Evening star., 1902-01-16
Bill to Strengthen It in the Philip
pines.
MORE QUARfERMA MASTERS NEEDED
Recommendations by Admiral
Remey and Secretary Long.
ADJUTANf AND INSPECTOR


Secretary Long has sent to the House
naval committee draft Of a bill for
strengthening the Marine Corps. with par
ticular reference to the service in the Phil
ippines, by providing an additional assist
ant adjutant and Inspector. with the rank
of major; three additional alartermasters
with the rank OF captain, and by authoriz-
Ing the filing from civil life. in lie discre-
tion Of the President of existing vacancies
in the grade OF sesonA lieutenant
Admiral Remeyas Suggestion.
The secretary says this increase in the
strength OF the Marine Corps Is strongly
recommended by the commandant Of the
corps although at this time it originates
win the commander-in-chief Of the Asiat.c
station. Rear Admiral George C. Remey.
With respect to the necessity for the ser
vice In the Philippines of an assistant adju-
tanl ana Inspector. admiral Remey says:
Deifeve 1t would conduce very much to
the emciency of this organization If an as
Sistant adJutant and inspector were regu-
larly assigned to the marine brigade. He
would nave his hanus full; for Inspections
OF outlying detachments would be frequent
ing them"
The duties devolving on the ouartermas-
ters IN tne philippines and elsewhere the
secretary says. has recently Increased to
suen degree that the present force Is
wholly inadequate to meet the demands of
sne service: Accordingly. it has been neces-
sary 70 detail line officers to the duty, q
practice unsatisfactory and detrimental,
the secretary says to the best interests of
the service. On this point Admiral Remey
says: -
oMcers of Expertence Indispensable
For the efficient discharge OF the duties
OF adjutant and inspector, quartermaste1
and paymaster. duly appointed and quail
ned officers Of experience are indispensa BILE
deem 1t to be detrimental to the inter
ests OF this command and to the Marine
corps to have these positions filled by tenn
porary assignments Of whatever officers
may be available, The present strength of
the brigade is not far from being equal
TO the whole number serving on shore In
the United States, while the difficulties of
conditions and communications are here
mucn the greater. Its quartermaster and
pay departments are far from satisfactory
ana are now in the hands Of first and sec
ond lieutenants, respectively while much of
their work Is done by naval officers. II
may De added that In the Marine Corps
assistant quaEtermasters perform also du-
ties which In, the army are DISCHARGED by
commissartes, and efn the Philippines as
slstant quartermasters have had assigned
TO them the dptfes OF brigade pay officers. -
Vacancies In Second Lieutenants,
Secretary Long continues: 'If promo
tions to fill vacafncias now existing in the
Marine Corps were made, twelve vacancies
in the list of f"second lieutenants would re-
main untitled ioUndat the provisions Of the
personnel act. appro9ed March 8, 1889, there
can be no more appointments to the Marine
Corps from civil life. Appointments may
be made from the fist of graduates from the
Naval Academy and from meritorious non.
commissioned lOffiears of the Marine Corps;
but these! souEGes of supply do not promise
to furnish officers as rapidly as they are
needed in order to Complete the complement
of the Marine Corps as established BY law.
Under the circumstances above recited the
i department coneurs IN the comma nder-in-
: chief of the -Asiatie station and with the
commanda1t Of the Marine Corps in the
conclusion that something should be done to
strengthen this branch Of the service, and
also commends to the favorable considera-
ton of the committee the measure EN-
bodied In the inclosed draft"