The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-03-21
VIRGINIA ALLOWED
VOLUNTEER MONEY
Gets S49,743.9S by Decision
of Comptroller,
WHEN IS A. RENDEzyoUS7
It's When Organized Troops Assemble
Under Orders of Governor, and it
Made Big Difference.

BY a decision of the Comptroller of the
Treasury rendered today the Golfers
Of the State treasury of Virginia are
4a73.9S richer than they were yester-
day
The decision is in connection with
the claim of the State OF Virginia for
reimbursement OF expenses incurred in
aiding the United States in raising
the volunteer army during the war with
Spain, being pay for the troops between
the date of assembly at the rendezvous
and the dates they were mustered in
the services of the Government, The
claim of the Virginia officials amounted
TO $50. 1885 and was FIRST Investigated
by the Auditor for the War Department
That official closely scrutinized the
figures. looked at them crosswise and
lengthwise and finally allowed SILL
$3.50 disallowing s6S.522.S6
Virginia Appealed.
From this decision Virginia appealed
on December II. 1908, asking for the
entire amount with the exception of
1886 SO, which il admitted was properly
disallowed.
IL appears that when the President
Issued his first call for volunteers on
formed the governor of Virginia that
the States quota was three regiments
OF infantry. Out of about fifty COM
panies of National Guard the governor
designated thirty-SiX to fill Virginia $
quota Thev arrived at Camp Lee, in
Richmond at various dates, from May
10 May % 1888. and were mustered into
the United States service as the Sec
Ond, Third. and Fourth Virginia Vol
unteer Infantry at various times be-
tween MAY Q and May Is.
The Auditor for the War Department
claimed that these companies were not
assembled lat the rendezvous prior to
the date they We're transferred TO the
rendezvous at Richmond. and disaIlowed
all pay claimed TO that date.
When Is Rendezvous7
On May %. the President made his
second proclamation calling for rs 900
more troops. The Adiutant General of
the Army informed the governor of Vir-
sinia that the President was anxious TO
carry into effect the scheme OF giving
colOred men an opportunity OF entering
the army. and asked the governor TO
organize two battalions of four com
nsnies each of cOlored infantry. A few
DAYS later the governor designated the
First and Second battalions of infantry
tcolOred TO fill the call The eight COM
panies in question were mustered In at
their home stations at various dates
from July TO August g. 1898 as the
Sixth Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
In considering the claim for pay for
these troops. the Auditor for the War
Department held that they were not "as-
sembled at the rendezvous prior to be-
Ing mustered In, and dlsallowed the en-
tire claim for this regiment.
Here's the Answer.
Comptroller TraceWeu in his opinion
declared that the rendezvous" contem-
plated by the act OF March 8. 1899. Is
not necessarily the place Of muster in
or the general rendezvous OF the State.
but may be any place where organized
bodies of troops assembled under the
orders of the governor He said that
the test was whether the assembly was
under proper authority and under legal
call There was no doubt he said. that
the action or the governor in both cases
was under proper authority and under
legal call"
Under his ruling therefore. all the
proper expenses of the troops prior. 10
being mustered I'm wers proper charges
against the Government The only
claim disallowed by Comptroller Trace
wei was longevity pay for the Of
hceTS- Longevity pay is allowed TO the
officers in the regular army for active
mi larry service.