The department also called for a report upon the convention to be submitted to the Red Cross International Association last spring, whose object was to provide a recognized status for Red Cross societies operating with insurgent forces.

The War College further was directed to prepare a report as to the position which the Navy Department would like to have the United States take up at the next Hague conference in 1915.

These three reports on important practical questions relating to international law have all been made in accordance with the department's orders during the past year, and on all of them the War College has had the advice and opinion of Prof. Wilson.

Thus the Navy Department has enjoyed the assistance of a distinguished international lawyer without any charge whatever on account of his established relations with the War College.

The work in international law at the Naval War College is largely upon current subjects upon which precedents have not yet laid down an invariable rule, and Prof. Wilson in the course of his conversation as to his work at Harvard has told the president of the War College that the study necessary to prepare his cases which he brings before the War College absorbs most of the time which he is able to devote to original work. The time of professors available for such original work is usually devoted to publication and other remunerative forms of occupation with the full consent and authority of the college governing bodies.

The pay of college work is relatively small for their abilities, so this outside work of professors brings prestige to the institution and enables it to maintain a higher standard among the members of the faculty than would otherwise be the case.

The $1,500 which Prof. Wilson has hitherto received is not nearly so much as he could derive from the same amount of time devoted to publication, although his connection with the War College has brought him increase of reputation and standing which has been and is no little inducement to maintain his connection with the college. The War College would find it very difficult to replace his services, as he has acquired a comprehension of naval affairs and the duties of naval officers in practical international situations which is equaled by few international lawyers.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, you state that if you send questions on international law to the War College he labors on them?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you not have legal officers in the department here in Washington also to handle that?

Admiral ANDREWS. Not to cover that; no, sir. Of course, the State Department

The CHAIRMAN (interposing). Do you avail yourselves of the services of the State Department?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir; we do; but the State Department avails themselves of the service of Prof. Wilson.

The CHAIRMAN. Yes.

Admiral ANDREWS. And he has frequently been detailed as a representative to international conferences abroad as the American representative. So they avail themselves of his services, too, on particular questions which affect their department; but, so far as the Navy Department is concerned, the questions that are submitted to him are largely questions of naval international law, with which the State Department usually does not have to deal until they arisethat is, until some case occurs-and in our position we are trying to get all questions of that kind settled, in so far as expert opinion can do it, before they actually come up, so that our commanding officers will know how to act; and we issue an annual publication of the War College on that subject which is very valuable and very widely circulated and consulted.

The CHAIRMAN. The estimate for the total appropriation is $1,000 less than last year?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir; that is due to cutting out that $3,000. The CHAIRMAN. "Naval Home, Philadelphia Pa." There is a change in the pay of the laborers, etc.

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. That whole amount is paid out of the-
Admiral ANDREWS. Naval pension fund.

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; and that Navy pension fund is contributed from what source; it does not come out of the Treasury, does it?

Admiral ANDREWS. No, sir; it comes from the old prize-money fund, which is still existing from the Civil War, the Government's share of it, and also from the fines and forfeitures for depredations on or injuries to timber on public lands.

The CHAIRMAN. So that it does not come out of the Treasury? Admiral ANDREWS. It does not come out of the revenues of the Government at all.

Mr. TRIBBLE. Well, then, that belongs to the Government?
Admiral ANDREWS. Sir?

Mr. TRIBBLE. Those fines belong to the Government.

The CHAIRMAN. Under the law they go into this fund.
Admiral ANDREWS. They go into this particular fund.

Mr. TRIBBLE. I understand; but then, if this fund was not here it would go into the Treasury of the United States, and therefore the Government is interested in the disposition of the fine.

Admiral ANDREWS. I do not mean to say that the Government is not interested in the disposition of this money; because it is all dictated, of course, by Congress. But what I meant to say was that it does not come out of the Treasury as an additional appropriation. Mr. TRIBBLE. Yes; I understand; but indirectly it comes out of the Treasury of the United States just the same.

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. The surplus of this fund is paid to the Commissioner of Pensions, I believe, or the Secretary of the Interior, for the Commissioner of Pensions. What was the amount turned over to him?

Admiral ANDREWS. I could not tell you, sir; I would have to ask about that. I think the only amount that is turned over to him is what is shown by his annual estimate to be required to pay Navy pensions.

The CHAIRMAN. My recollection is that the whole fund goes to him after the payment of the maintenance of the Naval Home. I would be glad if you would put in the hearings the amount that is turned over to him ordinarily.

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir.

The records of the Navy Department show that after the expenses of the Naval Home have been paid from the Navy pension fund, the following amounts have been turned over to the Commissioner of Pensions to be applied to the payment of Navy pensions:

Admiral ANDREWS. In regard to that pay of employees, the estimate shows an increase in the employees of $3,240, made up as follows: One painter is asked for, at $720 a year. It has been the practice to have a painter detailed from the Philadelphia yard to the Naval Home, at $3.36 a day, or $1,001.20 per year, in addition to the one regular painter. Both painters have been kept busy the entire year painting the various buildings of the home to prevent deterioration. It would be a saving to the Government to employ an additional painter at the home at $720, rather than pay sums similar to that expended last year ($1,001.20) for the detail of one from the navy yard. I think that is an obvious improvement, and the Naval Home buildings are now so old that they require a great deal of tinkering. I think you remember how they look, do you not, Mr. Chairman?

The CHAIRMAN. I have not been there lately. I notice that you are increasing the pay of a number of employees in the low-paid classes?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir; I will explain that. Three laborers have each been increased $180 a year-that is, from $360 to $540making a total increase of $540. These three laborers now are getting $30 a month-that is, $1 a day-and they are getting in addition subsistence at the home, which costs the Government in the neighborhood of 45 cents a day; so that their actual pay really amounts to about $1.45 a day, which is rather small. One additional laborer is put down at $540. These laborers are employed as firemen in the power house. Now, on account of the consolidation of the power plants of the Naval Home and the Naval Hospital, the work in the fireroom has been more than doubled. The same boilers supply the home and the Naval Hospital, which is on the home grounds. It has been necessary in the past to detail a laborer from the care of the grounds to assist in the fireroom in the winter, and his services can not well be spared. These firemen work in eight-hour shifts, and also on Sundays and holidays; and each man is required to work 16 hours continuously every third Sunday, which is bad. It is deemed necessary for the safety of the power house and the boilers to have this extra fireman.

The CHAIRMAN. Did I understand you to say that the consolidation of the heating plant had necessitated an enlargement of the force? Admiral ANDREWS. I said in effect that; yes, sir; that the Naval Hospital is now heated and lighted from the Naval Home boiler room. The CHAIRMAN. Well, by doing so does it require more men in the consolidated plant than it did for the separate systems before the consolidation?

Admiral ANDREWS. No, sir; it would not do that. I did not mean to say that.

The CHAIRMAN. Just what did you mean? I wanted you to make yourself clear. I understood you to say that the consolidation had necessitated an increase.

Admiral ANDREWS. No. I said the work in the fireroom has been more than doubled on account of the consolidation, because they have to heat the Naval Hospital and quarters in addition to the Naval Home.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, then, by the consolidation has there been a reduction of the force or the expense in the hospital, or in the combined forces of the two?

Admiral ANDREWS. Well, I think there has been a reduction, but I do not happen to know what it is.

The CHAIRMAN. Could you put that in the record?
Admiral ANDREWS. Yes; I will put that in.

There was one engineer at $50 per month and two firemen at $30 each per month employed in the power plant of the United States Naval Hospital prior to the time this plant was consolidated with the Naval Home plant. The engineer performed the duties of a fireman and stood a regular watch in addition to his duties as engineer.

These men were paid from the appropriation "Medical Department, United States Navy," and their services were discontinued June 30, 1910, the date of the consolidation of the plants. Upon the discontinuation of the hospital plant, and the discharge of the three employees mentioned above, a machinist, at $70 per month, was employed to look after the laundry and other machinery in the hospital building, also the plumbing, etc.; therefore the actual number of employees dropped was two, effecting a saving of $40 per month for the appropriation "Medical Department, United States Navy." All expenses for the heating of the hospital prior to the consolidation of the plants was borne by the appropriation referred to above.

Mr. ROBERTS. Well, does the hospital pay anything for this light and heat that it gets from the home?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes; they pay their share.

Mr. ROBERTS. To that appropriation?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir.

Mr. TRIBBLE. Do you know how many inmates there were at the home?

Admiral ANDREWS. The last report dated September 30, 1912, gave 72. We add men right along, but the most of them, or a great many of them, are already pretty old. I do not know how long this will keep up. Of course it is not a question any longer of the Civil War or the Spanish-American War. When a man gets to a certain age in the service and is retired for disability we are allowed to send him there, then he gives up his pension.

Mr. TRIBBLE. Can they not stay there and draw a pension?

Admiral ANDREWS. No, sir. They do not draw anything at all; the Government takes his pension. A recommendation has been made to have the pension not taken away from him; that is, have his small pension available for the use of his family, if he is disabled and practically destitute-take the pension away, and as it is we can not give it to the family, but under the Army home they can give it to the families. I think that ought to be changed.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Miscellaneous." The language is changed and you put in new language.

Admiral ANDREWS. Is that "Naval Home," sir?

The CHAIRMAN. No; it is "Miscellaneous."

Admiral ANDREWS. There are some other items here in regard to the laborers at the Naval Home. Suppose I put these in the hearing?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; some small items there.

Admiral ANDREWS. These salaries, I might say, which are paid at the Naval Home are not living wages. I do not think there is any question about that. You pay a laborer $30 a month and give

him three meals a day, which costs the Government only 45 cents, and he is not getting very much.

Mr. ROBERTS. They do not live on the grounds then?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir; on the grounds.

Mr. ROBERTS. Do they sleep on the grounds?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes; I presume some of them do have a home, but they all lodge and subsist at the home, which I do not believe is worth $1 per day.

Mr. TRIBBLE. They are fairly comfortable quarters, are they not? Admiral ANDREWS. Yes; they are fairly comfortable, but of course they do not get much in the way of cash. They get only about $1 a day.

There is one thing I have in here about a bulkhead, which comes to $5,500. That also will come out of the pension fund.

The CHAIRMAN. Where is that? It does not seem to be estimated. Mr. ROBERTS. It is at the top of page 32, "Rebuilding river bulkheads, $5,500."

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; but that is in the new language I am inviting his attention to.

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes; that is all in there. I shall have to make that explanation, but I should like to say in regard to that, that it is an urgent matter. We own a strip of land and part of the Naval Home grounds goes down to the bulkhead, down to the river, and it is not right that the Government should allow its land to silt into the river. The present bulkhead is an old one, a wooden bulkhead; it is rotting away and the land is silting into the river, and I understand the State will have a good ground for a damage suit against the Government if we do not stop it. The law of the State requires that the owner shall keep his property from going into the river and shoaling it up. I will put in a full explanation of that.

Mr. ROBERTS. It is provided that whole sum shall come out of the naval pension fund, and this is a part of it, is it not?

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes; that happens to be an item which has not been in before.

Mr. ROBERTS. Does that complete the bulkhead item?
Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir; $5,500.

The CHAIRMAN. You have changed the language of this appropriation. Instead of putting it "Miscellaneous, water rents, lighting, etc.," you put it "Maintenance, water rents, heating, lighting, sanitary, burial expenses, headstones, etc."

Admiral ANDREWS. There is not very much difference in that. If you go down through it you will find we have rents, lights, and heat in there. That is that boiler plant and sanitary bill expenses, headstones, etc. General care of the grounds, repairs to buildings, repairs and purchase of boilers, furniture, repairs to power plant, equipment; it is simply a change in language to make it a little more explicit instead of saying purchase.

The CHAIRMAN. But in the old language we have been limiting the different items. Now, in this new language I notice you are putting in the same language, but taking out the limitation and making it a gross-sum appropriation.

Admiral ANDREWS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Why is that? You put in the various purposes in the new language; for instance, "water rents, heating and lights,