The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-11

HARRISBURG, Pa, Feb. l0.-A rumored
shortage of nearly 100000 in the &C.
counts of ex.Adjutant General Hastings
created a sensation. The retiring ad.
ministration left heavy deficiency fol
the new administration to carry. The
amount Of the deficiency already reaches
nearly $50 600. The annual appropriation
Of $500. 900 for the maintenance Of the
National Guard has been exhauoted, and
the ordinary way OF meeting this would
be by paying out Of next years appro-
priation. This is not unusual in the
Adjutant Generals Office, as there has
been q deficiency each year for ten years
past.
There is believed to be nothing that
reflects upon the integrity OF General
Hastings. The debts incurred were all
for proper purposes. They include such
items as armory rent, rifle practice,
transportation, court martial and equip
ments. All the bills for the Mount
Gretna epcampment have been paid.
This encampment was an expensive al.
fair, and was the cause Of this years
large deficiency.
Adjutant General Hastings says:
"There is no shortage. leave a BAL
ance to my successor and there is
nothing to conceal. When l went
into office there was q deficit amount
ing to about $4,000, from Adjutant
General Guthrie. These bills were cor
rect and General Guthrie had bsen
economical in his administration of the
Office. paid these bills out Of my
years appropriation. When the new
military code became law the appro.
priation was made $S000 060, but
the additional expense created by
the law made 1t more difficult
to keep within the appropriation. Dur
ing my four years term, two divisional
encampnents were held. Divisional
encampmsnts cost from so to 80 per cent
more than regimental trips by reason Of
longer railroad travel. Tradition to the
divisional encampments, the division
was assembled at four other times; the
first at the Inauguration Of Gov. Beaver;
at Inauguration OF President Harrison,
during the Constitutional Centennial
celebration, and at the Centennial cele.
bration OF WasbinRton's inauguration in
New York City. Each Of these parades
entailed to the cost, but added greatly to
the already high reputation enjoyed by
the National Guard. During no previ.
GUS administration had tho division as.
sembled more than twice and usually
but once,
In addition 1 had other extraordinary
expenses. The State rife range at Mt
Gretna cost $4,000, aud 1 bought
$4,000 worth Of canvas. The
old 45.calibre guns were worth.
less and purchased Springfield
breech loading muskets, now used by
the regular army, alta cost OF $l0s. 600.
Adding these extraordinary expenses
and the cost Of assembling the Division
four times, and the two division encamp.
ments, would amounta years appropria-
tion.
After having paid all these additional
expenses and current expenses paid
the deficit Of General Guthrie, and
had TO my credit about $4,000
worth OF Jersey and flannel, as
good as cash to my successor, and
about S, 500 in cash. These two items
amount to about $4,000. Against it
there are accounts amounting to be-
tween $4,000 aud $l1 900.
The accounts were as carefully kept al
those Of any banking institution. fee
pride in the splendid condition Of the
National Guard, and the high reputation
1t has won and holds. do not propose
to permit any criticism OF my admins
tration OF the affairs OF the Adjutant
Generate Office, not warranted by the
farta.n