New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Stetti11ius May Be
Appointed One of
Bakers New Aids
GoethaIs and Fosdick Also
Mentioned as War De-
partment Secretaries

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.--With the
Administration bill creating two addi-
tional Assistant Secretaries of War be-
fore Congress, Secretary Baker day
explained the functions to which his
new aids would be assigned. He would
not indicate who he had in mind for
the posts, saying that the nominations
were matters for the Pres ident only,
but names unotlicially suggested in
cude those of Edward r. Stettinius,
now Surveyor General of War Depart
ment Purchases; Major General Goeth-
ais, acting quartermaSter general, and
Raymond ID. Fosdick, chairman of the
Commission on Training Camp Activi-
ties
Mr.. Baker said that Assistant Sec
retary Crowell would become the direct
urderstudy of the Secretary and as
sumo the duties of the head Of the
War Department in his absence. The
new second assistant will have super
vision of all industrial and CONNER
cial" activities Of the War Department,
acting in the name of the Secretary
on all matters of this character and
supervising the purchases of all bu-
reauS.
The appointment of Mr.. Stcttinius as
second assistant would be in line with
Mr.. Bakers statement to a Congress-
ional committee that the place of Mr.
Stettinius in the department. was one of
growing functions" In that connec-
ton, however, it was recalled to- day
That recently the name of General
Goethals had been prominently men-
toned as an Assistant Secretary Of
War IN discussions of changes in the
War Department. Under General
Goethals, the quartermaster's depart
ment Gas been reorganized and its
work enlarged.
Ihe third assistant, Mr.. Baker said,
VIII have direct supervision of all
"non-mi litary activities of the soldier"
That function is now exercised very
largely by Mr.. Fosdick as chairman Of
the Commission on Training Camp
Activities.
The position Of fourth assistant will
be held by John C. Scotield, now assist
ant and chief clerk and as such in charge
OF administrative matters not directly
under the various bureaus and of the
entire clerical personnel of the depart
ment
Mr.. Bakers purpose is to transfer
to his new assistants many matters of
detail which now handicap him in deal
ing with the broad policies it is his
duty to work out. In this connection
it was noted that he has reserved to
himself also all military questions.
AS the second assistant would be di-
rectly IN charge of all industrial and
commercial work and would be clothed
With VI absolute power, it was suggested
TINS office might meet the urgency for
director Of munitions, inasmuch as
there had been little complaint about
navy contracts at any time
Mr.. Baker said he wished to name
an assistant in charge of the non-mil-
ltary life of soldiers, who would re-
gard the human side of the army par
tlcularly and deal with the soldier as
a man, not as a military unit. Under
that official would be brought together
all activities concerned with the en-
tertainment vocational training, ath-
letic development and general environ
ment of the army camps. Questions
relating to the army chaplain service,
to the Y. NJ. G. A. and other semi
official welfare agencies would also be
centralized in this office.