There existed no general staff, and it did not occur to him, as it did to Secretary Long, to create one to advise him unofficially.

He was on bad terms with Major General Nelson A.Miles, who was the general in command.

He discussed even the details of questions of army strategy, not only with Miles but with the President and members of the Cabinet.
One of the most extraordinary decisions made during his tenure of office was that the act of the 9th of March, appropriating $50,000,000 "for national defense," forbade money to be spent or even contracts to be made by the quartermaster, the commissary, or the surgeon general.

In his book Secretary Alger records with pride the fact that all this money was spent for coast defense.

In view of the fact that the navy did its task, this expenditure was absolutely unnecessary and served merely to solace coast cities and munition makers.
The regular army on April 1, 1898, consisted of 28,183 officers and men.
An act of the 26th of April authorized its increase to about double that size.