Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-04-11
cecReTAEv OF WAR GARRISON
BELIEVED TO SYMPATHETIC
WITH HIS VIEWS
MAY BRING FIGHT IN HOUSE
provision In Last Army Bill Aimed
at present Chief of STAFF and Other
Features Likely to es Contested
IL Revived.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

antitrust leSlSldlIO0 unuST udAiy uio-
cussion by the president and members
Of his cabinet, either individually or
collectively, tie secretary OF war is
finding time to look ahead to see what
can be done to keep the United States
in a condition 20 meet an enemy in
the field and yet to avoid what eiti-
sens of republic have called time
and again tie menace of great
standing army.
It has developed recently that the
secretary Of war, to all appearances,
Is sympathetic with the view taken by
higher ranking officers as to what
should be done for the military serv-
Ice. There win be chance for the
war department official to show his
lighting qalitiss and his acquaintance
with the game of strategy as soon as
the next army appropriation bill, or
any other bill vitality interesting to the
service. comes before congress.
A year ago provision was put into
the army appropriation bill which
great many people said was intended
to lose Mai Gen. Leonard Wood his
position as chief of staff of the army.
The paragraph in the bill, which
would have affected General Woods
tenure of Office as virtually head of
the army, provided that no officer
should hold the place of chief OF staff
after March 4, 1918, unless he had
served ten years as on officer of the
line of high rank.
General Wood Mas for years medi-
cal officer and the shortness of his
length of service in the line would
have brought him under the provi-
sions of the bill and he would have
been ousted as chief of staff by force
or law long before his separation
from that place otherwise would have
come.
May Stand by General Wood.
The present secretary of war, of
course, is a Democrat, and it must be
remembered that the army legislation
at General Wood was passed by a
Democratic house, but il failed to
become law because of Mr.. Tafts
objection Some of the Democratic
leaders say today that they have
found the secretary of war sympath.
ICES with the views OF General Wood
and his associate officers OF high rank
and 50, II the Democrats in congress
have not changed their views since
year ago, there may be spirited con-
test when Mr.. Garrison's recommends
tons for army legislation, sent
through the president, reach congress
in the future.
There were features of the army
bill of year ago other than the
provision supposed to have been
aimed at General Wood, which were
not to the liking of most of the higher
officers of the service. One of them
vas the extension of the term of
enlistment to five years. General
Wood and by far the greater majority
OF company and troop commanders in
the service objected to the increase
in the time which a man must serve.
The army generally wanted the enlist
ment period kept at three years.
There was compromise on four
years. a compromise in which the
army had little heart
Secretary Garrison seems to hold
to the old time view that this coun-
try should have no great standing
army, but that it should be prepared
through its citizenship to meet any
Warlike emergency. The secretary
now 1t Is understood would like to
see two years period of enlistment
TOT the army, believing that in this
time man can get sufficient knowl-
edge of drill and a sufficient idea OF
Tue discipline of the regulars to make
him valuable when he should come
back into the service at a possible
cal oarms. This seems to be also
the view of the chief of staff, although
Perhaps he would prefer a three
sears' TO the two years period.
Civil Service and Jobs.
Officials of the postoffice depart
men have had some trouble in finding
basis for tests In the civil service
examinations which have been order
90 for the thousands upon thousands
81 fourth class postmasters who were
paced in the classified service by
resident Taft. President Wilson did
uot want to set aside the order, and
postmaster General Burleson fixed
upon the civil service test In order
70 insure, as it is said, that men now
holding the positions shall, If they are
capable. continue to hold them, or
mat they shall give place to other men
VINO shall prove more competent.
Little by little the civil service is
ENG extended through all the depart
N1ehts and 1t is now intrenched in
PAGES where it was not known before.
4. mas just developed that the Office of
Sniei forester of the government, once
heio by Clifford Pinchot, is under the
Iuie OF the civil service. therefore It
lens likely that the present chief for. |
s.er' Mr. Graves. win continue to |
~, 1iu MS position. although It is pos
clDle that faa14p- H. 4