The Washington herald., 1918-10-24
Army and Navy News

With the removal OF bureau of ord
nance from the Interior Building. the
Navy Department is now virtually es-
tablished in the vast new concrete
building in the park south OF b street.
The bureau OF medicine and surgery
moved last week, and the Office force
Of the Secretary OF the Navy Uccu-
pied the new quarters few days ago.
Secretary Daniels retained his own
offices in the State. War and Navy
Building. but other than his own suite
the only part OF the Navy Depart
mcnt which remains in the historic
old granite building is the naval Ii
hrarY and war-reCordS Office on the
fourth floor The new building is
Ideally equipped for office purposes.
and when the din and dust eventually
disappear and street car facilities are
provided. the department will be able
t. conduct its most important war
" Ork in satisfactory manner. TIL"
new building Is abundantly lighted
naturally without Interference from
other buildings, hut. despite the eight
acres of window glass. it is not un-
usual to see numerous electric lights
glowing throughout the flood Of sun
light. Evidently Dr. Garticid's adj
jurations are not intended for Incl"
Sam.
The War Department has ap-
proved the plan of Burd"ttr G..
Lewis. commissioner of charities
and corrections of the State OF New
Jersey. TO make a test of his plan
to utilize the man power Of III"
correctional institutions Of the state
IN work essential to the conduct of
the war. This work will consist Of
building roads, railroads. digging
canals. ditChinE, drainage. and aEri-
cultural labor. They will be trained
by institutional officers under tn"
supervision Of United states army
officers. The plan is expected to
meet successfully the objection Of
the military authorities to the
placement Of felons or disdemeau-
ants together with the other United
States troops. inasmuCh as it pro-
vides for the segregation OF such
persons in separate army divisions
under regular army officers. If tn"
plan is successful to the extent Of
justifying its extension to other
States. il is estimated that it will
be possible to utilize the man power
Of more than 400 900 prisoners in
the United States.
The question recently arose as to
whether or not an officer of the navy
is entitled to commutatiOn of quar-
ters and heat and light while in
termed in neutral country either for
himself or on account Of dependents
under the act Of April 1G, 1918. II he
has been required to hire quarters
for himself because none could be
had in any other way. in accordance
with the provisions of the Revised
Statutes he is held entitled to COM
mutation of quarters as 'emolu-
ments'' that shall go on and be
paid" If quarters have not so been
acquired he is not entitled to COM
mutation except by reason of de-
pendents. In the act of April 16,
1915. Congress clearly intended to en-
act beneficial statute" and quar-
ters or Communication thereof for the
designated dependents is authorized
to every commissioned officer on aC-
tive duty without the territorial juris-
diCtiOn of the United States. Giving
a liberal construction to the words
"on active duty" the Comptroller
holds that distinction should be made
between the status of an officer who