The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-12
FINE WORK DURING THE WAR
EXCELLENT SERVICE OF THE PAY
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.
Nearly goo Vessels Kept Supplied
With Storex-Every Emergency
Met Without Delay-Ships Sent to

WASHINGTON, Nov lin an unos;en-
taiious way the Pay department o, tae
navy played 4 most important part IN the
war "a appears from the annual report or
Paymasfer General Edwin Stewart ASIDE
from the mera disbursements Of ilncs II
wages ana salaries, the pay department is
charged WITH The procurement OF AL sup
plies fcr the navy. The paymaster geneFaa
says that the outbreak Of hostilities found
the supply Of the navy department organ
lied under a system that for more taan
eigh. years had been in process OF thought
r,r development Later the strain OF TIE
war was met easily.
During the period Of active operations
la3 vessels were furnished and kept sup
Piled with all necessary stores. base OF
supplies was established 2. Key West ear
ly Ia March and stores for 40 men for three
months were kept al hand. Supplies for
1880 me-l al Mare island, for 400 a. Nor
folk and for $50. We're also accumulated
Before the outbreak OF war early in April
Admiral Dewey was directed To buy the
collier Nanshan and supply ship cairo, the
latter loaded with provisions, SO that when
the war broke out. the As.atic squadron
was in possession OF five months supplies.
Early in May the Picking was dispatched
from San Francisco with three months ad-
GiIional supplies.
a week after her purchase or May the
refriserating steamer supply sailed for
Cuba, loaded with fresh meat, fruit, ice
and other supplies. The Celtic and Glacier
were also purchased and speedily sailed 10
supply the fleet with fresh meat and yege-
tables.
Dcwey's fleet was not forgotten. for a re-
frgerating 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 10 supply over l,,E1,o@9 garments 10
meet the needs Of the naval militia ana tha
revenue and lighthouse services, which had
been transferred to the navy. Notwith-
standing the haste, the supplies secured
were the hest OF their kind, while prices
paid were In most cases 40 higher and in
many cases lower than before the CON-
mencement OF hostiiities. During the past
fiscal year the total expenditures for addi-
tons TO the navy were g. .326, OF which
amount s. ,04l o53 was paid on account of
construction OF new ships Repairs for the
ships cost So 23.s93. and the maintenance
or ships in commission, including rations.
cost 81 ,6;333. s39.
The paymaster general makes quite an
argument to demonstrate that the prompt
ness and economy with which supplies
were secured In the rush incident 10 the
war were largely due TO the naval sup
ply fund. which enabled the bureau TO car
~ "A large line OF articles IN stock.
OF the navy yards he said that all the
available space in the principal yards is
now overcrowded, and that unless addi-
tional Storehouses are provided the sup
ply department viii be greatly hampered
TO meet immediate requirements he recon-
mends that the pay corps be increased at
once by ten passed assistant paymasters
and fifteen assistants. while with this 1t
Will be necessary In the future 10 add forty
nine TO the corps.