New-York tribune., 1909-11-20
In ARMY AND NAVY
Var Department Cannot Pay
for Supplies.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau
NToebfnasfpu NJ

Washington. Nov. ~
CONTRACTORS TO WAIT-An unusual
state of affairs prevails I'm the War De
partment. To the great detriment OF large
number Of firms possessing contracts Win
the government FOR tie supply OF army sub
sistence This situation is produced on ac-
count of a deficiency OF nearly sS"'-
0o I'm the appropriation for commissary
stores for the fiscal year ended June %
last Congress failed 10 appropriate by
that amount the money which is needed 10
purchase material for provisioning troops
there being a cut by the War Department
and by the military committees In the
estimate as originally presented by the
cOmmissary general Of the army. The de-
mands exceeded the amount appropriated
account Of an unexpected Increase IN
the enlisted force from about $4,000 TO more
than T7.cD men. These troops had TO De
provided with the regular rations- The
unfavotable situation was provoked also
by the advance In the cost of the rstions
on account of the general rise In the price
OF food products entering into the compo-
sition OF the army rations.
Contracts had to be made in the regular
way for periods in some cases covering one
year and in other cases six months anu
remittances were made under such con-
tracts periodically as deliveries were made
at military posts. With a shortage Oh
nearly $4,000 many of these contrsctors
have found that the War Department was
unable TO met the bills. and they VIII nave
TO wait indefinitely until Congress makes
deficiency appropriation. and this Will GER
tninly not be until carly in the coming year.
Some OF these contractors are small deal
ers and they are more or less Inconvenience
by the delay In the payment Of these bills
II means expense 10 all OF them and the
resort In some instances TO the bank ior
borrowed capital. The government In such
cases will not contribute anything to the
extra expense in the way of interest II
has been arranged. however, that for the
beneht Of such contractors the War De-
partment will furnish letters showing the
amount due These will be certificates
which the contractors believe they will he
able TO negotiate TO the extent Of making
them the basis OF borrowing money. al
though. Of course. II IS impossible to trans
fer the claims from the original contractor
These certificates will relieve the situation
tO some extent, bat under the best possible
conditions II means expense To the con
tractors whose deliveries OF subsistence
stores in the latter part of the last fiscal
year will not be paid for by the ar
department for some months yet
ORDERS IsSUED.-The following orders
have been issued:
ARMY.
First Lieutenant HALVOK q. COULTER. coast
artillery, IIom SOth Compan!' Aprh To- 10
First IIsuIenant EDMUND A BUCHANAN.
second Lieutenant THOMAS II LOWE, 18Th
Infantry. 10 Walter Reed General Hospi'Ai'
District Of Columbia
Leaves q absence: sirst Lieutenant EDMI ,,SI' Nd
Second Lieutenant FREDERICk S. SNl-
DER. ID Cavalry. two mcnths
NAVY.
Lieutenant Commander IL II. HOUGH, detached
Lieutenant Z ". M'INTfRE. from naval hos
LieuSensnt ). V. BAbGOcK. 70 duty in CON
nection with f1sins S out the south cSIoiina, M
Hampshire. 10 she Paducsh.
Nidshipnsn = 81 DOLAN. detached the Pa
Midshipnsn n. c. THOMAS detached the Pa
ducsh. 20 the Wisconsin
consin: to the faducsh
midshipman II. I-AMMERS. detached ths
String ham: 10 the DiOe
Passed Assistant surgeon r. G. HEISER. de-
tached the Albany: 10 navy yard Mare Isl
Commando @ r sAIdsRCRY. to command tho
co,nmabSsT MaRlssn A. ahd he Jo%Es to nava, station.
Lieutenant s r. THOMAS. detached the Mary
Island
MARINE CORPS.
Captain II ". CARPENTER. detached First
Brigade. Philippines; 10 naval station
Cavite.
Captain GEORGE VAN ORDEN. detached Camp
Elliott Panama. December . 20 United
States one months leave; thence to major
general COmWandant.
First Lieutenant II. @. WIRGMAN. 70 duty as
qusTteTmsster Of Panama battalion until ar
rival AT camp Elliott
First Lieutenant B / BERRY. upon arrival IN
United States. 20 marine baTrncks, navy
yard Mare Island
First Lieutenant c. B MATTHEW'S detached
headquarters. 20 command marine detach-
ment. the Hancock.
Second Lieutenant II. :. KEYSF:R. qualified for
promotion: detached headquarters. To- com
mand Warine barracks. navy ward. Pensa-
cola relieving Fap'ain I y WRIGHT.
Second Lieutenant M. n. HUMPHREY. detached
headquarters TO marine officers school. Port
RovaI
CAPTAIN II ' HIPSTEINGF.R leave ~ absence
from December !. 1909 70 JauaTy = 1910.
MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS The fol-
lowing movements Of vessels have been re-
ported TO the Navy Department.