The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-13


bursed During the Last Fiscal
Near-RecOmmend Hs to the
Supply Fund and StorehOuses.
In his annual report 10 Secretary Lone.
A. S. Kenny, the Paymaster General Ga
the Navy. devoJes considerable space L.
an argument in behalf OF an Improvement
in the navy ration. ON this subject ne
says:
1t has been evident for some years
that the ration fixed by the law OF July,
1861, was deficient IN quantity and va
Tiety. This deficiency was manifested not
in complaints by the enlisted men nor in
official reports by officers. but Ia an et-
fort TO remedy the defects OF the law
by fixed monthly contributions from the
individual members of berth-oeck mtsses.
Thus each mess raised fund for buylns
fresh vegetables and fruits in their sea-
son, and various deliCaCicS whenever
ship was in port. This measures, purely
voluntary on the part of the men, was en-
cOUraged by the officers of cruising ships
as affording a much-needcd relief from
the inelastic diet fixed by law. 1t next
became evident, however that this meth
Cd involved great waste through lack of
proper organization and management and
could be had at no greater expense If
the several bcrth-deck messes were or
ganized as one general mess, with com
mon fund of contributed money, admins
tered by an officer for the benefit of the
whole. This led TO the allowance Of a
commissary yeoman in a ships compile
ment for the purpose Of properly admins
tering the fund under the supervision OF
an officer, and the addition OF this yeo-
man to the complement is the sole official
recognition, with the exception Of the pro-
vision in Article So United States
Navy Regulations. of the system that has
so grown up outside of the regulations.
Being thus unauthorized and consequent
ly unmiIitary, there were inevitable de-
fects in the results.
Special Board Suggested
BY way of dealing comprehensively
with the matter, and with a view 90 re-
tanning the good features while eliminat-
ing the bad. "A board OF seven officers was
constituted by your order Of July 10 1891,
Capt. John J. bunker. L. s. n. senior
member, for considering and reporting
upon the entire subject. with rocommen-
daiiOns
The report analyses ard thoroughly
discusses the subject and recommends the
to cost about 30 cents per man per diem,
which is the present nominal and Commu-
tatiOn value, and TO contain everything
necessary To support the health and we'll
being Of the men in every climate. with
plan for administration involving certain
radical changes with regard TO the per
sonnet Of the Commissary and galley
force atlOat-
THE board, in its search for a satisfac-
tory solution Of the messing problem on
ehf
of military organization the pay officer
should act as COmmissary Of TIE gen
oral mess, and as such should have direct
authority, under the captain. over COM
nlisSary stewards. cooks, bakers. and 9TH
eTs AT the galley.
The pay division so proposed would be
an important factor in the ships mill
tary organization. and it's constituent
units, Of course. could rot belong to any
other division at quarters without de-
stroying both the efficiency OF the mess
organization and the responsibility Of the
pay officer therefor"
Financial Work of the Omce.
Discussing the financial operations Of
his Office. the Paymaster General says:
The financial operations Of the bureau.
during the fiscal year herein exhibited
cover all expenditures made from appro-
priatiOns for the naval establishment.
and show IN principal items as follows:
Total credits. including balance from
last fiscal year. SI2l. 80 1G0.36: total cebits.
S134S6. u0l2; leaving a balance Of aupro-
priations on June 90. 1901. Of SIS ~. 40 .;
amount drawn from the Treasury. $50 lEq
9e--s9; expenditures on account OF con-
strucuOn, including labor. material. and
purchase OF yard craft. floating appH-
ances. etc, so. 644 2I7S7; cost Of repairs TO
ships and eqUipage at home and abroad.
1905 fo6-us. cost Of maintaining ships in
commission, including pay Of officers and
men, together with the value Of srbsfst-
chce or Communication thereof and Incl
Osnt1I expenses and material expended
Si5,oZt ,SeS-sli expenditures on account OF
Marine Corps. Z.364 500 90 cost 10 the
navy OF the lighthouse establishment 81
I55lzs Cf the Coast and GeOdetic Survey
egy't51yl' OF the Fish Commission 500
toNs8s for arming and equiDping the naval
militia Of the several States including
mate -ial furnished, 50. 133 Is; the deposits
81 SAVINGS by sedmen during the year
amount 20, Sas3. go. 90; and the reuaymeuts.
SsSa.siAVs' total amount to the credit OF
tue fund on June 20, 1901. was. S5f5.Z5 g6,
interest paid at per cent per auuum
upon repayment amOUnted to. S.G3yI 81
NJ nile the resources Of the bur -au have
been found adequate TO meet the demands
MADE upon II, the personnel Of The Paw
CORPS has been taxed TO tho utmost 70
provide for the increased enlisted force
OF the navy and Marine Corps TO iii out
new ships. and to furnish thos. in com
mission win the supplies necessary TO
maintain them in a condition Of efficiency
During the past year the officers Of ne
pay corps OF the navy have breu com
EtanLy employed. both auOat and ashore
IN the discharge OF the duties connected
Win the disbursement Of all money am
propriated for the naval establishment
the care and issue OF Government r,ro-,-
eftF pertaining 10 the naval Scr,ia-,. ana
other work incident 10 the maracer8ayf
OF tAe vast business of the navy T-urgerf.T
responsibilities have al times rested Dn
individual officers. the purchasing nav
nfhcer at New York alone HAVING dis
buISlu approximately $50 90 Oh ON e usu
vouchers But three officers of The nav.
corps were or duty on the agrh d4v Of
INT. l1h-tWO on sick leave and .0rr
hlLse detailed 10 duty. ON waiting orders
II became necessary during tn wear
= r'lev, about fifteen pay officers On
ouiy DO The philippines. who mad com
pieteu thrsl-TcaTs. CrIisc. Th.s, rcIi,fs
could nc obtained only bc d,ta.G.Eg from
tl9Ir stations IN Ihe United States nav
oIlr'ES v nose services could IiI De. SHARED
In several instances involving the ASSIGN
H"lt ol some officers 90 double ,Iur,- ~
n--adtaHtage Co the work fr hand
A'- the officers thus relieved had
returned 10 was found necessary in .,I
most every Instance 10 order them L. duty
llnEf dlat'iE without the leave OF absence
winch every officer should have after lour.
service ln tropical climates. The necessity