Case Name: GEORGE W. S. KYLE v. THE UNITED STATES
Court: United States Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1911-02-13
Citations: 46 Ct. Cl. 197
Docket Number: No. 29684
Parties: GEORGE W. S. KYLE v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 46
Pages: 197–199

Head Matter:
GEORGE W. S. KYLE v. THE UNITED STATES.
[No. 29684.
Decided February 13, 1911.]
On the Proofs.
A private in the Marine Corps is appointed post barber. It is agreed between him and the commanding officer that he shall pay $10 a month into the post fund in consideration of his being excused from the duties of an enlisted man and being allowed to carry on the business of barber. He now brings this suit to recover back the money which he paid into the post fund.
I. The council of administration at a military post having recommended a tax of $10 a month upon the post barber, and the person appointed barber having acquiesced in the condition thus imposed, his payments into the fund must be deemed voluntary.
II. A post fund is tolerated by military authority for the sole benefit of the men. The Treasury receives none of the funds and the Government is in no wise responsible to persons making contributions. There is no privity between them and the Government.
The Ref otters'1 statement of the case:
The following are the facts of the case as found by the court:
I. George W. S. Kyle enlisted in the Marine Corps as a private February 14, 1901, at Harrisburg, Pa.; was transferred the same day to the marine barracks, navy yard, League Island, Pa.; was transferred October 17, 1901, to the marine barracks, navy yard, Boston, Mass., and was there honorably discharged February 22, 1906, with character “ excellent.”
II. While on duty at the Boston Navy Yard the claimant ivas assigned, by proper authority, on April 15, 1904, to perform the duties of post- barber, and continued as such up to and including February 15, 1906, a period of 22 months, during which time he paid, by agreement with Col. Kelton, United States Marine Corps, commandant of the post, $10 per month, amounting in all to $220, to the post fund, as a consideration for being excused from many of the duties of an enlisted man and being allowed to carry on his personal business of barbering. These payments were voluntary.
The sources of revenue prescribed by article 1040 of the Navy Regulations, 1905, do not authorize the collection of any tax or assessment upon post barbers or any other enlisted men or employees.
III. The Government has not received the benefit of this money, and the same has not been covered into the Treasury by mistake, and there is no appropriation made for the post fund.
Mr. George A. King for the claimant. Messrs. George A. and William.B. King were on the brief.
Mr. George M. Anderson (with whom was Mr. Assistant Attorney General John Q. Thompson) for the defendants.

Opinion:
Booth, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court:
The claimant from 1904 to 1906 was serving as an enlisted man in the United States Marine Corps. Between April 15, 1904, and February 15, 1906, while on duty at the Charles-town Navy Yard, Mass., he acted as post barber. The detail as post barber came to claimant through an understanding with Col. H. C. Kelton, United States Marine Corps. The council of administration, acting for the post, had recommended a tax of $10 upon the post barber, to be paid into the post fund, and Col. Kelton, acting upon this recommendation, had expressly informed the claimant that the tax would be imposed. The amount paid by the claimant was no part of his pay as an enlisted marine, nor was it deducted therefrom. The amount was voluntarily paid by the claimant each month and was properly accounted for under the Navy Regulations pertaining to the subject.
The claimant's detail as post barber not only relieved him from a portion of his military duties, but enabled him to practice his occupation at considerable profit over and above his military pay. He was receiving 50 cents per month from the men in the barracks, 80 cent per month from each prisoner, which, together with his military pay of $14 per month, gave him an unusual privilege. The post or company fund is regulated as appears by section 1040 of the Navy Regulations of 1905, page 225.
The accumulations provided for arise principally from an economical administration of post domestic affairs, voluntary contributions, and an inconsequential tax upon the post trader. This sum is systematically expended in the betterment of post conditions, such as dish towels, powder for destroying objectionable insects, the establishment of an amusement room, etc., the whole matter being under the strict supervision of the proper military authorities. It is a commendable arrangement, tolerated by military authority for the sole benefit of the men in barracks. The United States Treasury receives none of the funds. They are paid out without an appropriation. The auditing thereof is not done at the Treasury, but by the council of administration. The United States is in nowise responsible to officers and enlisted men making contributions to the fund, the transaction being between the persons making the same and the authorities receiving it. The defendants are neither parties to nor privity with the transaction in the sense of legal responsibility to respond in damages for its collection or disbursement.
This court has no jurisdiction in the premises, and the petition is dismissed. It is so ordered.