Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-07
Expense of Fitting Up Troop
ships
DISCUSSED BY GEN, BRECKENRIDGE
Other Matters Considered in
Supplementary Report.
THE LOCAL SOLDIERS HOME

appear to be well in hand, and that the
pacification in that country is making good
Roadway. Reports from Cuba and Porto
Rico indicate a settled condition in those
islands. He recommends a United States
depository be established at Manila for
handling government funds.
An interesting feature of the report is a
statement that about - per cent of the
animals purchased for the Philippines and
Cuba became wholly or totally blind. which
indicates the effect of tropical climate upon
their eyesight.
The emergency ration is pronounced ex-
cellent, but it is recommended that more
care be paid TO the packing of goods for
their preservation.
Speaking of the water transportation for
the army, 1t is stated the inspection reports
show that the ventilatinS systems the
ships were unsatisfactory, and that while
the crews were satisfactory and efficient,
there was an excessive number employed
compared with commercial steamers.
Altering Army Transports.
THE immense expenditures on account of
the transport service" says General Breck-
inridge, attract attention and demand con-
slant watchfulness and careful supervision
and scrutiny. so that the public interests
may be properly safeguarded.' In altering
and repairing transports it is reported that
the sum of s4,UUo.WO, approximately, was
expended at San Francisco alone up to
February -. 1871 Two illustrations of
penditures on boats given: The Sumner,
which was purchased for S16S.O 900. has had
expended on her for fitting up SS51,OOO, and
for repairs since SlODUtO. mixing a total cost
to the government of S91S,sHD: and the War
rem, which was purchased for S2OO.tJJ, has
had expended on her for fitting up s14S. 1874,
and for repairs since sl9i341 making a to-
tai cost to the government of sJf2, 90.
General Breckenridge calls attention to
the expense of repairing and refittinS
transports, and advises careful scrutiny of
this work He also quotes from the reports
of officers of his bureau relative to the coal
supply of the transports and says that it
is observed that very good qualities of coal
at low prices can be obtained on Puget
sound from either Washington or Canadian
coal.
Quoting from Major Lowering he says
that the climatic effect employees in the
Philippines is very marked. and the ca
pacity for work of such employees dmin-
ishCs from month to month
National Cemeteries.
In a general chapter on national Gene
teries General Breckenridge says, in part:
''Fifty-eight per cent of the national GEM
eterieS were inspected during the fiscaT
year ended June 30 1901 under the biennial
system of inspections. The superintendent
are generally reported efficient and of good
habits. and the excellent appearance of
many OF the cemeteries, lodges, grounds.
exc, is Indication of the painStaking care
and attention bestowed by the superintend-
entS. The amount OF funds allowed for the
hire of labor in the care of the grounds is
reported inadequate in some instances, and
in others higher rate of pay for labor is
desired
With a few exceptions. the graves are
reported receiving proper care and are
iIi good condition. The national cemetery.
Arlington, Va, is said to contain room for
1!o,GOo more graves Some of the head
stones are reported in need of cleaning and
ST,mP line these
tons their care and condition are reported
as satisfactory. Arlington, Va, and Hamp
ton, Va. are reported as having the high
est annual rate of interment, the figures
being :;.1i and POO per annum, respectively.
FIagstaffs of iron and wood, with few
ceptions. are in good condition: a few of
them said to be too short. The quality
and sufficiency of the water supply and con-
ditiOn of drainage and sewerage are geler-
ally reported fairly satisfactory. In some
cases the supply of water is not sufficient
for irriSating purposes. The reports midi
cate that the average estimated cost of
maintaining cemetery for one year, in =
Guiding the pay CT the superintendent, is
about $500
The Soldiers Home.
Regarding the Soldiers Home in this city
General Breckenridge says: There were
1889 persons on the rolls of the institution
June 80 last $50 of whom were present at
the home.
There appears room for approximately
30 additional inmates. At the present rate
of increase this available room would seem
sufficient for several years to come, but
with the augmented army and the arduous
and tropical service they are now COM
PEELED TO undergo provisions for the accom-
mediation of increased admissions viii
probably have to be considered.
The buildings and grounds were in eX-
cellent police and in admirable condition
and repair, though some trouble about
foundation and tendency to leakage in
dictated. The matter of demOiishing the
Anderson building, 10 make room for an
addition to the Scott building, should be
considered with extreme care. and it must
be remembered that the Anderson build ng,
now in good condition and fair repair stood
when the home was first conceived and
was used by President Lincoln as a sum-
mer home. and other Presidents, like Buch-
anan, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur, also
spent portions of their summers there. The
Scott building is already a huge structure,
and the advisabil!ty OF making further ad-
ditions may be open to question, and posi-
bly, IL a new amusement hall is needed and
wanted it may be better to build it as
separate structure, or an amusement hall
and mess hall combined, an with over 500
acres TO select from. doubt an eligible
site could be determined on without the
necessity Of razng such traditional and
historic building as the Anderson.
The Clerical Force.
Gen. Breckenridge makes the following re-
marks concerning the clerical force of his
Office:
"I7cannot conclude this report more fit
tingiy than BY reference to the clerks of
this department and bureau. The zeal. in
telligence and devotion to duty which have
been shown by them under every crcum-
stance and condition merit my highest ap-
probation, and 1t affords special pleasure to
invite attention to the faithful, efficient and
valuable service which they have cheerfully
rendered. The successful accomplishment
Of mucn of their work requires intense APP
, plication and special ability, and frequently
demands extra hours OF labor, and they
have habitually met every demand of what
ever nature with the utmost cheerfulness.
This office enjoys unique distinction in
respect to it's clerical force. which is that
its chief clerk is compensated at the rate
OF clerk of class four, namely, 81 800 per
annum. This fragrant discrimination can
hardly be defended. and the urgent neces-
sity of a chief clerk at 5000 for this of
nce, thus placing it upon the same footing
as the other bureaus of the War Depart
ment, must be quite apparent and should
need no argument to support it. The legal
responsibilities of the position should b.
properly recognized and suitably rewarded
md he hIrfip