The Washington times., 1901-11-14

storage facilities at the different yards.
Those at Norfolk. Boston, Mare Island,
and Puget Sound have been found to be
entirely inadequate. The bureau is CIV
ing careful consideration to tlis most
Important matter and is meeting with
hearty cooperation from toe Bureau Of
Yards and Docks. Ii is TO be hoped that
he Department VIII approve all recon-
1endntinus for the increase Of storage IA
rilities at the various yards, for none
will be made at the present time that Is
not urgent
ing been deprived OF the services of the
t. 5 refrigerator ship Culgoa, the neces-
Sitv for providing suitable cold storage Ia
Ciities ashore becomes urgent ISrngo-
rary arrangements have been made by
the junior squadron commander OF inc
Asiattc Station for the storage IN the n
Sular ice plant at Manila ui meat pIouSL'
ny the Glacier aud Celtic. during the az
senCe Of these vessels or while they are
undergoing repairs. This ARRANGEMENT
however. necessitatcS frequent tranSpHr-
tatiOn at considerable expense, with "a
risk of damage to he supplies by reason
Of exposure to the weather. A rclrSera-
tor Or ice box should be erected lnIneui-
4tely at the naval station, CaNlle. NltIS
il would be accessible to the station, Ela-
rine brigade and vessels in the vicinity.
The construction Of a cold storage llghter
for the use of ships of the fleet IS also
reCOmmC nded. Such a vessel should nave
stowage capacity sufticlert Tor thFtf
months demands. and should be con-
structed with a view to its being hauled
out on the ways when necessary. 1t
would have the advantage of being NOV
able and in case of transfer OF the
station or centre of operations could De
towed to the point desired.
Referring TO the collier service, Pay
master General Kenny says:
During the yast year contracts have
been made between the Bureau of Navi-
cation. acting under your direction. and
several civilian merchant captains ap-
pointed under such contracts to the COM
mand of the various United States naval
golfers. These contracts provided for
certain preliminary payments in each case
and subsequent reimbursements from
time to time for money expended by the
merchant captains to enable them tn per-
form the duty assigned under the terms
of their contracts; and as measure 81
protection they We're required to furnish
bonds in a sum sufficient to indemnify the
Government against peCuniary loss. Pur-
suant 10 these agreements Instructions
were issued authorizing certain p2y otti-
GERS to pay over to the respective captains
the amounts required TO enable them to
meet necessary expenses. Because of
recent decision of the Comptroller Of the
Treasury. that under the law payment in
advance Of the performance OF a contract
IS prohibited the Auditor Of the Navy
Department has, in the settlement of
these pay officers accounts, suspt nGed the
amounts paid by them in furtherancc of
the various orders issued In consequence
they are placed in a false position with
regard TO their disbursements. and some
action should be taken to relieve them Of
responsibility in the premises
Il recommend. therefore, that Congress
be asked 10 authorize the advances made
for the purpose Of meeting the expenses
of the United States naval golfers COM
manded by merchant captains under con-
tract with the Bureau Of Navigation