New-York tribune., 1909-01-04
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
From Ths Tribuns Bureau.


Washington, January 5.
BAGGAGE COST AT NEW YORK.-Enisted
men Of the army who in the transfer from station
TO station under orders obliged go through
New YORK City are much wrought up this
pense which they must meet out OF their own
pockets OF handling their baggage. Sometimes It is
necessary for these enlisted men to report at Gov
ernoTs Island elsewhere for further orders
and their baggage Is hold at the railway station.
where they are obliged to pay for storage. Colonel
:" S. Petten. the depot auartermaster on duty in
Whitehall street has pointed to the War De
partment the injustice OF this arrangement.
pecialy when the delay in the travel of the en-
listed man Is rot due 10 any fault Of his own,
but is In compliance with orders II Is represented
to the Washington authorities that the govern
ment should pay FOR this charge, which does
amount to much in the individual case, but which
Is IN reality heavy draft the soldiers slender
stipend. The War Department has approved
Colonel Patterns recommendation in the matter and
has given instructions that when soldiers tarry in
New York under orders or by virtue OF some mill
tary necessity, their expenses in certain items at
least shall be borne by the government.
GROWING ARMY COST.-Ths experts in army
pay have been figuring out how much will be re-
0ured TO pay the officers and men of the military
establishment for the remainder Of the fiscal year
II has been discovered that Congress failed to Rp-
propriate enough money meet this obligation in
all particulars. and 1t will be necessary TO submit
a deficiency estimate of $5.O0OOO to pay the com
missioned personnel and enlisted force When the
estimate for army pay was submitted at the last
session it was based army Of 80 900 men, and
since that time the President has increased the
army BY about 10000 men. This and the retire
nlents. volunteer and account Of disability.
Of which were not anticipated. have furnished
extra demands which he met by a special
appropriation.
GREATEST OF DRYDOCKS.- Much interest IS
taken by the Navy Department officials in the
contract which will he awarded month for the
building Of the largest drydock built for
the government. This is the structure which will
he the principal feature of the naval base at
Pearl Harbor, In the Hawaiian Islands. The dock
will be of such dimensions that It will contain two
ships at the time. Bids be opened for
this work by the bureau of yards and docks
February IL and the indications are all IN favor
Of keen competition for the Requests for
plans and specifications have been received from
twenty-four prospective bidders.
GERM-PROOF Observation-Disclosures is 20
ne used ships of war on an elaborate scale.
This is measure decided by the naval medical
officers with view to promoting the sanitary
ditions III the service. There will he placed on
board every shin large tank, fitted with an ap-
paratus which u i'll enable the steriizing of large
articles of use such mattresses. rugs. hangngs,
upholstered furniture we'll clothing The
system has already been adopted the Illinois
and the reports received from that vessel have
extended.
LAUNDRIES AT ARMY POSTS.-some time ago
Congress authorized the construction Of steam
laundries army posts. The question dis
Cussed with much feeling in Congress for the rea-
son that II might interfere with commercial laun-
dries. The appropriation was based on the esti-
mate of the War Department officials that these
lsundries would cost not more than $4,000 in each
case, and while Congress did not stipulate a limit
the officials have taken the view that the intention
Of Congress that the money expended for
building and equpping army laundries should not
excaad $1,000 in any instance II is found that
these institutions cannot be built and installed with
machinery for less than s2oNn In many instances
the cost is more than that sum II Will be neces-
sarv To have an increase IN the appropriation. and
the orIartermaster general Of the army will ask
Congress tor this extra amount. and at the same
time obtain authority for increasing the limit
whether stipulated or anticipated Among the posts
which are to he thus equipped Is Fort sioeum, New