WAR, DEPARTMENT OF. An executive depart ment of the United States Government, created by act of Congress of August 7, 1789. It has at its head a secretary appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Sen ate for a period of four years. He ranks third among the Cabinet members in the line of suc cession to the Presidency and receives a salary of $8000 per year. He has charge of all matters relating to military affairs, subject to the direc tion of the President, the distribution of stores, the Signal Service, the survey and improvement of harbors, and the administration of the insular possessions. lie is required to make an annual report of the conduct of the department showing the number and distribution of the military forces together with a statement of the expendi tures, of contracts for supplies and services, river and harbor improvements, the administra tion of the insular territories, etc. The business of the War Department is distributed among a number of subdiviions or bureaus, each of which is under the supervision of a chief and under the general supervision of the chief of staff. These include: the headquarters of the
Army, through which the orders of the President are issued by the chief of staff; the office of the adjutant-general, which conducts the army cor respondence, supervises the recruiting and enlist ment service, receives reports from army officers, issues conuniions, and preserves the records of the army; the office of the inspector-general; the office of the quartermaster-general; the commis sary department; the office of the surgeon-gen eral; the office of the paymaster-general; the office of the chief of engineers; the ordnance de partment; the signal office; the office of the judge-advocate-general; the record and liension office: and the Bureau of Insular Affairs. The last is charged with supervision of the adminis tration of the recently acquired insular terri tories. Since the Secretary of War has been aided by an Assistant Secretary.