The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-30
Letter Sent Out Directed
Against QuartermaSter' S
Department.
HORSES AND WAGONS.
FOR PRIVATE USE
Claimed This Practice Adds Hun
dreds Of Thousands Annually
10 Army Expense.

A typewriter copy of charges that Of
hcers Of the army, in ali departments.
were guilty Of the constant and faeyan+
use Of public property for private pur-
poses. was circulated today from an ,ln-
known source. the address on the .copv-
Oregon Building. Washington. d. Z ="
being uurecOgIized by the postoface and
the District building Inspector. and the
name typed at the end Of the charges.
R J. Kerr Byron, Secretary for The
Association" being equally undiscover-
abe.
The association OF which mention is
made, IS not named IN the communica-
tiOn, but is stated to be composed OF
"a few public spirited public citizens
If New York with headquarters in
Washington, for the Investigation OF
some practices in vogue in the Govern
ment service
No Trace Of Byron.
Il was said at the War Department
that r J. Kerr Byron was not known
there, and the telephone company de-
clared II had knowledge OF neither him
nor his association.
The charges. By whomever formulated.
are severe
a mere cursory examination into the
A-4e@NNEA a. ~ elSlAAlAe elenf II u QEGtA4 c4s
has revealed a condition OF affairs that
IS startling 70 any one not conversant
with what is going on under the war
Department and shocking to the moral
sense OF all right-uinded men"
The examination. the communication
continues shows that the prohibitions
against the private use OF public prop-
erty contained In Congressional enact
ments- regulations promulgated by the
President and orders Of the Secretary of
" ar and of the various staff depart
ment heads are being ..disregardsd In
the Br0ssest manner, 10 the scandal ana
disgrace of the military service
Free Rides for Families.
II is specifically charged that the
Quartemaste s department OF the army
has been bGying at the public expense
large numbers Of horses. carriages. and
carriage harness used daily by officers
and their wives and daughters for
strictly personal and private convent
ence in making calls, attending recep-
tons, and shopping
on that account, It Is stated. both
the horses and the men employed TO
driv-s and tend them are sub jected to
in the regulations Of the service. they
should be exposed unless in the dis
charge Of duty 10 the army
II IS stated in section ? Of the docu-
pOTJaJiOn OF the army and IS supplies
IS being misapplied TO purposes not COW
ever 5y the wording and intent OF Con
ETeSSional enactment. To accomplish
that purpose, Il is alleged, carriag ges and
cCaChmeu are named station wagons, g"
-'waEOnettes'' or "carryaIls," and team
sters IN the reports Of officers under
whose sanction they are used
Big Addition to Expense.
The practice is alleged in the docC-
Tlent 10 be general throughout the army
at posts. arsenals, armories, hospitals,
dspOts, and schools, and the aggregate
cost TO the Government Is estimated to
be hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
Improper formation, imperfect audit
ing or careless scrutiny Of vouchers
submitted is indicated By such coudi-
tons. r J Kerr Byron" declares The
inspection Of the accounts Of the quar-
termaSters bE the inspectors in the
office Of the Inspector General is said
TO be notorious in the army as q
huge joke"
Medical. signal. engineer, and ord
nance departments are involved in q
like disregard Of the laws and regu-
laJiOus for the government Of the
army, r J Kerr Byron says In con-
cIusiOn he charges that horses. car
riagSS. automobiles. and vessels con
stituting public property are used for
private purposes The writer cites
alleged instances.