Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-25
THE MASTERING OUT ORDER.
The Details Which Must BIO Observed
Regular Army Officers Must do the worl

| Washington, Aug. 23.-Adjutant Genera
| Corbin has issued an order governing the
| mastering out of volunteers 1t goes into
the duties of officers in detail. The fol.
| lowing are the more important features
! of the order:
Only officers of the regular army will
| be detailed by the war department 10
muster out troops.
! To avoid expense to the government and
hardships and annoyance to individuals
concerned, by unavoidable delays that will
occur in the final payment of officers and
enlisted men absent from their commands
on muster out, commanding officers will
make every effort to effect the return of
| all absentees and attachments prior to
| muster out of the organization.
Officers who at any time were RESPONSE
BILE for public property of any descrip-
| ton must obtain certificates of non-in-
debtedness before their final payment can
be made.
officers who have not at any time been
responsible for public property will be
required to furnish the mastering officer
with their affidavits to that effect.
All officers will be held to Il strict ac-
countability for the discipline of their
commands and the preservation of public
property. Mastering officers are empow-
cred to prefer charges against officers who
neglect in any manner to take the proper
against loss of property or to keep their
commands together and under proper dis
cipline.
The supply departments of the army
will continue to furnish organizations with
needful supplies until date of final pay
ment and discharge.
All persons borne on the muster-in and
on all other muster rolls. and all who
have Joined or belonged to the organiza-
ton at any time since its muster in, must
be accounted for on the muster out roll
which is required to be a complete record
of all the officers and men who ever be-
longed to the organization.
Discharge certificates will be prepared
for every officer and man present and alb
sent except absent officers and men held
in service by proper authority and desert
ers. The certificates will be delivered to
the reg!mental and company commanders.
The discharge from the United States
volunteer service in the cases of all absen-
tees Except in special cases) will take ef-
feet on the date of muster out of the or
ganization.
In the case of enlisted men absent, who
on account of sickness are unable to join
their commands, the discharge certificate,
with carefully prepared descriptive lists of
account of pay and clothing, giving the
address of the soldier, will be given to the
mastering officer for transmission with
eral of the army. and the soldier Will be
cfficially notified TO apply by letter TO the
paymester general of the army for final
payment.
OHicors absent from any cause will be
furnished discharge certificates (uness
specially held to service), and will be no.
tilted to apply to the paymaster general
for certificates of Observation-Disclosures and
settlement of their accounts.
As a rul" the muster out of organiZa-
tons and their final payment will take
place at tie State or regimental rendez-
Vous. except when otherwise ordered by
the war department. The preparation and
Of the muster out rolls, returns
and papers. and the inspection and trans
fer of public property TO the officers of the
supply departments of the army, except
as hereinafter provided, will take place
before the organization Is ordered to its
State. The only property that will be al
lowed to be retained until muster out,
unless otherwise ordered by the MUSTER
ing officer, is the rifles, cartridge belts,
cups, canteens. meat cans, knives forks
and spoons necessary medical supplies
and tent equipage the colors and the reg
mental and company records.
The supply departments concerned will
arrange through the chief commssary
and chief quartermastcr of the depart
ment Within which the State rendezvous
is located for meals, camp ground. shelter.
and quartermasters sup
plies for the timo of the encampment of
the organization at the State or regiment
al rendezvous.
AS soon as the muster out rolls have
been fully and satisfactorily completed,
the mastering officer at the place of de-
parture will fill in the date of the muster
out as of a day ten days later, the prob
able time necessarily required to transfer
the organization to its State rendezvous,
the making of the physical examination of
officers and men, etc.
AS soon after the arrival of the organi-
zation at its State rendezvous as possible,
the physical examination of all officers
and men will be made. before muster out
and payment, so as to facilitate the set
tlement Of pension claims that may be
made on account OF stability incurred in
the United States service. and to protect
the rights of persons who may be en-
titled to the benefits of the pension laws
ms we'll as to guard the interests OF the
government
Provision Is made for turning over to
proper officers, records. colors. ordnance,
etc., belonging to the troops to DO muster
cd out, also as to their final payment
The troops will be allowed to retain GER
tain property. such as rifles and other
squipnient by paying stipulated price
for the same
One went In warlike maths to roam