The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-29
SAVERS WANTS JUSTICE
THE Army ORDER WAS aIaNTuRPBElFD
Citizens rntrioticaily Supplied che
Volunteers With Food and Cloth
Ina and should ne Reimbursed.

| anu nc NcImDWrseO.
| Austin, Texas, January ss.--rhe follow
ing self-explanatcry letter was sent this
evening to the junior United States senator
from Texas:
Hon. Horace Chiffon. Washington. d. @. (,
Dear Sir: My attention has been called
and others In this State against the United
States government for expenses incurred In
the way OF subsisting. clothing, supplying.
eauippng and transporting soldiers that
volunteered In the war against Spain dur
ing the interval between their enrolment
and their mastering into the service OF tho
Omitted States. Under the act approved
July s. 1898. understand that tho war
/ department VIII not consider any claim
that has not been first paid by the State
government, rs indicated In the letter OF
Governor Culberson. dated December a..
1898, and addressed 10 the Texas delegation
In congress, copy OF which ] enclose
herewith, also enclose the repor, OF Ad-
jutant General Wozencraft and call your
attention to the correspondence between,
him and the adjutant general OF the United
States army on pages to 3.
For yonr information l VIII take the
liberty OF suggesting that company COM
manders interpreted general order No. rs,
April %, 1898, as authority for them to in-
cur expenses In thu way Of subs!stine,
transporting, sheltering and generally
ty,oy a t,to l,o
tween enrolment and muster into the
United States service, aud they didn't he's
ilate to assure creditors that bills for these
expenses would be paid by the United
States government, when approved by the
acting United States quartermaster and
the mastering officer at Camp Mabry lboth
officers of the regular army. II seems that
most of the bills were approved by these
officers, After the vouchers were for
warded to the war department the acting
quartermaster at Camp Mabry concluded
he had not properly interpreted general or
der No. rs, and requested tho quartermas-
ter general at Washington to erase his ap-
proval from all vouchers sent in. ] am,
informed that the heads OF departments in
Washington are also of the opinion that
general order No. rs was Incorrectly in
tclpreted In this State. They arc now gov
crned by the act OF July s. 1898. and will
only refund TO the State. on proper vouch-
ers, the expenses authorized by that act
and even then proper accountability must
be shown for property purchased under the
head OF auartermaster supplies in the way
of clothing, blankets, etc, and ordnance
stores. such as tincups, plates, etc. That
Is TO say, that when such articles we're is
sued TO the men they should have been
charged with them. and that proper re-
turns should have been made to the quar-
termaster general and the chief of ord
nance through the regimentai quartermas-
ters and ordnance officers, respectively. /
have been informed that no such returns
have ever reached tho war department
from Texas regiments showing account
ability.
In many instances company commanders
have charged supplies OF this character to
the men that received them and reported
same TO the proper regimental officers, but
no reports were made TO higher authorities.
A majority OF the company commanders.
however. failed to make such charges or
reports. | am also informed that the Sup
piles purchased under the above heads
H. e., quartermaster and ordnance) were
of the cheapest grade and we're only ip-
tended 10 last the men until the regular
issue could be made by the United States
government. Although necessary, II was
temporary arrangement. and the quar-
tormaster supplies really did wear ont In
most instances before the regular issue
was made. as the purchases were made to
meet an emergency.
considerable portion OF the supplies
mentioned were purchased fer and issued
10 men who were afterwards rejected on
account Of physical disability. II Is not
reasonable to expect the men who voun-
teered in good faith to suffer for want OF
clothing or cover. ! understand that the
United States will recognize no claim for
expenses incurred for men who we're res
jected, except possibly in the way OF sub
sistence. The only requirement made In
reference TO subsistence is tina the State
pay these bills. and the United States Will |
refund TO the State, provided proper
vouchers ar3 presented under the act Of
July 8, 1895. Transportation OF men re- |
jected on physical examination will not DO |
allowed. This item amounts to consid- |
cradle sum. The money due the railroads
under this head should be paid by the |
United States ! am satisfied that the sum |
O, $50 600 would settle every claim from |
Texas az this character mentioned herein, |
and ] would be gratihed to see the act Of |
July s, 1898. so amended as TO allow the |
war department 10 settle them, or trat |
an appropriation be made by the United |
states government 10 pay them OH Mt once. |
The creditors referred to herein need
their money and In making the sales they !
acted on the impulse OF a patriotic faith |
in what they interpreted general order No. |
20 to be the United States governments
promise to refund They knew nothing OF |
army regulations. nor anything OF the /
usual requirements In such cases. They
did know that the men needed the articles
purchased, and they believed the above or
der gave them sufficient authority 10 make
the sales, and they depended on the gov
eminent for their pay
! sincerely hope that the Texas delega-
ton will take the matter In hand at once
and make a strong effort to relieve the
people In the direction Indicated or In the
manner they may determine upon, have
the honor 10 be, very respectfully,