The times., 1898-11-26
MONEY FOR THE SOLDIERS.


MONEY FOR THE SOLDIERS.
Paymaster General stanton Makes
His Annual Report.
The annual report of Paymaster General
T. Fl. Stanton, of the United States army,
has been submitted TO the Secretary OF
War and was given out .or publication
yesterday. The document Is of more than
usual interest in view Of The questions
which have arisen in that branch Of the
department incident to The Increase in
the number of the regular army and the
enlistment of the volunteer armies
A comparison Of the expenditures OF the
last fiscal year with those Of the pre-
ceding year shows a net increase of
81 II. This increase is accounted for
by the fact that on March S, by act of
Congress. two regiments were added to
the strength of the army and again, under
act of April %. 1885 the regular army
was, by order of the President recruited
20 its maximum strength, making about
81 600 men.
Referring to the question of mileage.
tions. They are:
''Q Under the present law il is almost
impossible for paymasters to ascertain
the cost of fare paid by the general pub
lie over bond-aided and land-grant rail-
roads, and it is suggested that uniform
rate of three cents per mile be adopted
as the amount to be deducted by the pay
fDy- of 81.
roads involved or when transportation
has been furnished in kind by the quar-
termaster's department.
"C2) Under the law the pay department
is directed to make the payments for
mileage for travel performed. The army
regulations, paragraph li10 provides that
the paymaster general shall prepare tun-
der direction of the Secretary of War;
lists of distances, and in accordance
Herewith mileage will be computed, no
matter by what route the travel may have
been performed" etc.
Referring to the system of payment, the
report says that a change from the old
system Of payment by check OF in cur
rency by express was found necessary
after the organization of the volunteer
force. when 1t was found more practicable
to pay the forces in the field by the pay
master in person The report says:
Very many complicated questions have
arisen owing to the authority given TO
muster the several State organizations
into the service in accordance with the
State laws. In many instances the State
organizations differed from the organiza-
tion of the United States army. both in
number and rank of the officers and en-
listed men.
This gave rise TO many questions as
10 the law governing in the several States,
in the formation Of the organizations. and
the rates of pay to be allowed. In a
rapidly-formed army it is natural that
many important facts would be over
looked which are necessary for the infor-
nation of the paymasters.
The question of authority however. to
the paymaster is of great Importance as
TO what payments are proper and legal
and will pass the scrutiny of the account
ing office of the Treasury Department.
Therefore, careful thought and considera-
ton had TO be given to new questions
confronting the disbursing officer. and
when not covered by law o. regulations
appeal was taken to the pay department
or TO the Secretary of War. and instruc-
tions and orders thus obtained hsDn,S-
closely followed, and 1t is hol
will not be in conflict with amy
ulations governing the settlement of ac-
counts In the Treasury Department.
The increase in the regular force of the
pay corps necessi1ated by the war is re-
ferred to. and the methods of organization
shown. The work of the paymasjers'
clerks and the clerical force is commented
on favorably, and the following notes Of
the personnel Of the force are given:
Major William Arthur, retired from ac-
tive service under section 1913. Revised
Statutes. upon his own application. after
thirty years service. April 81 1895. Major
Harry L. Rogers was appointed paymas
ter May 2, 1895. to nil the vacancy caused
by Major Arthurs retirement.
On June 10, 1898, Col. C. W. Candee. as
sistant paymaster general, died at Chica-
go. Ill. after nearly thirty-four years
faithful service. At the time of his death
he was chief paymaster. Department Of
the Lakes. Owing to the vacancy occa-
stoned by the death of Col. Candee Lieut..
Col. \. b. Carey was promoted to colonel
and assistant paymaster general. and
Major c. l. Wilson was promoted to lieu
tenant colonel and deputy paymaster gen.
eral.
Major ]. a. Watrous was appointed 10
fill the vacancy in the corps occasioned by
the promotion of Lieut.. Col. Wilson, June
Is, 1898.