Evening star., 1924-03-16

wrote: This office can ana no au-
thority for the detail Of aides to the
civilian governor general of the Phil
ippines, assistants to the American
embassy in Cuba, as assistants in
the Department of Justice, to the
bureau Of the budget, Treasury De-
partment or of other than a limited
number Of medical officers to the
American Red Cross.
Given Grace Uatil June 80.
Payments to officers SO acting or
so detailed on the date Of your let
ter. December 3, 1928, will be passed
to the credit OF the disbursing Off.
GERS until the end of the current
fiscal year to afford opportunity for
presenting the matter to the Con-
gress. Unless statutory authority Is
secured on or before June 80. 1924.
for the respective details, credit for
all payments to Army officers while
on such details after that date must
be denied in the accounts Of dis
bursting officers"
Controller McCarl also questions
the right of tho secretary to assign
Army officers to the inland and coast
wise waterways service of the War
Department. Assuming such details
to have been as suggested by you, in
the interest of economy and eff
cheney" said the controller, "and in
some measure at least, to enable such
officers to gain experience in the de-
velopment, maintenance and opera
tion of a class of transportation
facilities used by the Army in time of
war, it is not believed such reasons
furnish justification under the law
"Quite likely it was not because
of any doubt as to the fitness of
ability of Army officers to perform
civilian tasks that induced the en-
actments under consideration: but
rather a purpose to confine such Off
GERS to purely military duty.
Abuses Held Possible.
ITO accept as permissible under the
law. the detail of Army officers to
to become experienced in the devel-
opment. maintenance, or operation of
an industry made use of by the Army
in time Of war. would be to make
Of the apparent purpose Of the law
because the number Of industrials
made use of by the Army in time
of war is practically limitless.
TT would appear no more in keep
ing with the intent of the law that
civilian duty with the inland and
coastwise waterways service for such
purpose than to the 1nterstate Com
meroe Commission, the Federal Trade
Commission or the bureau of forestry,
all Of which deal with industries made
use of by the Army in time of war"
But the controfleE goes still further
to discuss the possibilities in the war
Department itself. Having due re-
gard for the responsibility imposed
troller. II cannot accept the view that
any or all duties pertaining to the
War Department-one of the execu-
tive departments of the civil govern
military stabfishment-are duties to
be performed by Army officers as
proper military duties.
Excepts Military Attacks.
However" he says, cit is my sin
cere desire to cooperate as fully as
possible with the administrative de-
partments and establishments Of the
government In the solution of ques-
tions resulting from divergent views
Of the law"
Positions such as military attaches
to embassies and legations throughout
the world are not questioned by Con-
troller McCari. as they are specifically
provided for by Congress.
Neither does the controller in his
position take exception to the post
held by Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Lord,
Quartemaster Corps, who is now di-
rector Of the bureau Of the budget,
so specified by act Of Congress-.
The entire list Of officers in Ques-
tion has not been worked out be-
tween the Secretary OF War and the
controller general, but certain prom
inent officers, stationed In respon.
sible posts in Washington and in
foreign cities. are known to have
been under serious consideration. A
few have been relieved from civilian
duty since and reassisned to mill
tary service. = =
Tentative List Made CH.
This tentative representative list
however, can be made public with
with the inland and, co..tv,..
waterways service: Col Thomas O.
Ashburn. G. A. C.. and First Lieut..
John M. Tuther. Q. NJ. G.
With the bureau Of budget: Col.
3: Lovett,. infantry; Col. James e
Rhea, cavalry; Col. Henry c. Emither.
cavalry; Lieut. Col. William A. Aus.
tin, cavalry: Maj. Donald A. Robin
| son. cavalry: Major Talbot Smith,
cavalry; Mai. Frank H. Phipps. jr.'
c. A. c., and Lieut. Col Edmond II
Logan N. Rock, j. A.
with tho Governor General Of the
Philippines: Brig. Gen. Frank r. NO
With tho federal power commission:
Maj. Howard 8. BenniSon. G. Of =.
captain william Kelly. G; Of E.; First
AnAAaG thoss Vho AAd beNa dhAe-