The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-11

art for a second term. In order to have
him secure in his place the compliment
was extended of sending him to the senate
six weeks before his first term had ex-
pired. And Secretary Long never did for
another any act which was so satisfactory
to himself as his recommendation of Pay
master General Stewart for reappointment
for third term in May, 1898. The presi-
dent thoroughly approved the Judgment
of his secretary Of the navy who knew
that the paymaster general was the man
for just the events he proved so competent
to deal with.
Before the war with Spain came on the
bureau of supplies and accounts was ready
for the work Of making war. without
disturbing the usual serenity and uroanity
of the paymaster general. without for
moment interrupting the usual orderly and
efficient operation of the bureau from top
to bottom. it performed from the first, as
it continues to perform, those duties for
the navy which are performed in the war
department-the pay corps, the quarter
master general and the commissary gen
eral of subsistence
One day in the early spring of 1898 when
the war clouds were lowering low, Pay
master General Stewart presented to Sec
rotary Long few memoranda for his con-
sideration. They were hypothetical ques-
lions. put for the purpose of ascertaining
what the department fancied Commodore
Dewey would do II war were declared the
next day. His ships then held all they
could take aboard Where, when thos.
supplies were exhausted, should he get
provisions, coal all the necessary stores
with which every man of war must be
provided? Should he not have an indie
pendent supply, provided in such place
or in some such way as would render him
indifferent to the restrictions of the neu- |
trality laws? Upon these hints of the nav |
master general. the Nanshan, and few
daSs later the zafiro, were bought at Hong
Kong and loaded with seven months sup
plies to be used as Commodore Dewey.s
storehouses, This served to carry MIR
Captain Bradford's efforts to keen Dewey
supplied with coal, The coal shin had an
board 5000 tons OF coal already purchased
me department was satisfied that this
was the only way to escape the neutrality
laws which would not even permit a sun-
ply ship, loaded with provisions 10 ba an.
ehored in a neutral port and to be drawn
from as the necessities Of war reouirAd
No single act of the war was moro y.ir.
BILE than the suggestion of Paymaster Cen
efal Stewart which led to this ample pro-
NS'oning Of Dewey's fleet. From the be-
ginning OF actual war until now the bu-
reau of supplies and accounts has bean ac-
tive In Keeping the men OF the navy ia
ana clothed to say nothing Of providing
them with their pay when 1t was dus
ana 1t has also partly supplied the army
at Manila 1'
with its knowledge, experience ana
command Of facilities acquired bv service
Tor the Asiatic squadron the bureau has
supplied the army with frozen baat tro,n
t s,us'ia'ls' and not word of complaint
mas been heard aboat its quality. This
continued to be the case until September
'ast The feet in the West midas VA 4
also Kept supplied; the Spanish prisoners
captured from ceryera were fed and ..
Clothed and. as Paymaster General Stew
an SAD IN his annual report: "Notwlth- |
, n,oli the expedition necessarily EN-
p'0ssu IN the Procurement of supplies and !
- w manufacture OF clothing. the usual
s e.-'iaaiuS were adhered to and careful in
~, pss''ous made Contractors were held to
'lsld specifications. with the result that S
, - supplies delivered were the best Of /
49, Sn,i. Nina' comparison Of prices paid ?
- !, = 50, cue war with those paid previous a
= y lcr articles procured under contract .
NJ. Puone advertisement as well as for !
~. purchased in open market. shows +
ma 'ney were in most cases no higher, t
co.,, - llany cases lower. than before the I
,s,a s'-N nent OF hostilIues. The amount :
1u''as the 7aseai year for supplies S