The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-28

would result in an appreciable in
crease in the cost of personnel main
tenance.
The collector of customs at San Fran
cisco has requested that the pursers OF
army transports be supplied with the
necessary stamps required under the
war revenue act for sale to passengers
on board the transports. to be affixed
to baggage entries and declarations
made by such passengers arriving at
San Francisco from foreisn ports. The
general superintendent of the transport
service in that city has forwarded to
the War Department reGuisitiOn for
1000 tweIty-fve-cent stamps for that
purpose. and the quartermaster general
has transmitted the reauisiton to the
adiutant genral with the remark that
mo funds are available which can prop
erly be used for the purchase of war
tax stamps
On the recommendation of Secretary
Daniels the naval appropriation bill con-
tains authority for an ultimate increase
in the number of officers of the naval
construction corps of twenty-four. at the
rate of not more than five year. These
additions to the corps will be accom-
plished by transfers to the grade Of
assistant naval constructor Of junior line
officers who have had at least three
years service in the grade Of ensign and
who have been designated for a post
graduate course in naval architecture.
This increase in the corps is much needed
on account of the excessive demands
made upon the personnel of that branch.
1t is the desire of the Secretary of the
Navy as explained in a communication
to the chairman of the Senate Naval
Committee. that naval constructors be
detailed for duty with the feet. not only
as observers. but to gain the benefit Of
intimate association with officers on
board vessels in commission and to I'M
part. as well. the benefit which will be
derived by line officers from the pres
ence of naval constructors at sea.
The amendment introduced by Senator
Sherman, intended for incorporat ton in
the army appropriation bill providing for
certain promotions in the quartermaster
CORPS of the army, did not find a place
in that measure. Had the clause been
adopted by the Senate, 1t would have
successful opposition on the
part of the House conferees, largely for
the reason that the War Department, on
the advice Of the quartermaster general.
would have reported against the pro-
posal which contemplated the promotion
to the next higher grade of lieutenant
colonies in the Quartermaster corps after
six years of service in that grade and
years continuous service in
the army. and Of majors after ten years.
service in that grade and twenty-five
years continuous service in the army.
Congress finally has taken action long
which ends the extraordinary
begun in 1893 for the develop
ment, manufacture, and acquisition of
the so-called Emery disappearing gun
carriage. Since that year Congress has
$4,000 and has paid Mr..
Emery 1896. i6S, leaving an unexpended
balance of s13, 531. which sum, by act Of
Congress. will now be covered back into
the public Treasury. For this expendi-
ture of nearly s237.0o0 the government has
absolutely nothing to show. Moreover.
Mr.. Emery some time ago was relieved
Of all obligations in the matter. 1t has
always been more or less of a mystery
to army officers how and why Mr.. Emery
was permitted to enjoy this enormous
gratuity. Repeated remonstrances have
been made by the chief of ordnance and
by the board of ordnance and fortifica-
tons against the continuance of such a
Dne sided contract, with the government
the obligation and standing
the expense.
The proposal Of the Senate MilitaBy
to limit by law to two
years the duty of the Army. Navy, and
Marine Corps in the Philippines and