Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-22
Annual Report of the Quar-
termaster General.
EXTENT OF HIS WORK
APPROPRIATION OF OVER $53,.
10000 HANDLED.
Larger Clerical Force-Favors a Plan
Tor the Retirement of superan-
nuated Government Employees.

General Humphrey quartermaster gem
eral OF the army, has made an interesting
report to the Secretary of War regarding
the operations OF that important branch of
the army during the past fiscal year An
idea of the magnitude of the work of tho
department is shown in the fact that it
handled appropriations aggregating s53.-
593.J02 last year. Its work begins with
supplying the recruit with his first army
clothing and extends to providing and
caring for the soldiers last resting place.
and between these two extremes there is
included all that is necessary to properly
clothe, equip. shelter and transport. by
land and water, the entire army, it's sup
plies of every class and kind
Work of the Department.
The total cost Of animals, wagons and
harness purchased by the department dur
ing the past fiscal year is given as ST.. ESQ.
There was shipped to the Philippines 81
6S4,OOO pounds OF hay and 40 99s 600 pounds
of oats, while LAG, 1872 pounds of native
forage were purchased in the Philippines.
Durlng the year transportation was fur
nished, exclusive of army transport serv-
ice, for 2O,910 persons, 6,266 animals and
261 ,593 tons of freight. There were carried
from San Francisco to the Philippines by
the army transports 10.036, and from the
Philippines to San Francisco, 1881 per-
sons.
General Humphrey saws that n careful
and exhaustive compilation of expenditures
made on account of the army transport
service during the fiscal year. embracing
all expenditures which can be properly
charged against the army transport service,
shows that there has been expended So
074024. The value OF the work performed
by the army transports on the basis OF
the lowest obtainable rates offered for the
same service he says was 81, Az, 260, n
difference in favor of the army transport
service of $39s. 236. The report adds:
In considering this report on the cost to
the government of the army transport serV-
ice 1t is to be borne in mind that the
earnings have, in addition to supporting
the service and leaving a margin of $685.
286 also kept in good condition the reserve
fleets in San Francisco and New York
harbors, which have been available at all
times for any service which they might he
called upon to perform.
THE total cost of caring for these idle
transports has been s126, 400. which in the
above statement has been charged against
the army transport service"
The Army Transport Service.
Continuing, he says:
Another years experience has only
tended to confirm and emphasize the views
expressed In my last annual report as to
the utility, economy and necessity of the
army transport system and the wisdom OF
continuing our present policy in its opera
ton"
The cost of the inter-island transport ser
vice in the Philippines, it is stated. has
been $STS, 763, or 1898, 163 less than the same
service would cost at commercial rates.
The disbursements by the Quartermaster
generals office on account of the maneu-
vers at Portland Me-; West Point, Ky,
and Fort Riley, Kan, It is stated, aggre-
gated s4S9, 1903. A recommendation for fifty
additional post quartermaster Sergeants is
made. General Humphrey says q general
service corps is desirable on the grounds of
efficiency, economy and discipline. In time
of war or in emergency such a corps would
furnish a body of trained men to instruct
and direct appontees from civil life and
civilian employees.
More Clerks Needed.
so important is the matter of the CHI
Gent ana expeditions transaction of bust
ness in this office, and so embarrassed has
the office been of late because of con-
stsntly decreasing force. long since reduc-
ed. in numbers below what is absolutely
necessary to actually prevent the great
volume of work from falling in arrears.
that tho quarterms ster general strongly
recommends some increase in his clerical
force and earnestly urges early favorable
consideration of the recommendation in the
interest of the proper and efficient admin
istration of his office. An increase
ployes over the number allowed this office
when l succeeded to ii in April, 1893. but
simply that the gradual constant and
practical Gripping be stopped and the nu-
merical strength OF the force be restored
to what it was when / assumed charge of
the office.
1T is recommended that authority be
given, by law if necessary, to temporarily
employ clerks to fill vacancies existing
when regular employees absent from
their duties for longer period than sixty
days in one year, this authority TO be
coupled with the proviso that such tempo
rary employees shall be paid only from tie
funds appropriated or allotted for the po-
sition temporarily made vacant, the eN-
pense of clerical assistance in no case to
exceed the sum regularly allowed the Of
fee.
Retirement of Employees.
II have always been, and am now in
favor of the adoption of some conservative
and practicable plan looking to the retire
ment of superannuated employees of the
government. In the course of long years
of service, In many cases covering periods
equal to an average lifetime. employees nat
urally reach the higher grades, and wheu
the course of nature asserts itself and the
old employees can no longer render efficient
services, younger clerks must assume the
burden and responsibilities of carrying on
the business of the office. while the older
ones stand I'm the way of giving them the
duties entities them. The head of a de-
partment very naturally hesitates to recon-
mend the reduction of employees who have
faithfully and efficiently given the best
years of their lives to the governments
service. and does not want to even consider
the question of dischargins them alto
gether.
This exceedingly difficult problem would
be solved If there existed some system OF
retirement. 1t will not do to answer this
by saying that in long period of service
the employees should have sufficient to pro-
vide a competence for old age. Govern
ment salaries and Washington living e1-
penses are not conducive to affiuence.
Not Civil Pensions.
II do not want to be understood as advo-
eating any system of civil pensions. The
employees themselves have formulated a
plan under which the funds necessary to
provide for retired pay would be supplied
from their own salaries. AS / am inform
ed much thought and study has been given