Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-28
Complaints on Behalf Of En-
listed Men.
USING POST BUILDINGS
ALLEGED THAT OFFICERS CROWD
OUT THE OTHERS.
Charges Concerning Governors Island
and Fort Myer-Gen. Ainsworth's
Report on the Subject.

Gen. Ainaworth the military secretary,
has made a report to the Secretary of War
In regard to various complaints of military
administration at Governors Island N. Y,
and at Fort Myer, Va. 1t was alleged that
the enlisted men at Governors Island are
almost entirely crowded out of a building
constructed at that post for the conduct of
the post exchange, amusement rooms, gym
Easium. etc; that similar building at
Fort Myer. Va, to a less extent has been
devoted to officers; that the clerks in the
military seCretarys Office are kept busy all
day Sunday In preparing campaign mate
rial and that work on the filtration plant
in this city is carried on on Sundays.
Conditions at Governors Island.
with regard to the post exchange build
ing at Governors Island, says the military
secretary, the commanding general. De-
partment Of the East states that an old
building. which had formerly been used
as an officers club, was remodeed and en-
larged from an allotment of $4,000, from
the appropriation of $500, coo, made in the
act of Congress- approved June 50, 1902, for
the construction at military posts of build
ings to be used as post exchanges, amuse-
ment rooms gymnasiums, etc; that there
is an enlisted mems room on the first floor.
which has been used by them since October
last; that this room is amply and comforta-
bly, furnished with rugs, tables and chairs;
that there is a room known as the lecture
room, which the department commander
has authorized to be used as chapel by
the Roman Catholics, though not set aside
exclusively for such purposes. This room
is also available as an assembly room Tor
enlisted men for lectures concerts ana Tor
other purposes. and is handsomely carpet
ed and fitted up with folding chairs TO
seat large audience
Use of the Bowling Alley.
The bowling alley has not heretofore
been in regular use but orders have been
issued for it's use by the enlisted men of
the garrison. with the proviso that, If
practicable it may be reserved one night
each week for the use of the officers and
their families. The room known as the
ASSEMBLY room is available for the use
of both officers and enlisted men as
place in which to give assemblies, recep-
tons or other entertainments The kitchen
and the dining room on the second floor
are set aside for an officers mess. and the
remainder of the rooms on the second floor
are used as officers club, these rooms
having always been a feature of the old
building. The department commander
adds, as his belief, that the fact that the
rooms in the building were to be used as
at present assigned was well known at
the War Department. but should there have
been any mistake in aloting the money
for remodeling this building entirely from
the appropriation for the erection of mill
tary post exchanges, he suggests that there
be a transfer of funds to place the expen-
ditures where they equitably belong.
The Fort Myer Building.
with regard to the post exchange at
Fort Myer Va, Chaplain Chas. c. Pierce,
the exchange officer and Col Charles Nor
ton, 7th Cavalry. the post commander,
state that the building at that post is kept
absolutely for the enlisted men, and that
officers have room set aside for them,
nor have they any special privilege, and
that the building is open for public inspec-
ton every day but Sunday.
As to Work on Sunday
THE statement that the clerks in the
military secretary's Office are kept busy on
Sunday in preparing political campaign
material is untrue. The work of the army,
however, goes on on Sunday and there is
duty in the military secretary's office
sufficient number of clerks on Sunday to
attend to such business must be at
tended to without delay. Nothing is known
in this office of work being carried on at
al, xN1.,, H.,