New-York tribune., 1901-02-03
SOLDIERS OLD CLOTHES
NOW IT HAPPENS THAT THEY ARE
OFTEN WORN By MEN WHO
NENEI: MERE SOLDIERS.

\ MAR r,cari,sy Army coat with great rents
in In, s.,e.tr, a tattered hat Of the Rough Rider
pattern. shoes much the worse for wear and
Army trousers That We're so stained and fringed
that if they had ever seen better days it must
have rcen Ions ago stopped a man in Broadway
cue evening lately a.d Lessed for the price of
= nights LODGING"
y beegar in Uncle Sans uniform" said the
man To his companion IT'S disgrace to the
country to see soldier in such a condition."
ana H. dropped "a coia into the trembling hand
q tho military men icant.
SOLD again." said Tie other to the rho-
s,phcal aad patriotic phanthropist. THAT
nm never SAN days service in the Army. lie
IS probably ana az wool. warranted not to wash
buni.'
"!ut the uniform; whore did he get that?
How can man get a coat with the Regular
Army buttons unless he is in the service"
This conversation resulted in an Investigation
whi. proved that tho Government has no patent
on It's military uniforms, or on the buttons
which bear the National emblem. The Army
ana the Navy purchase uniforms and equip
ments from contractors who have the right 10
sell or give away wear any article which the
Government inspectors may refuse to accept.
Colonel A. : kimball. Depot Quartermaster. in
:ps akiEg of the misuse Of Army clothing, said:
There seems 10 be way 10 stop H. our in
their department closely and carefully and no
garment is allowed Ia go into stock if it is not
perfect according to the approved sample. The
reflections are numerous. and the garments must
he turned into money by the contractors. That
IS why YOU see truckmen and laborers with
Army coats, and the beggar Of whom you speak
probably got his outfit AT second hand shop"
But the hcsgars Army clothes may have
seen Army service. and may have come to the
man who dissraces them from the junk shop or
the scrap heap. by the regulations governing
nniforming oi the troops every enlisted man
own his uniform pays for H. and may dispose
~ il when il is worn out or useless as h.. may
seein fit. II he wishes TO give it to a tramp SO
hat he may masquerade a soldier. he Is at
liberty 10 Do So or he may destroy IT,
The allowan,r for priyaics includes for the
three years term two Wooueu blankets. three
hned blouses, two unlincd blouses. two
.aiIs Of boots for Tnount~d troops. four
'Orare caps four ornaments for forage
caps. thr"" canvas fatigue coats. ono uni
lorm dress coat. thirty linen collars. nine
9sirs "f drawers. two pairs 81 leather Gauntlets.
tNcnty-f"ur pairs Of gloves for foot troops OF
Twelve pairs for mounted troops. four campaign
bats. one helmet. one "vercoat seven dark blue
flannel shirts. nine wool KNIT shirts thrc,. pairs
u barracks shoes, eight pairs Of shoes for foot
troops or fivc pairs for mounted troops together
with two pairs Of stable shoes. The list also
includes eighteen pairs of cotton stook kings anG
twelve pairs Il wooll'n stockings thre- pairs os
suspcnders three pairs Of canvas fatigue
trousers seven pairs Of kerscy trousers and
seven pairs Of striped trousers
This outfit is valued at SI2J 81 and if when
the final accounting is made il is found that tn.
soldier has oveTdrawn his account he is charged
with IN" difference which is taken out of his re-
taln"d pay. II. on the other hand he has mad.
requsiti"n for less clothing than the regulations
allow his account is credited with the differ
ence. which ne receive ia cash For tha, rea-
son II rs To the soldiers interest eCoIUlCaf
and make his clothes last as long rs pos
sihle
There are soldiers" said an Army Office
"who when the weather is warm think nothing
Of losing "A blanket or overcoat. But when
the time comes when the warm garments are
needed new purchase must be made and The
soldier usually pays than he received