New-York tribune., 1918-02-16
Continued from page I

substantially completed | now wish to
submit some remarks in advocacy OF
the constructive legislation proposed
by the Committee on Military Affairs
as result of its investigations -tht
War Cabinet bill and the bill providing
centralized head of purchasing. III
order to make these comments intelli-
gently. it seems to me | cannot do
otherwise than point out to the Senate
some of the reasons for proposing this
legislation and why members of the
committee believe these bills should
pass.
NO members of The committee ex-
pectcd to find perfection in the opera
tions of the War Department under
the trying conditions existing during
the past ten months. it was not hu-
manly possible. to take the military or
ganlzation we had at the beginning of
the war, expand 1t to many times its
original size, and bring it to what it
IS to-day without making mistakes.
The same thing would be true of any
enterprise of a business character. for
any ono familiar with business opera
tlons must realize that the failure of
individuals to comprehend a situation
or measure Up to it necessarily means
mistakes in carrying out even the best
digested plans.
"The question will naturally be
asked: Could not and would not these
mistakes be corrected without an in
vestlgatlon by Congressional commit
tee: My answer would be that un-
doubtcdly changes for the better would
De and have been made in some in
stances: in fact, | know of many
changes experience has demonstrated
as desirable. and those changes are
being made from time to time when
ever the requirement develops.
but 1t should be said further in an
swer to that inquiry that it is always
more difficult for the person or or
ganlzatlon conducting an activity to
see mistakes than for others to do So
The reason for this is that a manager
is naturally prejudiced in the favor
of the policy followed as a result of
his Judgment, and he inherently facls
IT incumbent upon him to defend his
action against any criticism.
This is we'll illustrated by an in.
terrogatory made of the Secretary OF
War at one of the hearings of the Mill
tary Committee. When asked if there
we're things undertaken or carried on
by his department since the beginning
OF the war which could have been dcne
better he replied somewhat fiippantly.
IN effect, that he did not know all the
men in the world and therefore could
not pass on their capabilities.
Il want to repeat that many i'm
provements have been made in the op-
erations of the departmtnt during the
past ten months, but at the same time
1t is impossible to expect a department
whose head makes such statement to
make many changes which an outside
investigation have shown to be nee
ncC orr7 fn,
omnibus apology.
at has been charged that the action
taken by the committee resulted from
personal or political bias, and the COM
rnlttee has even been criticised for tax
ing officers and officials from their nor
NAL employment for examination pur-
poses. | think it is proper for ME to
say that never in my experience in the
House of Representatives, or the Senate
have / seen Congressional investiga-
tion so devoid Of partisanship lit
tie, in fact, that it was negligible up to
the time the proposed bills were intro
duced. There has been no attempt or
desire 20 cruelty any one or any thing
Many improvements Made
"On the contrary, the investigation
mas been conducted upon the principle
that the people have a right to exam
Inc and regulate the administration of
their government. and that they should
exercise that right whenever it seemed
best for them to do so.
The committee has not found everv-
thing wrong in the War Department;
1t has found many things to commend
and 1T should be just cause of pride
to all of us that SO much has been ac-
compllshed In the preparation of our
hoi nj
10 considerable extent this is due to
the ready response by the high class
business men of the country, who ral-
lied to the support of the government
in the emergency following the declara-
ton of war on Germany and have per
formed. frequently under most trying
circumstances. most important and alb
solutely essential service.
If l were to crlrlcise the Secretary
OF War personally it would be that he
has undertaken to do too many things
himself, some OF which, at least. might
have been attended to by subordinates,
and that he has been too open to access
TO people who might have had their
needs provided for through some sub
ordinate officer, leaving him too little
time to deliberate over the many larger
problems coming before his depart
ment.
IF l were to make a further criti-
cism. it would relate to his tempera-
mental relationship to war. Doubtless
he himself would admit that he is g
pacitist by nature. For example. he is
even now opposed to universal mil
ltary training, one of the benefits we
ought to get out of the great sacrifices
we are making; and | can not divorce
myself from the conclusion, based en-
his own testimony, that he has been
inclined to plan for the prosecution ~
The war-~and this condition mas to
some degree permeated the Department
on the basis that we are 5000 miles
from the front, instead of hastening
preparation with all the vigor VIC would
exercise If our borders were the battle
front
The bureau of ordnance for the last
sixteen years has had at its head one
OF the ablcst officers in the army.
Speaking personally, have had a great
admiration for General Crozier. It is
not his fault that much earlier action
was not taken TO provide larger
amount OF artillery than we now have.
~ is true that even if the recommends
tions he has so many times made had
been adopted we would still have been
IN weaker position than we should,
but his record shows that he has fire.
quentiy urged appropriations for the
ordnance ubreau very much larger
than his Immediate supcrors in the
department or Congress have been will
ing to grant.
of the many attempts to properly pre-
or l,<,>