New-York tribune., 1907-11-18
AND NAVY NEWS.
Finger Print System Is Causing
Trouble to Military Mer.
From The Tribune Bureau.l
w. q !. l., IL -, - -

Washington. November Il.
FINGER PRINT RECORDS CONFUSED-Con-
siderable difficulty is being experienced in putting
into force the system of finger print identification
in the army. The matter has reached such stage
that special orders have been issued giving in
stances Of some Of the most Earng errors that
have reached the office OF the adjutan. general. In
some cases the autograph OF soldier and the
finger impressions of another have been received.
In a great number of instances the spaces for the
impressions OF the fingers of the right hand
recorded in spaces intended for those of the left
Again unnecessary length of time is permitted
to elapse between Che date of enlistment and the
arrival of the record for Identification at the War
Department. The orders seek TO avoid the delays,
and the attention of the officers is called to the
requirements of the department that records in
cases OF original enlistment shall be completed i'm
mediGtely after enlistment and forwarded TO the
adjutant generals Office by the first mail.
TOILET ARTICLES FOR RECRUITs.-The War
Department will probably purchase kits to carry
tho toilet articles, TO be issued recruits at the
rate OF about thirty thousand a year The covering
is likely to be canvas instead Of leather which is
too expensive. The contents Will include razor,
shaving brush, hairhrush. toothbrush. comb and so
en-. with view TO providing articles which will
enable the newly enlisted soldier TO preserve a neat
appearance. The first purpose Of the lot of these
toilet articles will be made by the army commits
saTy at New York. and the initial order VIII pro-
vide for about thousand OF the kits. for the
purpose OF trial and in order 10 ascertain what Is
necessary in the way Of Improvement
PAY INCREASE PROSPECTS, Senator Hale
who fSs arrived IN Washington for the session
of Congress, IS laying the preliminary plans for
some naval personnel legislation. the extent OF
which, of course, has not been determined. He IS
quoted believing that the first step toward the
relief of the naval officers and the enlisted men is
the increase in pay. which indicates that the chair
man Of the Senate Naval Committee will support
the service pay bill This in itself IS enough 10
insure its passage through the Senate There Will
be much trouble in getting the bin through the
House.
REGIMENT NOT AT IT'S BEsT-The "a In
fantry, the regular station OF which is Madison
Barracks, New York and which the command Is
shortly TO return, has completed target practice
with small arms the rife range at the Naval
Academy. The naval authorities extended this
courtesy to the regiment because there was no other
place at which the men could do their practice work
before their departures for the Philippines early in
the coming year. one target range closed
the army marksmen account the protests Of
the neiShbors. The regiment has been handicapped
by lack Of opportunity to do it's firing ard will
start for the Philippines with Inadequate amount
of training with the rife. one Of the officers os
the regiment has achieved distinction because OF
his orer out OF his funds Of money which
could be used as prizes paid to the men who sur
passed his own record. This was done entirely
with the idea Of stimulating competition and il
had most wholesome effect The regiment will
continue on duty at tho jamestown exposition
for tinia and then go Madison Barracks and
prepare for its third tour OF duty in the Philip
pines. The regiment goes greatly lacking in Off
GERS, there being some fifteen vacancies in the
commissioned personnel including the lieutenant
colonel. Their places cannot be filled as there is
such demand for army officers all kinds of
detail duty
BONUS FOR TRAIN SERVICE-Specia, ar
ranGements are to be made by the War DeDartn,ent
upon the authority Of the accounting officers o5
the government with the Wharton & Northern
Raj pad Of Nam L a.
trains operated that the Picatinny Arsenal near
Dover. j., may not be deprived of its worlmen
The present time table does not accommodate the
mechanics who ara employed at the plant and
this situation has made IL impossible for the inst
tuition to obtain workmec. on the other hand tba |
officers of the railroad CLAIM that an, chance 70
suit the needs of the army plant at Dover would /
impose upon them great expense. Under the cir !
cumstances the Treasury Department has MI |
thoriZed the ordnance officers on duty at the Dover
arsenal to pay 10 the railroad a sum which will |
justify It in making the change In its time for run
ming trains. -"
ACCIDENTAL. HEART NfURMr,Rs "A nave,
surgeon, Passed Assistant Surgeon T. T. McDon-
nold who is attached to the battleship Connecti-
cut. has been giving considerable study TO a sub
ject which probably being better understood win
save some candidates from rejection in the phys!-
cal examinations preliminary to admission to the
Naval Academy and the Military Academy as we'll
as avoiding the exclusion OF those who amply for
enlistment in the army and navy. Surgeon McDon-
mold has discovered as result OF his observations
and his service on physical examining boards at
Annapolis and elsewhere that there Is such a
thing as an accidental heart murmur which is not
of any consequence in its relation to the physca.
fitness of the candidate. but which has often op-
Grated to keep him out Of the service Surgeon
McDonnod's paper on the subject has appeared
for the naval medical corps in the official bulletin
which is published periodically by the bureau of
medicine and surgery. and is considered an inpor-
tant contribution as it conveys valuable informa-
especially ed !
cal officers of the military and naval services who
have to do with the examination of recruits and |
who serve on boards conducting the physical ex- !
of nominees 10 the Military Academy |
and the Naval Academy.