Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-30

Regiment Of Marines, and placed under
General Haywood states that the bullion
was exchanged for three New York drafts,
which have been forwarded by Paymaster
Bryan OF the navy to the Secretary OF the
Navy.
New Bundfnns. for omce..
Gen. Haywood saysy regarding needed I'M
provements at corps headquarters in this
city:
I'm my last report attention was invited
to the dilapidated hnd unsafe condition OF
the frame building occupied as offices az
these headquarters,- and in which most OF
the valuable records Of the corps are stored.
rms bulldlng has been inspected by the IN
spector of buildings Of the District OF Co
lumbia, and reported by him to be In bad
conoition, and IN danger OF collapse: l nave
ton of new building for use as offices at
these headquarters, and 1 feel 1t my duty
to again invite attention to the necessity
toned. and have included in the estimates
for the next fiscal year the sum OF S5O,oO0
Tor the erection Of a suitable building.
Every precaution has been taken to MAKE
the present building safe as possible by
removing heavy weights from the secono
story, lining the flues to prevent danger
from fire, etc.
I'm the last naval appropriation act Con-
gress provided 81. 500 for the erection OF
oulldlng at the marine barracks, Wasnins
ton ID. C., for the use of the Marine Band
ana Tor enlisted mems quarters. ms Dulio-
ing is being constructed by day labor I'M
der the supervision of Capt. R. P. Faunt
LIE Roy, assistant quartermaster, on DUTY
at these headquarters and the work is
progressing satisfactorily. The bulldlng
will furnish an excellent band room for the
use OF the enlarged band and will provide
men. which are needed. The barracks and
officers quarters have been painted and
are In good order The interior OF the ma
rine barracks, navy yard, Washington, u. T.,
mas been painted throughout, and system
OF electric lights has been installed IN the
barracks and quarters The electric lights
erect a saving of about % per cent com
pared with gas lighting, besides making
the barracks and quarters much more
cheerful. steam heating plant has also
been installed, at a cost Of $3,OSO.
The School of Application.
Regarding the school of application, he
says:
In my last annual report stated that 1t
was my intention to order a certain num-
Der Of the officers appointed from civil life
to the school of application, marine bar
racks, Washington, D. c., for instruction,
and also to establish a class for non-com-
missioned officers. 1t has been impossible
to carry out this plan, as nearly all the
officers of the corps have been either at sea
or on active duty in the far east during the
will be re-established In order that the Of
ficers and men may take advantage Of the
facilities it affords for acquiring theoreti-
cal and practical military knowledge In
TINS connection l am pleased to report that
the progress made by the young officers ap
pointed from civil life toward acquiring a
knowledge of their duties has been very
satisfactory, considering the limited OPP
portunitieS they have had for study.
When the school of application Is re-es-
tablished provision will be made for the
thorough theoretical and practical instruc-
lon or gunnery sergeants. The Importance
OF the duties which the gunnery sergeants
have to perform and the amount of techni-
cal knowledge necessary to their efficiency
make such course exceedingly desirable,
II not absolutely necessary. 1t is intended
that the gunnery sergeants shall have op-
portunlt1es for target practice with the
various forms ot rapid-fire guns used on
board vessels of the navy that they may
become thoroughly familiar with the manip-
ulatlon and sighting Of these guns
General HeyWnod praises the Marine
Band, saying: The Marine Band is main
tanned at its full authorized strength OF
sixty pieces Nhirty first-cass and thirty
second-cass musicians), and under the ca
pabie direction of Leader Santemann shows
constant Improvement. The regular out
DOR concerts have been given by the band
during the summer in the grounds of the
Executive Mansion, at the Capitol and at
the marine barracks, and these concerts
are evidently much appreciated by the peo-
The United States marine corps exhibit
received the highest, award of its class a
farlS, a gratifying evidence of the high
stanaard followed IN the manufacture of
marine corps clothing. It is understood
that this exhibit was in competition with
similar exhibits from European countries
EnlarginE the Corps.
Regarding an increase in the size of the
corps and the elevation of the rank Of the
commandant he says: When the navy
finally reaches a strength fully adequate
for the protection of all the interests OF
this great country under all conditions it is
estimated that marine corps Of 10000
men would be required. For the present,
however, 1t is believed that strength OF
10000 men will enable the corps to meet all
demands which will be made upon it and
considerably increase its sphere of useful
ness. AS the present authorized strength
of the marine corps is 5000 men it will be
seen that it's commandant Is clearly en-
titled to the rank Of major general even
the single ground that the number OF
men in the corps constitutes an appropriate
command for that rank.
The marine corps is the only branch OF
the service having five-year enlstments 1t
is recommended that the period of enlist
ment in the marine corps be reduced to four
years.
I'm conclusion, feel justified in stating
that the valuable and efficient services rem
dered by the marines in the Philippines and
China during the past year have fully sus-
tanned the reputation which the corps has |
m MT a since its organization