New-York tribune., 1908-08-31
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Decisions of Interest to Both
Branches of the ScrUices.
rrrom The Tribune Bureau.J

rFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington, August 90
COMMUTATION OF QUARTERS.-It has been
the practice where public quarters are not avail
able at army posts to allow officers to rent rooms
at their pleasure. and be allowed the maximum
amount for Communication Of quarters. according to
the rank Of the officer. The Controller OF the
Treasury has given notice that this procedure is
entirely without authority, although the practice
has grown up account Of a long line OF de-
cisions allowing claims Of this sort. He quotes the
"a which provides that officers may be furnished
with quarters where there public quarters be-
loneing to the government. and not elsewhere
Where public quarters exist. communication
therefore is allowed. but he holds that the mere
fact that public quarters are not available does
warrant the allowance Of commutatfon ana
that the specific wording OF the statutes has been
entirely overlooked He holds that such rentals
nothing less than giving to the ofncers
communication of quarters to which they are not
entitled. However on account OF the approvai or
this practice he Will not attempt to change 1t fur
ther than that he will see in the future that the
government gets the benefit of real estate transac
tions. and the amount paid for such quarters as
may be selected will be based the usual rental
therefor. II this falls below the maximum allowed
the government will money on the transac-
tion and be compelled, heretofore, to pay
the full amount in Communication allowed according
to rank without regard to the actual cost or the
obtained. Congress may be called on to
make this matter clear by further legislation on
the subject
ALL MEDICAL SUPPLIES AT BROOKLYN
The bureau OF medicine and surgery OF the Navy
Department will hereafter have all its supplies de-
livered at its storehouses in Brooklyn. The Gus
tom followed heretofore has been to allow the
officers duty at the general hospitals to pur-
chase supplies for each institution in the nearest
market It is thought that the present method
will obtain better prices and more rigid inspection
will be possible. Supplies will be contracted Tor
and deliveries made at Brooklyn. and from that
point will be distributed TO the eighteen general
hospitals Of the navy Requistions will be mace
on the storekeeper, and only sufficient supplies
will be kept at the different institutions to meet
their immediate needs. Bids will be called FOR
through the bureau Of supplies and accounts or
the Navy Department. The first call for bids un-
der this arrangement recently made. and on
Tuesday the bids were received for 1850 pounds
OF timed salmon. 10000 pounds timed pears. BLOOD
pounds timed peaches, 15.00o pounds timed pine
apple 10000 pounds timed tomatoes A5c POUNDS
timed lima beans. 10000 pounds timed string
beans $500 pounds timed sugar corn. R0oo pounds
timed peas and 1880 pounds timed baked beans
Standard samples selected by the bureau of medi-
cine and surgery were placed on exhibition IN
Brooklyn and prospective contractors were IN
vited to bid with the understanding that the Navy
Department Will insist upon the goods oeins equal
to the sample selected.
EMERGENCY RATION TESTs.-Compaints con-
tinue to reach the War Department concerning the
probable that tho practice Of requiring troops TO
be periodically subssted upon this particular diet
will be discontinued Tho ration has been 1uiy
tested and no doubt is entertained concerning us
efficacy as means Of sustaining troops when other
food is not obtanable It is considered, therefore
that in times OF peace when the regular provisions
are at hand and when there does not exist the
emergency which separates a command from Inc
base of food supply, there Is no occasion Tor issu
ing the emergency ration. No criticism Is mace
against this ration, which is model of concentra-
ton of food and compactness In Its arrangement
1t is carried in small space. and the soldier may
easily add three days subsistence to his burden
without being overtaxed. The emergency ration is
recognized filling the need which is met by
nothing else in the way OF military provisions
SERVICE AGAINST GOVERNMENTAL very
interesting proposition recently put before the
War Department by Lieutenant Colonel Junius /,
Powell. retired officer Of the medical corps. who
asked that his service in the Civil War be counted
in order to give him grade advanced rank on
the retired list He retired a lieutenant colonel
on May / of this year and desired to secure the
grade Of colonel instead OF lieutenant colonel on
account Of such service. An investigation Of his
record however, developed the fact that Lieutenant
Colonel Powell served private In the Con-
federate army. and the Judge advocate general OF
the army promptly rendered decision to the ef-
feet that the benefits conferred by the act OF April
2s 1904, which provided for advanced grade on &C
count Of Civil War service, contemplated services
performed for the United States government. 1t
was held that in the absence OF language indi-
eating the contrary intention on the part Of Con-
gress the service must have been rendered in
regular volunteer forces of the United States or
In the militia when called forth by the President
for the purposes and In the method prescribed IN
the Constitution. Lieutenant Colonel Powell will,
therefore, not enjoy the benefits and emoluments
OF the office of colonel the retired list
suit of his Civil War service