Evening star., 1901-11-23
CAN BUY NEW SWORDS
APPRoFSkIATI6Ns FOR FURNITURE
AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Controller of the Treasury Transmits
Opinion Authorizing Additional
Supplies for Local Cadet Corps.

The cori roller of the treasury has re-
ceived and answered the following letter
from the District Commissioners:
The Commissioners have the honor to
transmit herewith with request Tor Your
opinion on. the question involved, COM
municatioff from the board Of education, In
closing letter from DR.. F. X. Lane, direc-
tor of the high schools, relative to the pay
ment of expenses incidental to the cadet
feature of the high schools under the pro-
visions of the appropriation act for the
current fiscal year
The questions ON which decision is
asked are as follows:
81. Can officers swords for use of the
Manual Training School Cadets (white and
colored) be purchased from the funds ap-
propriated for furniture and equipment Of
these schools?
"2. Can repairs to guns be paid from the
appropriation for the contingent expenses
of the public schools?
SO. Can officers swords, belts, etc. now
In actual use by the High School Cadets,
but out of repair, be repaired and the cost
paid from the contingent appropriation?
a. Can new side arms Officers swords,
belts, etc. be purchased from said appro-
priation?'
Drill a Form of instruction.
Mr.. Tracewell in his decision, says:
THE board of education has included in
the high school curriculum military instruc-
ton as a part. of the regular school work
has appointed from It's members committee
on military affairs and has made rules and
regulations for the government of the cadet
feature of the schools, and for many years
military instructor has been employed,
who is ranked and paid as one of the regu-
lar teachers of the public schools. The
board has lately established in the Manual
Training Schools the cadet feature hereto
fore prevailing In the high schools, and has
placed these schools in all matters con-
nected with military instruction under the
same rules and regulations as obtain
throughout the high school system.
''The public resolution of February ), 1891
C2i Stat. lib, authorizes the Secretary of
war, in his discretion and under proper
regulations to be prescribed by him, to is
sue such ordnance and ordnance stores as
may appear to be required for military in
struction and practice by the students Of
the High School of Washington, d. c.,
and prescribes that he shall require bond
in each case for the care and safekeeping
thereof, and for the return Of the same
when required. 1t is understood that un-
der this law. the High School Cadets have
received rifles, accouterments, ammunition,
etc, and 1t Is presumed that the Manual
Training School Cadets will be similarly
equipped. The side arms now in use by
the High School Cadets are not the prop
erty of the United States, but were pur-
chased by the principals of the various
high schools with funds raised by school
entertainments.
Purchases Are Authorized.
"On the foregoing statement of facts
am of opinion:
Il. That officers swords for use Of the
Manual Training School Cadets may be
purchased from the appropriation for fur
nfture and equipment of these schools, pro-
vided the proper authorities, by order or
other appropriate action, have included or
shall include them as a part of the equip
ment of the manual training schools.
'.2 That necessary repairs to the guns,
the property of the United States. may lie
paid for from the appropriation for contin-
gent expenses of the public schools, which
provides for other necessary items not
otherwise provided for since no more spe-
cific appropriation has been made to meet
the costs which may grow out of the re-
qufrement of law, for the care, safekeeping
and return of the guns.
IS. That the appropriations for cont;n-
gent expenses is not available for the re-
pair of swords, belts, etc, now in Use by
the High School Cadets. Not being the
property of the United States, they cannot
properly be repaired at the expense of the
United States.
n. That the appropriation for contingent
expenses is not available for the purchase
Of new swords, belts, etc. for the High
School Cadets In view of the long -esrab-
Iished custom in regard to the procurement
of these equipments without aid from the
government, of which custom Congress may
be presumed to have been aware, | am of
the opinion that no authority for their pro-
curement at the expense of the United
States can be inferred from the language
OF the appropriation"