Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-31

far as garrisons in the islands are con-
cerned. such legislation would be i'll ad-
vised."
Laundry Started.
The commanding officer of the Depart
ment of Texas has brought to the attention
OF the department a new feature OF the ex-
change system, which he thinks successful
ly solves problem which has been a
source of more or less trouble in the army,
namely-the washing of the clothing of en-
listed men. 1t has been difficult to hold
men to strict accountability for their APP
pearance at inspections. The plea that
their washerwomen had failed to get their
clothes done in time has to be accepted,
when proven true, and the woman Is always
beyond discipline. Moreover, each pay day
brings the annoyance Of solicitation by
washerwomen for pay claimed to be due
them from the men, and as matter of fact
enllSted men at most of the posts of the
army have to pay from s.. 30 to 81 a month
to laundresses, and in the summer time es-
peclaily, when they are required to wear
khaki uniforms and white trousers, the ex-
pense for their washing is burden on their
small pay.
AS an experiment the post exchange at
Fort Ringgold, Texas, started laundry,
with the wife of an enlisted man as man
ager, and as discovered after few months'
operation that, calculating all expenses, 1t
Is able to do all the laundry work for the
garrison at an expense of 81 per man for
all months excepting June, July, August
and September for which months it can be
done for $1.25 per man, as well as to de-
liver the clean clothing to the men Fri
day afternoons, so as to enable all to pre-
sent a neat appearance at the Saturday
inspection. 1t is entirely optional with the
men as to whether or not they shall patron.
iZe the laundry, but obviously the small
expense presents an Involvement that few
of them resist. The result of this expert
ment has been communicated to the army,
and its successful installation at the larger
military posts may be anticipated.
n,rf,,o tbA
of the army We're committed to the Cow
eminent Hospital for the Insane, under the
orders of the Secretary Of War, of which
10 were enlisted men.
More Room Wanted.
In closing his report Adjutant General
Corbin calls attention to the present I'M
favorable conditions of the offices occupied
by the officers and clerks Of his depart
ment, and says that unless provision il
made by Congress for the renting of addi-
tional outside buildings for the accommo-
dation of some of the minor bureaus the
conditions may become positively danger
Gus. He says that the weight of the files
and papers that are required in the sew
eral bureaus for the prompt and correct
conduct of business will soon exceed the
safety load that can be placed on the floors
Of the War Department building. In some
of the rooms allotted to his office, he says.
that weight has been already unavoidably
exceeded. In justice to those clerks of the
temporary force VINO curing the past TWO
years have demonstrated their efficiency
and capacity for high-class work, he eX-
presses the earnest hope that means may
be devised for their transfer to the regular
roll. The recommendation is renewed
that the law governing leaves of absence be
amended so as to make the annual leave
cumulative. not to exceed ninety days, that
valued clerks, whose devotion to duty pre-
vents their availing themselves Of the an
nual leave in any calendar year may be
able at future time to obtain a heightened
leave for rest or recreation without loss
of pay.