New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-09
Retailers Thrive on Failure
of Quartermaster's De-
partment
$142 Outfit Costs $500
Private Concern Charges
$1,000 for Uniforms That
Army Lists at $2.3S

The inability Of the Army Quarter
masters Department TO supply equip
ment for the newly commissioned re-
serve officers has given dealers in army
and navy supplies an opportunity TO
charge exorbtant prices An oppor-
tunity which, army officers freely ad-
NIT. tho retailers have been quick to
seize.
Based on qusrtermsster prices IL
costs a second lieutenant in the reserve
officers approximately one months pay
about Sl42- to purchase his equip
ment. Few officers have been able TO
equip themselves at private concerns
for less than $500, and many nave even
had 10 pay as much as s3Op ana S4VV'
Hardship on Men
The result. :, is declared, has been
a great hardship. especially upon mar,
ried men, VINO made sacrihces 10 spehd
their time at Plattsburg at salary OF
500 a month. Most OF their pay was
needed by their families, and they dld
not put enough aside for their equip
ment, figuring that they would be aole
10 buy their stuff from the Quarter
masters Department.
When they were graduated from
training camp, however, they found
that the government was unable TO fur-
nish them with the necessary equip
ment, equipment which they are re-
CURED to have before reporting for
duty at the various mobilization camps.
An officer cannot report for duty
without his equipment and walt until
the government can furnish II. mere
is no law or regulation requiring the
supply departments OF the army 10 1ur-
nish an officer with anything, but II
has been the custom in the past Tor
any officer 10 purchase his suppheS
through the Quartermaster's Depart
ment at wholesale prices, and therepy
entail a great saving.
OF course, officers always have had
their dress uniforms made by talloIs'
The Government does not make U. u.
serge uniforms. 1t does, however, FUR
nisb the serge when il has IT, and an
officer can effect saving by purchas-
ing the cloth and have a tailor make
the uniform.
The wool service uniforms, which are
worn in he field, are furnished by the
government in ordinary times. Inc
overcoats furnished for the enlisted
men are the same as worn By officers
with the exception of the buttons and
the addition Of braid. o.,
In view Of the high prices prevail
inr for overcoats, regular army oihcers
have announced their intention OF pur-
chasing them through the Supply De-
partment if it is possible TO get them.
But it is doubtful if they VIII be
able 70 do this. as one officer declared
il will be six months before a supply
of officers equipment may be had. Inc
rush OF equipping the new National
Army is taking up nearly the entire
available supply Of both material and
labor.
THAT is the excuse given by the re-
talers." said one officer, land that Is
yyhv II is difficult for us to prove that
thev are gouging the reserve o'hceTs'
They claim that they cannot get the
material and that they cannot purchase
in such large quantities as the army:
They maintain the prices are regulated
solely by the supply and demand, but
there Is no doubt that their prices are
l I. 1s,k