The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-22

and disbursements of Col. c. R. Bricken. commanding 1nd infantrys Major B F. Noble. commanding 1st csv- airy squadron. and ouartermaster-Gen which we believe should be corrected. that do not properly come within the province of the court; yet we feel that. being for the good of the service, 1t will not be out of place for us to sub init q few personal accommodations, based upon Assistant State Examiner Brooke's report. the testimony brought own experience in the handling of funds appropriated by the State for the encampment purposes.
 Ffrst--owtng to the small appropria- tions by the Legislature for encamp- ments in the past. 1t has been the prac- tice for citizens of communities where annual encampments are held to sub- scribe certain amounts for the pur- pose of supplementing the State ap- propriatios, but necessary for the s1c- cess of the encampment as well as for the health and happiness of tho men while in camp-such as the entertain ment of visitors to the camp. the prep aration of the grounds, lighting mu- sic and similar fncidentsis.
 As rule. these sums subscribed and paid are turned over to the command ing officer of the unit of organization where the lencampment is held, and, as the commanding omcer 10 also the custodian of the funds received from the State. the two funds are usually deposited in the same bank, and all disb ursemeuts made from the consolf- dated fund; which, as a rule. will ex- plain the unseemiy expenditures, many of which were disapproved by the State Examined of Public Accounts. not knowing that such were not from the State funds. but from private moneys received from other sources. There- fore, in our judgment. when orders are Issued for holding encampment, specific instructions should be given through the Adjutant Generals ofiice to the commanding officers to keep separate and apart the State funds from other funds, and to cheek out the State funds only for legitimate camp purposes. and render strict account therefor.
 Larger Appropriationa.
 Again, the State appropriation should be made sufficiently large by the Legislature to pay all encampment ex- penses, and the commenting officers Of the different organizations should not be forced to the necessityyof so- iiciting subscriptions from outside sources, in order to defray said ex- penses.
 Furthermore, the present statutes should be amended, or some provision made to pay, on proper warrants or vouchers. for labor expended In the ar rangement of the camp and other nec- essary expenses, out of the funds ap- propriated by the State for encamp- ment purposes, and the commanding officers not be required to personally borrow money in advance of the en- camprnent for the conduct of the camp. as is now necessary under the law the State appropriation not being avail able for such expenses until the trans 1portation charges are first ascertained and paid. which cannot usually pc ue- termined until some time after tne en- campments have begun.
 We further recommend the use of vouchers similar to those recommend ed to you by the Assistant State Exam- iner of Public Accounts. (with the ex- ception as to the recommendation Of duplicate receipts, etc.) so that eacn expenditure may be so thoroughly ex- plained and so well understood that no question of the propriety of such ex- penditure can possibly arise.
 Second-We recommend that all ap- \ plications for rtquarterly allowance shall be thoroughly inspected by the Adju- tant Generals Department, and that no application be approved until all re- auirements have been strictly complied with, and that no application for quar- terly allowance shall be approved un- less filed in the Adjutant Generals of fee within ninety days after the expi- ration of the quarter for which ap- plication is made.
 Third-we recommend that special orders be issued at the time of order ] ing the troops into camp. forbiddins the use or bringing Into camp of intox- icating liquors. except such as may be recommended by the surgical stan for hospital purposes. However. our ob- servation is that as rule. sobriety is men while in camp. and 1t is theNexcep- ton rather than the rule where the Individual soldier becomes so greatly .,rdar the infuencA nf- intoxfcante aa