New-York tribune., 1918-03-19
Members Stirred by Swell
ing Number of Commits
sions Granted
Clerks Now Arrayed
In Army Uniforms
Staff of Non-F lighters Said
to Exceed Actual Mill
tary Men
By Ralph Block

I'll y
rsss;onal spotlight IS expected to turn
ssorslv on what Washington is begin
ZINC to call the safety first uniform.
-hsrs have been rumblings FOR some
time. largely in the House. over the
swelling number of commissions
r-snted in Washington to men whose
qualifications for the army are not
.eehuieal or military, but solely po-
rtical or social. A week ago q lively
dialogue in the House revealed that
some War Department clerks have
more than doubled their salaries by
eoing into uniform with rank, and that
oersons on the House payroll, appoint
I'd BY members, have been equally able
10 place themselves in the commits
stoned personnel Of the War Depart
ment.
A member Of the Naval Affairs Com
nittee Of the House predicted. to-day
that the storm would break soon in
the House. although he declined to say
by what channel the matter would
come TO tie fore. Political fear OF one
kind or another-fear OF offending IA
vored persons who nav have profited
by the present system of granting COM
missions, or fear Of disclosing to the
nation what hiss been happening in
E-ashington-has been operating in the
past to keep the matter from open dis
eusson.
Non-F Fighters Exceed Fighters
1t is known. however, that figures
have beer presented 20 the Military
Affairs Committee Of the House put
ting the number OF staff officers in the
United States army at more than equal
to the number Of line or fighting Of
fcers. The figures show that the line
personnel is 60 600 and the staff per-
sonnel 62 .00o How many of these men
are in Washington and how many Of
them ere unframed civilians. whose
enly relation snip to the great work OF
wsr Is uniform and a commission,
only the adiut2nt general and the
Military Affairs Committee Of the
House know.
In December Secretary Baker an
nounced that 10 more commissions
would be Granted in the War Depart
ment unless to mon whose technical
qualifications were such as to make
their services Of extraordinary value
to the m iitary machine. For o brief
time it appeared that the new ruling
was being enforced, but in time the
bars were let down and the number OF
commissions granted TO men merely
for clerical service in Washington be-
gan to swell again.
A House member declared to-day
that the House was going to take some
action on the matter soon, however t
might come up.
"Arny Register" Makes Protest
we make the safety y-frsters either
xke OF laeir uniforms, 90 10 France
70 fgn.. Or else tag themselves with
omethiHe that viii separate them
irom the men who are actually going
10 fight In Canada the men in non
shootabe uniforms are scarcely al
bwed in re service clubs any longer,
and hear that the real army men of
Hashington are getting near tie same
point. It's q shame the way they 90
sTer the top every morning TO their
Offices in the War Department, when
hem in France. Al least, they ought
to be marked so that folks Will know
sao did the real lighting and vino
didn't."
An editorial in "The Army and Navy
Register" OF last SATURDAYS issue. and
narked "Too Many Uniforms in Wash.
iagton." said in part:
Ut has been suggested that some
rniform should be adopted for such
cheers and men other than that worn
~ the fighting personnel One mem
per suggested that the safety first
brigade should either be sent 20 the
Font or lose their uniforms. It was
saown that t.e practice is very gen
sral, and many hundreds OF men have
ssen appointed IN me enlisted grades
sad IS officers with rank as high as
zaJors IL the army. who are detailed
% eierlcaI work, WITH not the slightea
aNAsioa that tney VIII ever sec
says 'reai military service.
inst wnat proportion of the conamls-
Aons granted II Washington have gone
Men o. draft age and otherwise not
apt from active service ig not clear.
Ioagressrnen wao are Interested in the
Ea,tsr saow no disposition 10 deny that
n,ne o. the ynen comm issioned arc val
aanie and nave been rigatfully given
AAtary rar.k because they bring ex-
peFs advice ard experience II military
ssiae 70 The army. It is known, on the
Iaer hand. mat some Of the lieuten-
sats IN the War Department are doing
sss ssss same Hork they mad been doing
,eiore the war ~ civilians md at a
sascers.
House Inquiry Appears Certain
"a iew weeke a9o il was pnderstood
- -. ne Var DEPARTMENT intended
ssaa'lny some II fae clerical officers
.a'a WASH arfoa % France. n order
~ - 3ofestai osltfeiafa. Discussion o.
~, ~ - fae Eouse brought out the Oh
.''n ihat Inc result you'd be disas-
~. WITH trained soldiers 1t he front
.Ff ffe command of officers Tho had
ssen -. 'sfen gooe through the training
ZIP Al army. however, even on the
s..ac ffont. can on}Y be err ployed in
~ ipE re actual jon II fighting. ard
t,a4fge part q jfe man power is util-
~ sSfs ~ fhe lines maintaining sup
49,. 49,. re pog1ibiy Il is in his ca
sesy tsat men who we're commits.
vi, = IN Warrington for clerical work
y i. ae uslIized.
~ ee falss reason for an active inter
~ !, Ne matter n the House la that
e.. sNsase ns,w IA considering appro-
g. ss.se'en f'i5l. foT both the army ard
Vii llePy.s ~ nHVv appfoDriafion bill
H. ~. Nhprff9 rut arobaolv this week.
see.as ysss1'lafE ATaiFs Comm sttee Is cz-
r. - aaTe ~ bin ready IN two or
b. Tse<s The nary * bciiegcd 10
.ny ~ I'm The e9ztenD of eommsgslon.
yss..afSn 4afSn has aroused Congressional
~. ~.sfs5 s5hs.5if. aisne1pn several cases