The herald., 1898-11-12
NAVY PAY DEPARTMENT
WAS NOT FOUND LACKING WHEN
CALLED UPON
WAR STRAIN WAS EASILY MET
Because the Supplies Were on Hand
and the Work Had Been Care
fully Systematized
Associated Press Special Wire

w WASHINGTON, Nov. lin an unos-
tentatious way the pay department of the
navy played most important part in the
war, as appears from ths annual report of
Paymaster General Edwin Stewart. Aside
| from the mere disbursements of funds in
wages and salaries, the pay department is
charged with the procurement of all sup
| plies for the navy. The paymaster-general
says that the outbreak of hostilities found
the supply department of the navy organized
under a system that for more than eight
years had been in process of thoughtful and
painstaking development. Later the strain
OF the war was met easily. During the
period of active operations 1913 vessels were
furnished and kept supplied with all neces-
sary stores. A base of supplies was estab-
lished at Key West early in March and stores
for 5000 men for three months were kept on
hand. Supplies for 1000 men at Mare Island,
for 1000 at Norfolk, and for 5000 at New
\ ork were also accumulated. Before the
outbreak of war early in April Admiral
Dewey was directed to buy the collier Nan
shan and the supply ship Zafiro, the latter
loaded with provisions. so that when the
war broke out the Asatic squadron was in
possession Of five months supplies. Early in
May the Pekin was dispatched from San
Francisco with three months additional
supplies. A week after her purchase on May
9TH, the refrigerating steamer Supply sailed
for Cuba, loaded with fresh meat, fruit, ice
and other supplies. The Celtic and Glacier
were also purchased and speedily sailed to
supply the fleet with fresh meat and vege-
tables. Dewey's fleet was not forgotten, for
a refrigerating steamer was started in June
to join him with a million and quarter
pounds OF fresh food.
In the matter of supplying clothing. too,
the bureau did some excellent work, being
obliged to supply over one million garments
to meet the needs of the naval militia and the
revenue and lighthouse services, which had
been transferred TO the navy. Notwith-
standing the haste, the supplies secured
were the best OF their kind, while the prices
paid We're in most cases no higher and in
many cases lower than before the commence
mcnt of hostlities. During the past fiscal
year the total expenditures for additions to
the navy were 500, lS2, ,326, of which amount
S7,04l ,052 were paid on account of construc-
tion of new ships. Repairs for ships cost S3,-
y23,S93, and the maintenance of ships in
commission including salaries and rations
cost Sll, ,063, 1893
The paymaster-general makes quite an ar
gument to demonstrate that the promptness
and economy with which supplies We're Sc
cured in the rush incident to the war were
largely due to the naval supply fund, which
enabled the bureau to carry large line of
articles in stock.
OF the navy yards he said all the available
space in the principal yards is now over
crowded and unless additional storehouses
arc provided the supply demand will be
greatly hampered. To meet immediate re-
quirements he recommends that the pay
corps be increased at once by ten passed as
sistant paymasters and fifteen assistants,
while with this it will be necessary in the fu-
ture to add forty-nne to the corps.