New-York tribune., 1918-02-16

stimulate the service so that it would
be able to do more effective work He
replied that he did not know of any
thing he could suggest, for whenever
the soundness of change was demon
strated to him he acted at once.
"That sounds wise and efficient. but
it is tho difference between waiting
until you meet problem which may
require months to prepare for and
having delbcrating body looking
months ahead, finding that problem,
and preparing definite plan for its
solution when it develops.
The changes recently made in the
rganization Of tn" War Department
will improve the efficiency of that SER
vice. There is no doubt about this
fact, and ] am glad to put myself on
record to that effect. The machinery
proposed, however, which was So
hically described and shown on
the charts used by the Senator from
New York Mr.. Wadsworthl during his
address in the Senate week ago, has
a fatal Weakness There is no real
head in the case of the munition prop
ositlon or general planning board
provided. The branches of the tree,
speaking Of the purchaser of muni
tions. seem to be all right. but the
trunk is not there. And If this situa-
ton were understood by the country
as we'll as it is by those who have
there would be an insistent demand
that now, when we have the opportu-
nifty, we Great an organization as near
ly perfect as possible.
Value Of Criticism
81 believe the Military Committee
has had no other desire in criticisng
tl,n Fott ~
brought about by inefficiency and pro-
crastnation than to correct them by
inaugurateing a practical organization
Of the war administration on basis
coordinating and concentrating every
agency of the government, making eff .
cient and effective the scores of actv-
ltles OF the various departments, bu-
rcaus, boards and commissions. Of
course, there will be individual fail
ures in such an organization, but this
organization would be just as neces-
sary to efficiency if every person con-
nected with the government were a
genius. Real efficiency is impossible
unless all of these undertakings are
carried on as result of a coherent
plan devised and controlled by a CEN
trail agency.
"Thc President cannot be this CEN
trail agency except after cXamina ton
and thorough investigation. lie must
necessarily be devoting his energies to
the larger problems of our interna-
tional relationship. The secretaries
OF the departments cannot be this
agency 1t should require every mo-
ment OF their time, every ounce Of
to properly administer the affairs Of
the branches OF the government over
which they preside.
Moreover, in addition to the Cabi-
net, the Council Of National Defence
aUd the advisory board and so forth,
and so forth, and SO forth we have at
least four new creations OF Importance
fuel, food, shipping and transporta-
ton commissions. The heads Of these
commissions do not meet the secre
taries Of the departments except upon
comparatively rare occasions at meet
ngs of what is known as the super
war council, new creation and one
without any power. The meetings OF
this council are, in effect, simply dis
cussions, and produce no practical re-
suits.
":n our conduct of the war the Pres
ident occupies in this country posi-
ton similar to that occupied by Mr..
Lloyd George in Great Britain He
must necessarily be the clearing house
and the final authority in every action
taken.
His constitutional authority makes
hlm Commander in Chief of all our
military forces, and while it has been
suggested that the proposed war cabi-
net Dill is unconstitutional, ] believe
every lawyer will agree that any con-
stltutIonal authority conferred on the
president can not be lessened or added
to by an act of Congress.
Presidents Position
Let us see little more definitely
what the war cabinet bill means. It's
purpose IS to authorize an agency.
which we have never had and have not
now, to prepare programmes to carry
on the war. In little more detail.
1T will advise and formulate plans and
policies, and under the direction of the
PRESIDENT will procure their execution.
1t will coordinate and direct, under
the control of the President, all the
functions of government. It will con-
slider and determine, subject to the
Presidents approval, every difference
that may arise between departments
or agencies OF the government. This
organization would be a clearing house
which would consider every phase of
situation and report to the Com
maNder in Chief. who would then cxer
clse his powers as such over the activ-
ity involved
"lt has been charged that Congress
IS mcddling in the war and trying TO
curtall the authority of the President
The President will name these mon.
Congress will not do so, and there is
no possibility that it will furnish y