The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-18
Editorial Comment
on Current Subjects
REoReANlzING WAR Ao.
MINIsTRATIoN

From the New Republic.
In Washington these days there is
a swirl of activities and plans working
through maze of volunteer commit
tees, and pounding, sometimes with ef-
feet and sometimes without effect,
upon a rather stationary bureaucracy.
Spontaneity and goodwill and hard
work, even brilliancy, are there in
quantities, dragged down by routi-
neers, by normal amount Of jealousy,
bv a considerable amount Of hack
neyed conservatism, and often by the
wrong kind of competition in the
wrong places. The vested interests of
departments and bureaus obtrude, and
information as to how the nations have
been organized in Europe is rather
scarce. Now if things so slowly or
badly, superficial criticism will begin
to shrek about some individual ana
will demand a scapegoat. But the
truth of the situation is that the admin
istrative system Of the war Is not yet
arranged for emergency action
Responsibility is not definitely TO-
Gated. The Council of National De-
Tense consists of six Cabinet officials.
The Advisory Commission consists OF
a group of men whose function Is ad'
visory with tendency to become eX'
ccutiYe. This ADVISORY commission Is
the prolific parent of a gigantic sys'
TEN of committees, also advisory but
tending to become executive. Theo..
retically the actual administration OF
the war is still on peace basis moGl'
fled by advice from the outside inc
more or less expert volunteers are dele
gated certain powers, bit here ana a
bit there, but their function and their
relations to the departments are hazy
and overlapping. The difficulty is in
creased by the haphazard way IN
which the old departments have grown
nv accretion so that their jurisdic'
tions are infinitely confused. The
War department for example has to
dredge rivers and construct pubic
works. Agencies which affect snip
ming are scattered through several de-
partments, and interdepartmental CO.
operation is VIGOROUSLY difficult. The
authorities are multiform and elusive
It might as we'll be recognized now
as later that modern war cannot be
waged through the peace estaonsn'
ment assisted and advised by outsld'
ers. It is fundamental CONFUSION
which means delay, hesitation and the
t,midity which grows where respon'
sihilitv Is concealed. 1t means that
public attention Is dissipated' becomes
historical, and in the end SO caprici'
GUS that 1t will turn savage!y on some
individual whose only fault may pc
that he Is overworked, not co.ordinated
to a general plan, and involved IN
faulty system, II results are to be
achieved without infinite waste and
trouble a drastic sImplIficatlon Is need
cd. ,,.,. =,
War and Navy departments o. a.! men
irrelevant burdens, Of all the dredg'
lnE Of rivers, governing Of the Philip
pines, letting Of contracts, 80 that they
AM concentrate on the single business
Of operating the army ana navy, NV
erS and harborS, public works Of
peace character should be turned oyer
10 tho Department Of the Interior
whero they logically belong, EVeTy
question Of securing supplies SnoGla
then be centralized In 0 specially Gre
ated Munitions department. An a.
yIgoFy committee plus the ola pgFeaus
Wiii not do, AZ Munitions department.
bISt be- executive and Il requires tA!l
WsF powers over the Industry Of tRe
nation, Il sheaId DO a new depart
aeRt created for the emergency uaaeF
Ibe dIFeet authority Of the president
Whether tie head Of It Should sls y
tRs Cabinet IA o mjReF msttep eFeYYlIa'
Cd hie peWeFs are sRtleleatl the
tIIpltieRs department weHla lhea Re'
seFh and coordinate many OK tAe Gem:
mIttees ReW advising the AaFllseFy
gemmIssigR, But II WeHid alFEeV tFeIHa
Them In that 1t had PsweF 70 eAeeaEe
Ita plans, -. ..oaos
The Seeaaa new Department. Heeaeag
feE The emergency Is feea eeAtEpl,
Drastic emergency regulation y net
1FaFsa6ls taFaggR 3 Department .ee e
ksfsr1itlisa EasnR JEta Raaa & ltiI