The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-06


overwhelmed by an APPALLING exhibition OF
rsckiessDess, extrayagancc and incapar-
Hy on the part OF the adjutant general.
He Is practically the business head of
the military organization; he lis a member
OF the military board which makes the
expenditures and also member OF the
military auditing board. which passes
upon these expenditures. so that he can
justly be considered the responsible head
In the management of our military
finances. An examination of the records
for the past four years has shown TO tie
committee an utter lack OF the ordinary
sense. sagacity and common prudence
which govern I'm The financial transactions
OF To-Day and the unreatrained proalgal-
ity and profuseness of expenditure on the
part or the head OF the military DEPART
msnt warrant the belief that a few more
years OF the present management will
ta; the department so far In arrears
that decade will be required To place
again on an even footing. The COM
mitsee ind that owing TO disorders &C.
curing In territorial days the Legislature
Hv u to establish one-ifth OF a mill
On IA assessed valuation OF property in
the STATE 10 go into what is termed the
military fund. The entire receipts from
fhis tax were formerly expended under
no rsxiFctions. but upon obtaining state-
hecd. II became necessary because of con-
snsufionai provisions To make a specific
appfupriation from this fund for the
maintenance OF the military organiza-
non. The limits set by previous legfs-
htures as To the amount OF money 20 be
saisfiaea seemed to have been utterly
ignored. and the past two legislatures
have found IL necessary TO meet daft
eaesces caused by the failure of the adj
lasant general TO keep within the bounds
sy tnem- The last legislature APP
pfonriatett $4,000 for the maintenance
OF ne militia for two years, $4,000 for
esoh nscal year. This was believed 10
oe sasssesent to keep the National Guard
~ nigh standard of excellence pro-
weed ordinary care. frugaiity ana COM
mon business prudence were exercised
ny the chief military staff Officer in whose
hands the affairs of the militia are pree-
usaiiy intrueted. We find. however, an
ABSOLUTE lack and absence of economy.
and no inclination whatever 10 keep the
sspehses within the appropriation The
sa!a'aht general seems TO have Iabored
snaer the deiusion that the entire re-
sslpts from the military tax were at his
disposal la spite OF the fact that the
Hss'a.hre has determined that only a
part OF the receipts from the tax should
tApehded. The amount appropriated
ny the last legislature for the
-, as.ai year from April !. 1853. 10 April I.
~ was more than exhausted during that
seaf- Nevertheless We understand that
through assurances of the atffutaut gem
sA shat there would he an abundance of
A.uaey IN the fund. an encampment was
sasescd IN 1884. which, through the waste
.ua ana imrros idcnt methods prevailing in
.s's aaIu'ant generals office. entailed upon
ne state the enormously large exnense of
sa@t No doubt the large expenditure
Tor this encampment was occasioned In
se'He aegree by the fact that the encamp-
nsent was more largely attended than was
s. 49, and because OF the delays and
sauieuluos or transportation owing to
. aeoas and the railway strike then occur
.sas' Nevertheless the COMMITTEES is OF
He opihion that the extraordinary outlay
= N arge measure due 30 the loose and
aaousinesSlIke practices Of the present adj
sa'aA' general II appears TO the COM
aattiee that there has been an absolute
Nsht OF business ideas In the important
.a.Aes or purchasing. In spite OF the fact
.aSt PRICES have for some years been fall
ms, uniforms are now being bought under
contract made i've years ago Such a
.''1hg as advertising for bids for furnish
us supplies does not seem 20 have oc-
eeFrea 10 those by whom the supplies
we're purchased. and we find that bian-
AsOs' rents and military stores generally
se Peked M haphazard from retail deal
sss N small lots AT different times. thus
eespsiNlng the state Of any material gains
y discount and OF the benefits OF healthy
senipeution. As rule no preparations
esh Ia he made fos the future and a
sssse quantity 81 supplies have been fur
..Sas1 only az the last moment when
a.@ters could make their own terms and i
sae state he pat 20 additional and unnes.-
s@FS expense, owing 10 the urgehSy OF
~ case In some instances We under
49, mat contracts have been let oui 20
espoasioio parties, and instead Of deal
VIII large houses on the losveSt terms
s+aale men have been allowed 10 step In.
$50 N their profit and greatly 10 the
'@se loss and Disadvantages
80 committee finds absolutely no rea-
49, a. ieT questioning the good motive or
a.sssi'y of the adlu;an, general. but are
efs'Fa'ned - report painful lack Of
ss'S management ard complete absence
). Aaytht'lS approaching economy. This
sestoenco3 IN part ny the palatsal ofslciai
ss@F'ers ~ she adiutamt general and his
- faFs-- of assistants which have Goa
s-eeed ~ clerk. q stenogra pher. a quar-
..-Hiaster's clerk and n sterckoGper and
@ofer- In spite of generous appyoprsa-
o"S IN the PAST there were outstanding
~ oe'oher !. fSst. military warrants 20
s.r amount ~ 81. iSNs1 Audited and uEs-
xs1nsd claims AMI expenses 20 Aprsi J,
- VII swell this Indebtedness 20 over
Nfs"A There are s&t As9 ~ the military
az OF QsSt Years unpaid. ~ which sue et1 Z
1.S possibly be collected So thai IL Is
80 10 say that fhe present head of the
.sstsFS department has involved the
s'e Ia q debt AZ at least SfooeGa