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Mr. HOBSON. I am asking if these barracks would fit in it and be part of a coordinate plan to take care of 1,500 men?

General ELLIOTT. It would be laid out with that idea.

Mr. ROBERTS. These barracks carry with them a mess hall and all the cook rooms and everything, so that the building that you call the barracks and houses do all the work necessary without additional

cost?

Colonel DENNY. Yes, sir; places for officers, places for men, mess halls, guardroom, cells, dormitories, lavatories, bathrooms, and everything complete.

The CHAIRMAN. "Toward the completion of the marine garrison, naval station, Cavite, Philippine Islands, one marine barracks, seventy-five thousand dollars; officers' quarters, sixty thousand dollars; and for the erection of a wharf, dock, and crane, five thousand dollars; in all, one hundred and forty thousand dollars."

Colonel DENNY. At the present time the officers and enlisted men in Cavite are quartered in a number of buildings, with few exceptions of old buildings that belonged to Spain. Many of these old buildings, while unsubstantial, are good enough for our purposes, perhaps, but are required by the Government for storehouses, and gradually the navy takes buildings from us by force of circumstances, and then we are forced to put up temporary shacks with thatch roofs, and so on, in no way good for the health or comfort of the men. This has been going on since we started there in 1899, and the situation has become quite serious, and we thought it advisable to abandon all the old buildings that we have within the naval reservation proper and go across the creek, or wherever the authorities out there may select a site, and build a frame structure for ourselves, but we have hesitated to come to Congress until the two committees reached a definite programme. Now that that seems to have been settled, and as I say, the navy must have these buildings that are occupied, it is an absolute necessity that we have something else to go into.

The CHAIRMAN. How many men have you there now?
Colonel DENNY. About 300 men.

Mr. ROBERTS. Why do you build a frame building?

Colonel DENNY. We ought not to do it, but our notion has been that the committee wanted to keep down appropriations to the smallest extent possible, and the frame building, with a galvanizediron roof, with the precautions we take against fire out there, we thought would be the proper thing to do. Everything is wide open and there is always a number of men present to put out the fire if a fire starts. We thought that might answer the purpose for the next ten or fifteen years.

Mr. ROBERTS. What would a suitable stone or brick building cost? Colonel DENNY. For 300 men out there, where it is difficult to get building material and everything is high in cost, I should think easily $300,000.

Mr. ROBERTS. What do they build their permanent buildings of— of what material?

Colonel DENNY. Much as we do; steel frames and brick between columns. Some of the buildings out there, the old Spanish buildings, are built of the coral reef sawed up into blocks. That is not so dry as the other would be, or not so fireproof.

The CHAIRMAN. "Toward the completion of the marine garrison, naval station, Olongapo, Philippine Islands, officers' quarters, fifteen thousand dollars."

Colonel DENNY. That is carrying out the programme that we yearly submit to the committee, asking for additional officers' quarters to get rid of the old original quarters that were built. They were constructed with the idea that they would last from three to five years. They have lasted about nine years, and they are on their last legs, and have to come down, and other temporary quarters be put up.

The CHAIRMAN. We will go to the Marine Corps, page 152, pay of the Marine Corps. "For pay and allowances prescribed by law of officers on the active list, nine hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred and twenty-two dollars."

Colonel RICHARDS. In comparing that new amount with the old amount of the last act, consideration should be given to a sum of $800,750.55, which was incorporated in last year's act, to provide for the increase in pay of officers of the Marine Corps and the increase in the personnel of the Marine Corps authorized by that same act. In this particular item, for the pay of officers, there is in fact a decrease over the total amount appropriated for by $12,800. It looks there as though there was an increase there of some $200,000, but as a matter of fact there is not an increase so far as the item of the pay of the officers is concerned.

The CHAIRMAN. As to the pay of officers on the retired list there is some change?

Colonel RICHARDS. There has been some difference in grades of officers on the retired list, and in consequence there is a slight increase of some $12,900 for the pay of additional officers that have been retired.

The CHAIRMAN. The pay of the enlisted men is $2,872,270. Colonel RICHARDS. Yes; there is an increase in the pay of the enlisted men of some $222,000. Throughout the text in explanation of that item it is shown that a number of forms of allowances and pay are included in this figure. I can particularize just how those increases run. In the first place, there is additional sum as for pay for length of service. The continuous-service pay in the Marine Corps now under the law is figured differently, and upon that item alone there is an increase of $130,000. An increase of pay is also authorized by law for foreign service, and it is contemplated that during this year the number of men in the foreign service will be materially increased, and about $75,000 has been added to provide for that. There is a slight increase due to the pay of general courtmartial prisoners, which must be continuously appropriated, although the pay is not drawn, and that is about $3,000. Under this same head comes travel allowances of enlisted men on discharge. More men are expected to be discharged during the next fiscal year, and about $20,000 is added there. Also it is anticipated that quite a number of men will receive good-conduct medals, pins, and bars. The CHAIRMAN. Can you put all those increases in the hearings? Colonel RICHARDS. Yes, sir; I can.

The CHAIRMAN. All right."

a The stenographer was given the table of these increases, which should be inserted here.

Mr. ROBERTS. I would like to ask about those mess sergeants That seems to be a new item.

Colonel RICHARDS. That is not in fact new legislation. By the army appropriation act last year there was provision made for the pay of a sergeant detailed as mess sergeant, to allow him $6 additional pay per month, and under section 1612, Revised Statutes, that became immediately applicable to the Marine Corps, and in order that it might appear before the committee we wrote that word in the act, not to make it new legislation, but merely for the information of the committee.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, the pay of the enlisted men on the retired list.

Colonel RICHARDS. There has been some slight change in grades of enlisted men on the retired list.

The CHAIRMAN. It has all been figured out accurately?

Colonel RICHARDS. Yes, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. On page 154 are these changes from 3 to 2 sergeants brought about by that?

Colonel RICHARDS. We specify the grade of each man on the retired list, and each year we must change it, because men are dying and new men are going on, but there is a little clause in there that provides for those who may die during the year, and it is necessary that we should specify, and we do, following the text of the previous

year.

The CHAIRMAN. "Undrawn clothing: For payment to discharged soldiers for clothing undrawn, one hundred and seventy-two thousand three hundred and sixty-five dollars."

Colonel RICHARDS. In the first place, that is explained by the fact that more men are to be discharged during this next year. We figure from the term of enlistment, and from other causes other than expiration of enlistment, there will be 800 more men discharged during the next fiscal year than were estimated for last year; and then we find also that the percentage of savings of clothing itself has materially increased, which is due to the fact that more men are on foreign service, where they do not draw the more expensive articles of clothing, and of course what they do not draw is saved out of the appropriation where the clothing itself is provided for.

Mr. ROBERTS. If they do not draw the clothing, is it paid them in money?

Colonel RICHARDS. It is paid them in money.

Mr. MOORE. What is the average amount of undrawn clothing? Colonel RICHARDS. The clothing allowance itself amounts to about $55 a year, but we find the average amount saved runs about thisif a man at the end of one year is discharged, there has been about $15.50 saved; at the end of two years about $30 saved; at the end of three years about $43, and at the end of four years about $60 saved. If the man overdraws his clothing, that is immediately charged to his pay and the clothing appropriation is reimbursed by the amount.

Mr. ROBERTS. I want to get that clear in my mind. If the marine has not drawn all the clothing allowed him during his enlistment, he can have the cash at the expiration, the difference in value? Colonel RICHARDS. According to the amount saved, you see. The clothing allowance is based upon articles in kind which he is entitled to receive, and whatever is saved goes to him.

Mr. ROBERTS. If he makes a toothbrush last four years, he has the value returned to him?

Colonel RICHARDS. That is it; yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. "Mileage: For mileage to officers traveling under orders without troops, fifty thousand dollars: Provided, That hereafter the settlement of all traveling-expense claims, where the payment of such is authorized by existing law, and the determination of distances and of what constitutes the shortest usually traveled route in the meaning of laws relating to traveling allowances, shall accord to such rules as the Secretary of the Navy may prescribe." What do you mean by that?

Colonel RICHARDS. In the first place, there is no increase in that appropriation, but in practice it is authorized that those travelingexpense claims for travel abroad, and mileage-expense claims for travel in the United States, are charged to that appropriation. mileage that is paid rests upon what constitutes the shortest usually traveled route.

The CHAIRMAN. Seven cents a mile?

The

Colonel RICHARDS. Eight cents a mile for the Marine Corps. These transcontinental railroads are continually shortening their distances, and the Treasury Department hold that the officer should be paid the amount of mileage depending upon what is in fact the distance, and in determining that distance they are to resort to whatever evidence is obtainable. As a matter of fact, that can not be determined in any way except from some official source. The army have an official source. They have what is called an "Official Table of Distances," but so far as the Marine Corps and the Navy are concerned, that is of no value. There is no law to settle just what the shortest distance is, and the purpose of this clause is to vest in the Secretary of the Navy the right to fix that army official table as the table governing the distances of the Marine Corps. The CHAIRMAN. The same as the army?

Colonel RICHARDS. Yes.

Mr. BUTLER. Could you not adopt an official table?

Colonel RICHARDS. We could figure up one just like it, but if the Secretary of the Navy is given the authority to authorize that the army table shall govern these payments, that would settle it so far as the Treasury Department is concerned.

The CHAIRMAN. Would this alter or amend any statutory provision

of law?

Colonel RICHARDS. No, sir, it would not. It simply confirms our practice in following generally the army official tables of distances. It frequently happens that a payment is made and the accounting officers step in and say that the distances are really less than what the official table of distances shows.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you have any trouble over it to-day?

Colonel RICHARDS. Yes, sir, a good deal. It so happened in my own case a year ago that the distance was modified and we paid the travel allowance to discharged enlisted men, not taking in view the shortage, and it required an appeal to Congress before that particular thing could be adjusted.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Is this not rather confirmatory of the statute which says that the Marine Corps shall receive the same pay as the army?

Colonel RICHARDS. It is in a sense confirmatory, so far as the travel of enlisted men is concerned.

Mr. ROBERTS. Has not the Secretary of the Navy the authority now to do this very thing?

Colonel RICHARDS. No, sir; he has not.

The CHAIRMAN. There is a difference between the mileage of the army and the mileage of the Marine Corps.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. There can not be under the law.
The CHAIRMAN. One is 8 cents and the other is 7 cents.

Colonel RICHARDS. The rate of mileage of the Marine Corps is that authorized for the navy, so far as the computation of distances is concerned. At one time that question came up in the army and the army appropriation act. Something to this effect was said, viz, that the official table of distances promulgated by the PaymasterGeneral of the Army shall govern in the settlement of all mileage

accounts.

The CHAIRMAN. Why is it not a good idea to incorporate that language instead of the proviso?

Colonel RICHARDS. It was thought in drawing it that it was for the Secretary of the Navy to determine whether that should be done or a new table of distances should be prepared.

The CHAIRMAN. "For commutation of quarters of officers on duty without troops where there are no public quarters, thirty-three thousand five hundred dollars." That is the same as last year?

Colonel RICHARDS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. "Pay of civil force." That seems to be the same? Colonel RICHARDS. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. So we pass over now to "Provisions, Marine Corps," on page 160, and there is an increase from $723,000 to $823,000. How do you make that out?

Colonel DENNY. An increase of $100,000 is recommended there. That is inserted because of the increased cost of rations as compared with the cost last year, which increase is 14 per cent. This increase is due to the fact that the prices of all the component parts of the ration are higher than a year ago, and also to another important fact, that the army ration has been increased in quantity and improved in character to such an extent that this increase in cost of the old ration plus this improvement in the new ration brings up the increase in cost, as shown by competitive bids, to 14 per cent.

The CHAIRMAN. What was the cost of the old ration, how much?
Colonel DENNY. $24.67 per hundred.

The CHAIRMAN. What does the improvement now cost?
Colonel DENNY. $28.10.

Mr. BUTLER. What does that improvement consist of?

Colonel DENNY. It is more in the quality of the component parts. I said the increase in quantity, but that is very slight. They are getting better bacon, better molasses; they are getting better beans; they are getting better sugar; they are getting better coffee. other words, they are getting a better quality of all the component parts of the ration.

Mr. BUTLER. Is the value of the ration fixed by law?

In

Colonel DENNY. No, sir; the value of the ration is determined by contract prices obtained in the usual manner, through competition. In other words, they advertise for proposals to furnish a certain num

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