Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-06
ARMY eoss1r 1N wAsHINeToN.
Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.

Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.
Naval recruiting methods have been linz
proved recently by the adoption Of a sys-
TEN OF maintaining sub4statious, adjacent
to the permanent naval recruiting stations.
such as those at Pittsburg, Cleveland and
Omaha. The officers engaged on the work
OF obtaining recruits make periodical visits
from the permanent stations to the sub
stations. being preceded by their assistants,
who look over the field and advertise for
candidates. This sort OF work is serving
to reduce the amount Of labor devolving
upon the travelling recruiting parties. OF
which there are now but two in the field.
Between the two systems. the country Is
being very thoroughly covered. with re-
suits satisfactory enough considering the
way in which congress in a misguided mo-
ment hampered recruiting by legislative re-
strictions at the last session.
Quartermaster General Humphrey, Brig
alder General Barry. acting chief OF stan.
and Captain Grote Hutchinson Of the gem
eral stan has left Washington to join the
secretary OF war. They viii meet him at
Fort d. A. Russell Wyo.. on November 5.
and will visit Fort Robinson, Fort Leaven-
worth. Fort Riley. Fort Sam Houston and
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga returning to Wash
ington in about three weeks. II was
planned that during this trip of the secre-
tary Of war he should be accompanied by
General Bell, chef Of stan and the alb
sence Of that oficer in Cuba has necesslt-
ated change in the plans, and General
Barry takes his place on the inspection
trip, the object of which Is TO determine
the needs at the various posts to be visited
with a view OF guiding the head Of the
War department in his recommendations
to congress. During the absence OF Gem
eral Barry, General Murray, the chief OF
artillery. will act az chief Of STAFF
Tho uuartermaster general Of the army
has sent out instructions this week for the
invitation OF bids with a view to making
contracts for a big cavalry drill hail at
Fort Loavenworth, and another structure
of the same sort at Fort Riley. These will
he built in accordance with the tyne plans
adopted for such buildings. Authority has
also been given this week for the construc-
ton at Boise Barracks. Idaho, OF some new
buildings, including officers quarters, bar
racks and guard house.
The records Of the quartermaster gem
erals ONCE show that there were Issued
during the last fiscal year 2s4.GO7 pairs OF
shoes. an incident which Is sufficient justif-
cation for rcviving Che story about the
"absurdity'' Of buying 2QO,0OO pairs Of shoes
for soldiers i'm one year That fact was
disclosed in some OF the numerous investi-
cations to which the quartermaster's de-
partment has been subjected In the last
year or two and the newspapers which
commented on the fact tried to make It ap-
pear that y was great waste OF the publt.
funds to buy SO many shoes The allow
ance Of that article Of apparel Is enough to
require the actual issue Of at least 100000
pairs Of shoes per year to the members of
an army OF 5000 men II they draw their
proper allowance in that direction. The re-
ports OF the issues really made in the twelve
months ending June 30 show that ccnsd-
erably more than that number Of Shoes
were issued.
The quartermaster generals ONCE is in
receipt of numerous reports from army on
GERS giving useful information respecting
the cost Of rented quarters at many places
where officers are on. duty and nust pro-
vide for themselves out OF the present legal
allowance. Recommendations will be re-
newed this year by the qnartermaster gen.
eral for an increase in this allowance, and
General Humphrey will probably follow the
lines Of his report of last year on this same
subject. He will also urge the Increased
allowance In his personal testimony, which
he will give before the house and Senate
military committees. 1t Is shown In the
reports received that officers are obliged
to pay from two TO four times the allow
ance for places to live where they are on
duty. This information will furnish Gen
eral Humphrey with the necessary statistics
in order to make what ought to be a con-
vincing demonstration before the military
committees.