The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-22
ARMYABIC BURDEN
Quartermaster General Asks for
More Clerical Force.
ManeuVers Last Fall Cost Nearly
Half Million.

Washington, Nov. 22.-General c. F.
Humphrey. quartermaster general in
his annual report to the secretary Of
war, says the enormous amount of
work involved in meeting the needs of
the army, can hardly be comprehended
by any one hot in close touch with the
service Continuing. he says:
This work, which would tax the
best ability and energies of a force
numerically strong enough to permit of
giving it proper official attention at all
points, has been made doubly onerous
because of the inadequate number OF
Quartcrmasters now provided by law
and the greatly depleted civilian force
in the quartermaster generals ONCE.
General Humphrey strongly recon-
mends some increase in his clerical
force.
The total cost OF animals, wagons and
harness purchased by the department
during the past fiscal year is given at
$527, ESQ.
There were shipped to the Philip
pines 37,654,OO0 pounds of hay and a.
$50 600 pounds OF oats, while 2l,246,l92
pounds of native forage We're purchas-
ed exclusive of army transport service
for S20,S10 persons, 6,266 animals ana
261, 593 tons of freight. There were car
ried from San Francisco to the Phil
ippines by the army transports 1O,5S5I
and from the Philippines to San Fran
cisco, 1881 persons.
has been expended during the fiscal
year on account of the army transport
service $3,074,024 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 SO, 472, 260, or difference IN
favor of the army transport service OF
$S9S 236. The report says:
The earnings have, in ADDITION TO
supporting the service and leaving a
margin of 1896, 236, also kept in GOOD
condition the reserve fleets in San Fran
cisco and New York harbors, when
have been available at all times for
any service for which they might be
called upon to perform
'sThe total cost of caring for these
idle transports has been $126, 402,
which, in the above statement has
been charged against the army trans
port service"
Another years experience has only
tended to confirm and emphasize the
views expressed in my last annual re-
port as to the utility, economy and
necessity of the army transport sys-
tenn, and the wisdom of continuing
our present policy in its operation"
The cost of the inter-island trans
port service in the Philippines has
the same service would cost at com
merciaI rates.
The disbursements by the quarter
master generals office on account of
the maneuvers at Portland. Ne, West
Point, Kentucky, and Fort Riley,
Kan. aggregated $4S9, 800. A recon-
mendation for so additional post quar-
termaSter sergeantS is made. General
Humphrey says a general service
corps is desirable on the grounds of
efficiency, economy and discipline. In
time of war or emergency such a corps
would furnish a body of trained men
to instruct and direct appointees from
civil life and civilian employees.
Some conservative and practical
plan looking to the retirement of
superannuated employees of the gov
eminent is advised. It will not do, the
report says, to say that in long
period of service the employees should
have saved sufficient to provide a COM
petence for old age adding:
Government salaries and Wash
ington living expenses are not con-
ducive to aff1uence."