord and the only approach to complete
record of its men that any organization
has.
And again:
s.r,t~z yx-;tl Il, y1r6in oh
asserted I'm the memorandum that 1t
would make no difference II other data
could not be obtained. such as COM
plete record Of extra duty. special duty,
norance of the vital bearing that many
of the data so lightly spoken OF, but
which. il lost. could never be supplied
from any record source. have upon
multitude of pension and other claims,
that il wotlld be loss OF time and eff
fort to discuss the subject further here.
There are other grave objections to
the proposed plan that might be stated,
but if those that have been pointed out
ars not sufffcient to carry to the minds
of those with whom the decision OF this
matter now rests the conviction not only
that the proposed plan is both Illegal and
impracticable. but that it is most in
advisable ever to intrust TO incompetent
amateurs the management OF business
that is of nationwide Importance, and
that can only be managed prudenffy.
safely and efficiently by those whom long
service has made experts with regard
to it, then il Will be worse than useless
TO present further facts or arguments
here
characterization and Improperly.
This is not an isolated instance Of in
subordination and improperly on your
part nor is 1t made in the absence OF
warning as to the necessary consequences
Of such an outburst. On the 5th Of Sep
TENDER last YOU submitted to me memo
iandum in which you, by insinuation,
charged the chief Of staff with improper
motives in his proposed action of re-
Eeving certain officers of the recruiting
service You stated in that memorandum:
Col. Murray and Maj. Dusa nwere so
unfortunate as to be compelled not long
ago TO appear before the committee on
military affairs of the House or Repre-
sentatiyes for examination with regard
TO a bill that proposed to increase the en-
listWent period of the army to five
years. In response to questions ad-
dressed to them by the committee they
expressed views that were at variance
with views subsequently expressed to the
Same committee by the chief of staff.
Murray and Mai Dugan were in no wise
responsible, was given by the press to
this difference of opinion.
And doubtless there are those who, not
=
of staff is too high-minded and conscien-
tious to permit his official action to be
influenced by such matter, will be swift
TO conclude, If these two officers are re-
lieved or superseded now. that the chef
of staff IS endeavoring TO punish them
because they gave testimony that may
be regarded as damaging to his own.
and that the Solcitude now manifested in
behalf of a few superfiuous colonies. with
none manifested i'm behalf of superfuous
I'eutruaDt-colone1s = merely II preteXt
for u movement whose object is to annoy
az hurniIiate certain officers connected
with the recruiting service. and to dis
credit the management of that service
"Of course. any such conclusion as
that rcF"r-nd to here would be enron
eous. but :; is believed TO be the part
of wisdom not to give Congress, tne
public at large or the army any ground
upon which to base it, at least at the
present time"
Warned in September.
II then. on September 49, wrote you
from Huntington l.. l.. personal let
ter OF warning in respect to your con-
duct in submitting that memorandum
follows:
Il only wish To add that l greatly
regret and reprobate certain passages
of your memorandum aud of the letter
which YOU sent me. Nothing is gained
by suspecting or intimatng Interior
motives on the part of those with whom
We have to act in association. In an
organization as large and complex as