The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-17
WAR OFFICE RED TAPE.
now DEPARTMENT ExHAuSTs
TIME DOING NOTHING.
Not Desiring 20 Furnish Information
Requested, IL Adopts Method OF
Accumulation Worrying 10 the
Flesh and Void of Result.

Special Dispatch TO the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON. April lathe war de-
partment evidently does not desire TO fur-
nish any information regarding the num-
Der Of volunteer soldiers who served IN the
Spanish American war and in the Philip
pines who have been ordered home and
discharged without receiving any travel
pay. furlough or extra pay.
Representative Jones, having introduced
a bin providing an appropriation TO reim-
hurse such soldiers sought informant ton OF
this character from the secretary or war.
Mr. Jones was asked 10 make his appli-
oation formally in writing. and now after
period OF more than six weeks has
elapsed his letter f. returned TO him COW
cred all over with Endorsements from
clerks and chiefs OF divisions in the war
department. until Il has become curios-
ity. equaled only by Egyptian papyrus.
After having run out Of blank space on
the margin and on the back Of MIR. Jones'
letter they began attaching sheets OF pa
per by strips OF adhesive cloth and cover
ing these additional sheets with typewrit-
ten Endorsements and signatures and sig
natures and rubber stamps and numbers
indicating what particular query this was
In each particular division. One OF these
numbers Is bS2S1A
The gist Of all these Inducements is that
neither the adjutant generals office nor
the paymaster generals office possesses
the information desired. al records having
been turned over to the record and PEN
sion office and all mustor-out pay rolls to
the auditor Of the war department. The
record and pension office acknowledges
that 1T is true that during the war with
Spain many disabled volunteer soldiers
were ordered TO their homes 90 await their
discharge and u Is probably true that
many of them received neither travel pay,
furlough. sick leave. or extra pay"
shR ~ mi h,x IA.
clares that III Is impossible 60 ascertain
the number Of those thus ordered 10 their
homes. or 10 discriminate between those
who received furloughs or extra pay, or
those who received neither OF those gratu-
tiles"
He further adds: III is, however TO he
considered that the time consumed in
awaiting "A discharge was IN effect, fur
lauRh and that II soldiers did not receive
travel pay they were furnished with trans
portation."
The meat ef the whole report. however.
comes. like woman's postscript in tho
last sentence, which says; THE cost 81
the proposed legislation cannot be approx
mated"
Representative Jones' secretary. who Ia
a careful student of the great Dickens.
says that the English cireumlocution office
is not In q with the red tape Of our federal
institutions.
Notes OF the Army.
Mai. william r. Tucker. paymaster II.
s. A.. has been relieved from duty as chief
paymarter OF the department OF the lakes
and ordered 20 Seattle for duty as chief
paymaEter Of the department ~ Alaska
Capt Edgar =. walker Eighth infantry.
now at Fort Smelling. MINI. has been ord
cred 10 Seattle for duty as chief com
missary Of the department Of Alaska and
as depot commissary AT ~. Michael. Alas
ka.
President Mckinley has increased the al
l0wance o. rations for troops serving ia
the department Of Alaska. such Increase
being considered necessary on account af
the severity OF the climate IN that DEPART
ment. The principal additions are ln larg~
err quantities OF sugar, fresh vegetables
and bacon.
Private John " Horne, hospital corpr.
who has been on furlnugh Mt Seattle from
Fort wrargel Alaska. will be Transferred
to Fort Wright. at spokane. lie has been
ordered 10 report "a the commanding of
fieer at that post on the expiration of his
furlouRh.
Banning Austin, ~ New Whateam. IL be-
Ing urged for appointment az deputy SUR
yeyar of Alaska, Austin has been tesi-
dent ~ Alaska about four years and mas
good reputation as an engineer
r. WRIGHT. accredited to the state ~
Washington. has just been appointed a
egmposltor In the government printing Of
fee IN this city,