Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-24
CoMMISSARY'S REPORT.
General weston Says There was So
551 ,6O3 Expended During Year.


551, ,6O3 Expended During Year.
Washington, Oct 24.--Tne annual
report Of General John r. weston,
chief commiSsary Of the army, shows
that there was placed to the credit Of
the bureau SIG. .357, ,044, and there has
been expended So, ,551, ,603 during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1902.
Speaking Of the withdrawal from
Cuba General Weston commends the
management of the commissary de-
partment in the island under Colonel
w. &. Alexander He also conmends
Captain Hugh J. Gallagher, who had
charge of the relief expedition to Mar
Unique, of whom Essays:
Great credit is due Captain Gala
gher for the manner in which he dis
charged the humane and delicate mis-
sion with which he was intrusted. and
demonstrates. as other occasions have
gone to proye-Cuba and China-that
he is notably man for emergencies y,
Concerning affairs in the Philippines
General Weston says:
Subsistence affairs in the Pbilin-
pines have presented at all times com
piex and difficult problems. but The
present period has been one Of ex-
IRENE difficulty to meet satisfactorilv
New and shifting conditions have aris-
en- at every step and what is wisdom
to-day becomes futility tomorrow
SO that it has been impossible to man
out any definite plan or make . nrov--
ldent recommendation: but it is eY
pected that a settled and satisfactory
OASIS will soon be reached, and upon
which intelligent action NAV he
founded
The question of transformation is
most difficult and Important one inst
now, particularly with regard to the
department of south Philippines. The
lack of adequate TRANSPORTATION faci1i-
ties IS the cause of Just and endless
complaint, and brings criticism and
odlum on the subsistence department.
for failure in matter over which IL
has no control but which SO yitallv
concerns it. Troops in marSy nJaces
are wholly dependent upon the snh-
slstence department for their food
supply and they complain of being de-
prived Of. supplies not only absolutely
essential to health. such as beef, fresh
vegetables and ice, but others re-
quired for their wants and comfort.
Large losses are entailed by delays in
shipments Of perishable stores"
General Weston recommends that
wherever permanent posts are located
in the Philippines that cold storage
and ice making plants be provided. In
this connection he has the following
to say concerning fresh beef: seThero
has at all times been an abundant SUP.
ply Of first class refrigerated meats.
which was procured in Australia at
reasonable prices and brought by yes
sells Of the navy to Manila, where it
was placed in cold storage. The
prices paid with all expenses included
have been very reasonable, and are in
wide contrast with those paid for the
British army in South Africa. where
the cost of q ration of beef alone has
equalled the cost Of our entire ration
of beef, -four, fresh and dried yege-
tables. fruit. coffee. sugar. etc. deIiy-
cred in Manila. There were S.573.-
972 pounds Of beef and mutton sun-
piled of most excellent quality. 1T
was necessary to procure this beef
from Australia. as the ravages of rim
derpest has almost totally DESTROYED
the cattle, carabao and swine in the
Tt is feared now that on
account OF the drought in Australia
that the price of fresh meat will ad-
vance, and with this prospect in view
steps have been taken to obtain
new market and the delivery of fresh
meat by mercantile vessels"