Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-29
THE COMMISARIAT.


NdcJeety to the Var Department.
The annual report of Commissary General
Macfeely has been submitted to the secretary
of war. It shows that the total amount dis
oursed Tor subsistence stores during the fs-
cal year ended June 80 last was So. 5lO, 551,
OF which Sl .Ol1, TAT was reimbursed by sales
of stores to officers and enlisted men; $3l,-
S24 was paid by the interior department for
supplies furnished to Indians; $73,943 was
collected for tobacco sold to enlisted men,
and the balance was furnished to the de-
partment by the Congressional appropria-
ton. Gen. Macfeely urgently recommends
that the appropriations by Congress should
be made sufficiently large to enable the de-
partment to purchase all supplies for cash,
and should be rendered available from
the date of the passage of the acl, so as to
admit of the purchase and shipment of
supplies for distant posts early in
the spring, and thus avoid the loss in trans
porting heats, etc., in the hot months of
June and July. Referring to the complaints
made from time to time that stores were not
purchased IN the neighborhood of the posts,
where they were to be consumed, the COM
mlssary general says investigation has shown
that in most, if not all, cases where this
course has been pursued, it has been done
for the reason that stores of proper quality
could not be procured as economically in the
vicinity of the posts as from other points.
The number of contracts made by officers of
the commissary department during the year
was over $4,000.
From tables accompanying the report it
appears that there was a marked decline in
the cost of the components of the army
ration during the past year as compared with
the preceding twelve months, and the esti
mates for appropriations were reduced ac-
cordingly. The policy of furnishing the
supplies for short periods has been con-
tlnued with satisfactory results, and the
amount of accumulated stores condemned
has been very small, amounting to less than
$23 200. The cost value of the rations is
sued to yellow fever sufferers since the 15tl.
OF August last Cup to the 7th inst.) is stated
at $24 ,649. The department has furnished
supplies for Indians to the amount of about
$4,000 in excess of reimbursements from
the interior department. Referring to the
statements made by the board of Indian
peace commissioners, and reiterated in Con-
gress, that the purchase of beef and -four by
the Indian servic at some points is at less
than the cost of the same supplies purchased
for the army, Gen. Macfeely denies that
the articles purchased were of
the same grades. In the course
OF his remarks on this subject, he says:
II know of but one reason why the sub
slstence department can purchase supplies
cheaper than the Indian department, and
that IS that its stores are, as a general rule,
paid for when delivered, while the stores de-
iIvered to the Indian department are not paid
for until the accounts are sent to the Indian
commissioner in Washington thus causing a
considerable time to elapse between the de!iv-
cry of stores and date of payment. With this
condition of affairs eliminated, know of no
rea on why the subsistence department should
be able to purchase supplies of the same class
and quality cheaper than the Indian depart
ment, but certainly can see 10 reason why
1t cannot purchase them as cheaply, and I be-
lieve that it has in all cases done so, provided
the stores which were contracted for we're de-
livered.''
The commissary general recommends that
the present limitation Of sixteen ounces per
mouth as tho maximum amount of tobacco
that may be furnished to enlisted men. and
charged against their pay rolls, be enlarged
TO twenty four ounces, as it appears that
majority of them desire to purchase more
ed"Ai oiOJ dIo uoW dl1OW6u UuuS TO ODlaln.
The m affiliations in the army ration au-
thorized last year, it is stated, have given
general satisfaction. 1t has been proposed
that cheese should form portion of the
authorized ration for general Issue, but on
account of the difficulty of procuring cheese
of good quality and at reasonable price,
which will keep for such a length of time
as is desirable for an article of Ordinary is
sue, the commissary general has not yet
deemed it proper to recommend compliance
with the suggestion. He refers, however, to
the fact that Gov. Seymour has offered a
premium for form and quality of cheese
which will be best fitted for the use of the
army Ito be exhibited at the Utica fair this
month";, and says: "Should it be found that
a cheese of good quality, which will keep
sufficient length of time for ordinary issue
to the army, can be made and sold at rea-
sonable price, am of opinion that it would
be advisable to add cheese to the components
of the army ration.''
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