Year: 1878

originated, to his sOldlerly couch, doubt
less aroused him from his reverie or
sleep; and, while the evidence is not
entirely satisfactory on this point, your
committee are OF the opinion that Hines,
In his zeal TO fight the fire and save
Government property, lost both trousers
and blanket.


With this view OF the case your COM
mlttee accept the finding of the Board
Of Survey, and discharge him from re-
sponsibllity. No specific recommends
tions appear In their report, but through
some mlsapprehenslon gratuitous issue
of trousers and blanket was made TO
him. AS events proved, this was fatal
mistake. His commanding officer, mis-
constituting mere suggestion, and per-
haps unwilling that Hines should
appear before the people of Aiken
trouserless, or concluding that the
honor and dignity of the United States
would be put in jeopardy by his appear.
ing on duty in a pair damaged to their
full value" made proper haste to re-
habilitate him.


From this time Hines vanishes from
the scene. How he dispOrted himself
in his new trousers nowhere appears.
Unconsciously he had performed great
service to the army and the country by
causing an authoritative decision on a
matter that had been involved in doubt.
The question of gratuitous issue of
clothing is now settled, and while Hines
may be Indifferent to the trouble he has
given captains. colonels, major generals.
Secretary of War, and Congressional
committee, he can content himself with
the reflection that he has neither worn
nor lost his trousers in vain.


In conclusion, your committee desire
to call attention to the fact that they
have devoted much time and thought
to this case. The papers are volumin-
Gus, containing no less than seven dis
tlnct Endorsements, commencing with
a captain and concluding with the
Secretary of War, who, in communi-
cation to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, asks for the relief of
Hines, or to use his own well chosen
words, requests the sanction of Con-
gress for the issues of said clothing To
said Hines"


This communication is marked GA
and made part of this report.


1t is In no vain-gloriOus spirit that
your committee state that whatever de-
lay there has been in this matter the
blame does not attach to them.


The trouble with Hines began nearly
eighteen months since and the papers
only reached the hands of your COM
nittee few days ago, and in placing
the final determination of the question
with the representatives of the people,
they feel that they are discharged from
further responsibility. They cannot,
however, dismiss the subject without
calling attention to the almost perfect
system of checks and guards thrown
around the issuing of Government
property. The thoughtless may call it
"red tape" or circumlocution, but with
out it, Hines to-day would be in undis-
puted possession Of a pair of trousers
and blanket to which he would have
no legal title. AS it is, the system has
been vindiCated, the right of the United
States to Hines trousers fully estab-
lished, and his personal and pecuniary
responsibility determined.


Under all the circumstances, your
Committee recommended the passage of
the bill.


Accompanying the report was mass
of documents containing endorsements
from numerous officers, from the captain
commanding the Company up to the
Secretary of War, and embracing the
proceedings of Board of Survey, COM
posed of three commissioned officers,
specially detailed, "to report upon and
fix the responsibility for the loss by fire
of one common tent, the property of the
United States, and one woollen blanket
and one pair of trousers, the property
of Private William Hines, Company F.
Eighteenth Infantry"


The stationery, postage, mileage, of
officers of the Board of Survey, time of
public officials consumed, ETC., probably
would amount to sufficient to purchase
trousers and blankets for the whole OF
Company F. Eighteenth Infantry.