The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-30
DOCUMENTS.

DOCUMENTS.
Letfer .Frox the Secretary Of War, 70 the
-Chsirn,aa Of tae Comnritiee Of sAe Sc.
rare, relative 10 the establishment Of q
Qaarfsr, hsaster's DetarsnenA---Oy-
dertd to Be Printed ~ tie 12.h in.
stdnf.
WAR DEPARTMENT.. Jan Is,, 1910.
SIR, -
The ineonveniencies and embarrass-
ments to the service, together with the neg
!ect and loss OF property. arising from the
the quarter master's department is con-
Quoted, render it my duty to suggest the
propriety of some further legal provision
on the subject. The defects Of the present
system originate in the laws. BY the law,
fi1ing the military peace establishment, rro-
vision is made for the appointment Of three
military agents. and as many assistant mill
sary agents. not exceeding one TO each mi :
litary post. as the President shall deem ex !.
pedisDt. The law authorizing an additional
military force, provides for two brigade and
eight regmental quarter masters the mi.
Atary agents and assistant military agents,
are appointed by the President: the brigade
quarter masters by the brigadiers, and the
tegimental quarter masters BY the colonies
OF regiments.
The result of this organization is, that
the assistant military agents, who ought to
account for, and make returns to the militia
ny agents of all property delivered to them.
are not held by a proper responsibility, the
military agents having no power or influence
IN their appointments. nor authority to call
Them to account for unal.practices or neglect
OF duty. The brigade and regimental quar-
Ger masters are as little under their con.
'Srol.
{ II will also be perceived, that no provisi.
on IS made for the appointment of an off,
Ger. whose duty it should be to have charge
OF. and be responsible for the property ap
pertaining to that department, to regulate
and superintend the distributor Of. ali sup
plies. and TO 7vhon, all subordinate officers
should be accountable. ~
IN want OF such an officer, the Secretary
OF War has been obliged to perform the du
ties OF quarter master general Under the
military peace establishment, those duties
were lahorious--since raising the additional
military force, they have necessarily en-
creased, until it is suggested by experience,
that, ii they were compatible with other
duties required Of him, the Secretary Of
War cannot continue to discharge them,
either satisfactorily to himself or with Ius-
tice to the public. u. @
1t is therefore respectfully suggested, that
the President be authorized by law to ap.
point quarter master general. with rank
an the army, not exceeding the rank Of
with pay and emolumenss. no,
exceeding those Of
An assistant quarter master general to be
taken from the line of Captains, whose com
pensaton shall not exceed one half his month,
ly pay and emoluments.
As many deputy quarter masters general,
not exceeding four, as the service may re-
quire,
If taken from the line, their compensate
on not to exceed one half their monthly paw
and emolurents, if not of the line, not "a
exceed the present compensation of the mi
litary agents
As many assistant deputy quarter masters,
not exceeding one to each post, as the SER
vice may require. to be taken from the line,
and allowed eight dollars per month, Gas pro-
vided by law for the present assistant military
agents.)
Under this arrangement, the deputy GUAR
ter master general would perform the duties
atpresent performed by the military agent. !:
the assistant deputy quarter masters those,
performed by the assistant military agents
Their compensation being the same, the
additional expence to be incurred, will con
sist principally in the pay and emoluments
oil the quarter master general, with the in
cidental expenses of his Office, and in one
additional deputy quarter master general,
it the service should require his appoint
ment.
In time of peace, the proposed system
being less complicated, and possessing a
more regular and rigid accountability, would
be far less expensive in its consequences
at the same time that it would instruct the
officers in branch of service, acknowIedg
ed by military men to be of the first impor-
sance.
To meet state of war without such an
establishment, which has been justly demo
minated the RIGHT HAND Of ali army,
would be to disregard the practice and ex.
perience OF our OWE and every other nation.
and expose to hazard and defeat every mill
tary operation.
With respectful consideration,
Yoar obedient servant. =,
The Hon. ". B. Giles
Chairman.
CHAMBER CoMNIrrEE, Ian. IS, 1915.