The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-08
Complete History of Kansas
Part in Spanish War.
RECORDS INCOMPLETE.
Adjutant Fox Complains About
Predecessors Carelessness.
Failed to Furnish Complete Data
Concerning Soldiers.

one OF the most comprehensive and
complete reports issued by the state
military department since its organiza-
ton was made public today. being the
work of Col S. NJ Fox. adjutant gen
eraL Most of the reports which have
been issued in recent years were useless
expenditures of the states money, but
this report contains much valuable in
formation, compiled in an ineligible
manner
This is the twelfth biennial report
from the Office of the adjutant general
The most important matter in this doc
ument. at this time. is the record con-
corning the Kansas regiments which
went away for the war with Spain
The previous administration failed to
keep proper records of the muster and
equipment of these regiments, a fact
which prompts Colonel Fox to say IN
the report issued today:
THE biennial report issued from this
department for the period ending June
the fact that the state had at that time
three regimens of volunteers in the field
and was busy recruiting the fourth. The
records of this Office are silent upon
many important matters pertaining to
the raising Of volunteer regiments that
should have been made q matter of pub
lie record. The muster-in and the
muster-out rolls supplied by the govern
H.
commission book and the bills for the
expenses created constitute the records
discoverable- am unable to find any
evidence of authority given to officers to
recruit nor any record of the recruits
who We're rejected on account of phys
zeal disability"
With these disadvantages Colonel Fox
undertook the work Of making his re-
port. He struggled for months to COM
pIete a record of Kansas volunteers IN
the Spanish war and succeeded in max
ing it complete and valuable.
Another point on which the records
were deficient was in securing proper
vouchers and receipts for expenses in
Cured in the mastering of the VoIun-
teerS. This neceSsitated a large amount
of labor and research, as the authorl-
ties at Washington refused to accept the
claims and reimburse the state until
the records were complete. This could
not be done because no record was made.
Then the state administration took hold
of the matter and after signing waivers
and other documents necessary 10 pro-
tect the federal government from a re-
currence of the claims. a bill for more
than $37 900. prepared by Auditor Cole,
was allowed, but it was necessary for
Senator Baker to help in the matter OF
obtaining favorable action on the claim
The state agent insisted that ne
should be permitted to settle this claim,
because his fee would have been So, 66S11,
but the state department declined to
accept his services and that sum was
saved. The state agent IS w. W. martin
of Fort Scott.
The claims rejected by the authori-
ties at Washington amount to $1.106-65.
As the records of the department We're
not preserved by the preceding admin
istration. this money will never be paid
The present administration is hammer
ing away in an effort to get the money
back. but there seems to be no hope
Col Fox in his letter Of transmlttai
requests the governor to urge upon the
legislature the necessity OF making ap-
preparation for the annual encampment
of the state militia. The statute COM
mands that such encampment be heid
but the lack of money prevents compli-
ance with the law.
A new gun equipment for the artillery
is recommended and the purchase OF at
least 600 wall tents for the use of G. A.
r reunions is recommended. The law
provides this privilege to the G. A r.,
but many of the tents were lost and
used up during the Spanish war and
there is not now a sufficient number to
meet the demand
Mr.. Fox recommends that immediate
steps be taken to preserve the record OF
the Kansas soldiers in the civil war
These documents are now becoming val
liable because of the pension claims
which arise under service at that time
and these records must serve the pur-
pose of foundations for many or the old
soldiers claims. Therefore, proper pre-
servation of the records is suggested.
Preservation also of the state battle
na2S IS recommended as urgent MI
Fox suggests that these flags be remov
ed from the one box in which they are
kept and when the rotunda is completed
be there displayed in Theoretically seal
ed glass cases.
There are now .295 Kansas soldiers in
the Philippines. divided among the var
ious regiments as follows:
Twenty seventh infantry ..........
Thirtieth infantry Observation-Disclosures.
Thirty-first infantry ......... l
Thirty second infantry ...... 1874
Thirty-third infantry ........ "a
Thirty-fourth infantry. ...-... $3.50. 46
Thirty-fifth infantry ............ 30
Thirty-sixth infantry .......... -
Thirty seventh infantry $500. %
Thirty-eight infantry ......... u
Thirty ninth infantry ...... g.
Fortieth infantry .......... ...... 392
Forty-third infantry Commencement. ,
Forty-fourth infantry ........... ESQ
F'orty-fifth infantry ....... g.
F'orty-eignt infantry ........... 16
Forty-ninth infantry .. AZ
Eleventh cavalry Observation-Disclosures. 43
1Ctot e4,zS.
Col. Fox's report also contains a roll of
honor embracing the names of all of the
a