The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-02-07

question at issue is not partisan. Meth
er is any principle involved. The mat
ter at issue is purely a practical ques-
ton whether we can improve the eff =
cheney Of wal administration by adopt
ing business methods in buying sup
plies, and whether we can get order out
of confusion and action instead Of de-
lay, by coordinating great government
bureaus now running almost independ-
emily and often ut cross purposes.
Says Wilson Not Informed.
Il gree with Senator Chamberlain
that the president does not know the
real situation. He cannot give two
months to an investigation such as we
have done. Like a king surrounded by
Il court, he hears practically only one
side. The people who complain do not
reach the president nor even members
Of his cabinet. They come to senators
and representatives. The president and
secretary of war have evidently realized
the defect Of the existing system and
attempted to change it without legisla-
ton, but without success"
Praising Edward Stettinius, the war
departments new surveyor of purchas-
es, Senator Hitchcock said he is without
legal authority, like all the other vol
unteer agencies and that "a legally con-
stituted munitions director was needed.
Senator Hitchcock said Great Britain
Iiiu ioi pOlll IlSid pNNtl l'INtu "
remedy government weakness by II sys-
tenn similar to the war cabinet. and
suggested that the president under the
bill will appoint and direct the
war cabinet. and il he pleascs could APP
point Secretaries McAdoo, Baker and
Daniels as members.
The war departments obsolete meth
eds, the senator said, had brought the
expected results, confusion OF author
ity, red tape. cirCumlocution and inca
pacity," and he cited evidence given in
the military committees inquiry of
clothing, rifle and equipment shortages
and sickness n death in camps as the
result of o~vercrowding and lack Of
clothing.
"Poor Overworked France"
We found we must depend upon
over worked and over strained France
for machine guns for ground use until
nearly the end OF this year." he added;
that the first American made heavy
artillery will not be received until July
and not much before 1919 can We ex.
pect to use In France American heavy
artillery in Il great quantity.
I'VE found" lie continued. that only
now we are just beginning work on
two great powder plants to cost $780,
these plants before August. We found
that though the medical department
asked for hospital ships last July. they
have not yet been ordered.
Il do not deny that we also found
much that was creditable and salts
factory. The task undertaken was a
huge me, and much Of the work has
been ably done. Some war department
officials most severely criticised have
worked desperately hard. This com
ment covers the secretary himself. This
leads me TO hold a defective %orgaLiza-
ton responsible for the shortcomings
10 a greater degree than any individual
or group Of individuals"
Two courses were pen to the com
rnittee as a result of the investiga-
ton, said Senator ~Hitchcock-to report
conditions, making Il few scapegoats
and ignoring the greatest evil OF dCfec.
tive machinery, or recommending leSiS
lation to give the president an up to
date war making organization.
Senators on both sides gave Senator
Hitchcock close attention.
senator Kirby, democrat, asked if the
military committee formally had made
and findings or whether the speech rep
resented the Nebraska senator's indi-
vidual views.
Senator Hitchcock said the decision
TO report the two bills was by members
who had attended all Of the committees
meetings. Senate Kirby did not at
tend the investigation until early in
January.