The Washington times., 1913-08-23
Fl. MYER OFFICERS
BREAK ROOM LIMIT
Assistant Comptroller Warwick
Says Practically All Over
step U. S. Regulation.

That officers stationed at Fort Myer,
from Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood down to
second llieutenants, have occupied more
rooms than the number TO which they
are entitled under the law, while the
Government has paid Communication of
quarters for officers living outside the
post, is shown in decision by Assistant
Comptroller Warwick covering allow
ar,ees for quarters.
It 10 charged that, though a major
general Is entitled to only nine rooms
in Government quarters, at many mill
tary posts sixteen-room houses have
been erected.
General Wood had sixteen rooms at
Fort Myer. HIS rank entitled him to
nine. Colonel Garrard had thirteen
rooms; his rank entitled him to seven
Mrs. Gilman, postmistress, occupied
seven rooms; she was entitled 70 none
Every officer having quarters at the
pest drew more than his legal allow
snce OF rooms. :. ... -.
Could Do Nothing. a--
Despite this condition, it was held by
the Auditor for the War Department.
and the Assistant Comptroller, that the
accounting officers could do nothing
when they received a certificate saying
that quarters at a post were fully oc-
cupied, even though this 10 done when
some officers have more than their al
lovances crowding other officers on the
outside. =-r
1t Is shown in the decision that at
wstertown arsenal where several Of
icers were being paid Communication Of
quarters, or an allowance for the hir-
ing OF room outside, the public quar-
tiers at that station totaling sixty-five
rooms, were being occupied by ten Of
ficers and enlisted men, entitled to only
twenty-seven rooms.
Despite this showing the Auditor for
The War Department held: If the re-
sponsible beads of the War Department
chose TO violate the act of March 2
1907, by assigning to army officers more
rooms than their rank entities them
under said act, 1t would appear to be a
matter solely for properly disciplinary
action by the War Department.
"%hen such quarters are fully oc-
cupied. is another officer assigned to
duty there, who Is thus deprived Of his
rIG ht TO quarters in kind. to be deprived
assignment of such quarters to officers
already occupying the same?'
Must Admit Voucher.
II am of the opinion and so decide,
tkat when IL is certified to this Office by
Tx biOpGl OlllGtTt OE d voucher IOI
payment of Communication of quarters,
that the officer to whom payment is
made is on duty without troops, and
that the public quarters at the post or
station at which he is serving are fully
occupied, 1t is the duty of this Office
TO admit such voucher. regardless Of the
occupied, IT is the duty of this Office
occupying such quarters are occupying
more than their authorized allowance
Of rooms"
Assistant Comptroller Warwick
amended this decision to some extent
by holding that despite certihcation of
fact by officers, the facts themselves
should be considered by accounting Of
ncers
The auditor for the War Department
raised immediate question when he
found that In instances where It was
certified TO him that quarters at post
were fully occupied, they were occupied
by Officers drawing more than their
Is True Everywhere.
1t has developed from inquiries made
by the auditors office that at most
army posts and stations Of the United
States, officers are In possession Of and
occupying as quarters. double the num-
ber Of rooms allowed them by law.
The Comptroller suggests an inquiry
as TO why single quarters, suitable for |
the use Of but one officer, and consist |
Ing OF sixteen, thirteen, and eleven /
rooms, are constructed at military posts |
when lieutenant general, the highest |
rank, is entitled to only ten rooms. Also |
as TO why fourteen sets OF nIne-room
quarters were constructed at a station |
Fort hyer, Ya.) where there is only |
one ofncer entitled to occupy nine rooms. |
The Comptroller found that though |
all quarters at Fort Myer were occupied !
from November / 20 30 1872. they were ,
not all occupied by officers entitled to |
quarters. This raised the question as |
to the propriety OF allowance for COM !
mutation Of quarters to officers who |
could not under this circumstance be !
accommodated at the post