Estimates for fiscal year 1914, Quartermaster's Department, United States Heat and light allowances to officers and enlisted men.. $89,500 6,000 27,000 1.500 20.000 Commutation of fuel to enlisted men detailed as clerks and messengers. 20,000 Total. For 400 additional men. Total. 164,000 5,000 169, 000 The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Military stores," and the estimate is $332,737 as against $307,737 appropriated last year. Col. MCCAWLEY. The increase under this head, namely, $25,000. is for the 400 additional men mentioned in the estimates, and is based on furnishing each man with a complete outfit, including rifle, haversack, canteen, and ammunition, plus a sum to provide the necessary tentage for these additional men which must be kept in store. Rifle, outfit, etc., 400 men, at $40 each_. Tentage, etc‒‒‒‒‒ Mr. HOBSON. What does the rifle cost? $16,000 9.000 25,000 Col. MCCAWLEY. About $20 complete, with bayonet and scabbard: to be exact, it costs $19.70. Mr. HOBSON. What does the new revolver cost? Mr. HOBSON. Yes, sir. Col. MCCAWLEY. It costs $14.75 without the holster, or $16.30 with the holster. The CHAIRMAN. Has there been a reduction in the cost of the Army rifle in the last year or two? My recollection is that two years ago, or maybe three years ago, one of the officers stated-I think it was Admiral Mason-that the cost of the rifle was about $26. Col. MCCAWLEY. That must mean with a good many parts, Mr. Chairman a good deal of equipment. The CHAIRMAN. Cartridge box and bayonet. Col. MCCAWLEY. In 1908 the rifle complete cost $20.30, or 60 cents more than now, and this price includes the bayonet and scabbard. The cartridge box (which we do not use) costs $1.55, and the cartridge belt, with suspenders (which we do use), costs $2.97; so that the total cost of the rifle with all these accessories would be $24.82. The CHAIRMAN. I notice that you have inserted some new language in this item, "Construction of buildings for temporary shelter and preservation of stores "? Col. MCCAWLEY. It is believed that the suggested new wording, construction of buildings for temporary shelter and preservation of stores," should be incorporated. It frequently happens that the construction at rifle ranges of temporary buildings to be used as shelter for troops and protection of stores is necessary, and it is to provide for this expense in this appropriation that this wording is recommended. It will not cause an increase in the appropriation. I submit a detailed analysis of the estimated expense under this head: Estimates for military stores, Quartermaster's Department, United States Marine Corps, fiscal year 1914. 2,500 3,000 4,000 21, 000 10.000 Purchase, repair, and maintenance of machinery and equipment for manufacturing purposes_. Rent of rifle ranges and entrance fees for competitions_. Maintenance of bands.. Rifles, machine guns, and spare parts for same. Athletic supplies, including construction, equipment, and maintenance Material for manufacture of haversacks, blanket bags, and canteen covers. Medals, badges, and engraving same. Military equipment, such as revolvers, cartridge boxes, bayonet scab- Miscellaneous, including incidental expenses of schools of application__ Field ovens and stoves for tents Total-- 400 additional men. Total 94, 000 35,000 4,500 44,000 1,439 10, 000 4.000 307, 737 25,000 332,737 The CHAIRMAN. Have you heretofore been doing this work? Col. MCCAWLEY. Yes, sir; but paying for it out of another appropriation. The auditor says that we have no right to construct any building for this purpose out of this appropriation, even though it is for the protection of property and individuals serving on the rifle ranges. The CHAIRMAN. How is it done? Col. MCCAWLEY. Out of "repair of barracks," and that does not seem to be a legitimate appropriation to charge it to. The CHAIRMAN. Then, will you reduce "repair of barracks" if you transfer the expense? Col. MCCAWLEY. No; we can't do that. This is a varying amount. We do not know how much it is. It happens at infrequent intervals whenever we have to provide shelter for either persons or stores, but it never amounts to very much, as it is only temporary. Mr. HOBSON. It is simply to use it for one season? Col. MCCAWLEY. Seldom longer than that. Mr. HOBSON. Are there any ranges on rented ground, not owned by the Government? Col. MCCAWLEY. Yes, sir. We rent from the States. For instance, at Wakefield, Mass., and Sea Girt, N. J. If we want to put up a little building for the preservation of the troops or stores on a permanent, Government owned range, we can pay for it out of this appropriation "military stores," from which is made expenditures for all matters incidental to rifle ranges. It is simply to put the expenditure in what seems to be the proper place, rather than another place which would seem to be improper. It is only an authorization of expenditure without any specific appropriation of money. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Transportation and recruiting, Marine Corps," and the estimate is $352,000 as against the appropriation for last year of $317,000? Col. MCCAWLEY. That is due entirely to the 400 additional men. and is based on the average cost of enlistment during a given period of time of about $60 per man, with an amount added to cover transportation of these men from the recruiting depots to other stations. 400 men, at average cost of enlistment, which in August was approximately $60. Estimate for transportation between stations. Total___. $24,000 11,000 35,000 I have also suggested some additional wording there. The CHAIRMAN. That is the same language that we incorporated last year with reference to the Navy? Col. MCCAWLEY. Yes, sir; and I will quote it, with the explanation concerning the desirability of the legislation. Provided, That authority is hereby granted to employ hereafter the services of an advertising agency in advertising for recruits, under such terms and conditions as are most advantageous to the Government. The Marine Corps for practically two and one-half years has had its advertising for recruits placed through an advertising agency, and such procedure was discontinued when the Comptroller of the Treasury, in a decision dated April 25, 1912, decided that there was no authority of law for the same. The practice of placing such advertising through an advertising agency greatly simplifies the procedure as compared with the present method, as it not only reduces clerical labor, but eliminates a large number of individual vouchers in favor of the various newspapers in which the advertisements appear. It is only necessary when using an advertising agency to have one voucher each month to cover all the expense involved for this purpose in the newspapers. When this means of advertising was first inaugurated the number of vouchers was reduced from approximately 100 monthly to one voucher, which is a great saving in clerical labor and expense. The newspapers employed in this manner vary monthly according to the conditions of the service, etc. Attention is invited to the fact that a similar proviso is included in an act making appropriations for the naval service for the current fiscal year under the subhead "Bureau of Navigation," and that the Comptroller of the Treasury, under date of October 5, 1912, decided that it did not apply to advertising for recruits for the Marine Corps. An increase in the appropriation will not be necessary on this account. An analysis of estimates is submitted: Estimates for Quartermaster's Department, United States Marine Corps, fiscal year 1914. TRANSPORTATION AND RECRUITING. Rent of recruiting offices__ Examination of applicants for enlistment_. Advertising for recruits. Car and ferry tickets___ Equipment for the recruiting service, including scales, toilet kits, flags, office furniture. Incidental expenses of recruiting offices, such as heat, light, telegrams, laundry, stationery Transportation-- Total 400 additional men Total $42, 251 4,831 38, 217 5, 093 11, 955 9,485 205, 168 317, 000 35, 000 352, 000 The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Repair of barracks," and your estimate is $160,000, as against the appropriation last year of $120,000? Col. MCCAWLEY. Yes, sir. An increase of $20,000 is recommended under this head for the reason that the amount heretofore appropriated has been insufficient to meet all the requirements, owing to the large number of buildings under the Quartermaster's Department which have to be more or less extensively repaired and painted, especially the buildings in the Tropics, of which there is a large number, which quickly deteriorate under the severe climatic conditions, and require painting throughout at least once a year. Furthermore, there are many very old buildings at all posts of the corps which need constant repairs. The amount asked for will barely meet the needs in this respect. I desire to lay particular stress on the fact that the total additional amount of $40,000 asked for represents about one-half the saving in the clothing appropriation. An increase of only $10,000 was authorized under this appropriation last year (1913), although $20,000 was requested. At the present time, of the $120,000 appropriated, only $20,000 remain unexpended, and with only the greatest care will a deficiency be avoided by postponing until next year many necessary repairs and improvements which should be made now. For a detailed analysis of the estimated expense under this head, reference is invited to exhibit submitted, and it should be noted that out of this appropriation over $31,000 is necessary to pay for rent of buildings, which reduces by that amount the sum which can be used for repairs. The further sum of $20,000 has also been inserted under this head as an arbitrary amount to provide additional barrack accommodations for the additional 400 men and such outbuildings as may be necessary. The first $20,000 is an increase asked for to meet ordinary conditions, and the other $20,000 is a sum submitted to provide additional barracks and mess accommodations for the additional 400 men and such outbuildings as may be required. It will probably be necessary to provide some temporary shelter, and the sum of $20,000 for that purpose is estimated. The CHAIRMAN. That would come under improvements to barracks? Col. MCCAWLEY. Yes, sir; extension to the present facilities for housing men. Estimates for Quartermaster's Department, United States Marine Corps, fiscal year 1914. Washington San Francisco_ Manila Office of assistant paymaster, New York. REPAIRS OF BARRACKS. Repairs and improvements to buildings.. $90, 676 Extra duty pay to enlisted men_. 8,000 Erection of temporary buildings, such as paint sheds, lumber sheds, wash houses, coal sheds, boat houses, and pump houses__. 10,000 Rent of building: Staff offices $11,000 10,500 2,700 2,000 2,550 1, 950 144 480 31, 324 140,000 20,000 160,000 The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Forage," where you ask for an increase of $2,000? Col. MCCAWLEY. Yes, sir. I put that increase in for the additional 400 men; but in view of the fact that we had a small balance last year, I am willing to omit that increase and try it another year with the same sum. The CHAIRMAN. You said" on account of the additional 400 men "? You rather mean the additional officers? Do the men get any part of this allowance? Col. MCCAWLEY. Not the men themselves, but the additional public animals that will be employed in the Quartermaster's Department if additional men are authorized; but I am willing to try it another year on the same amount you have heretofore appropriated. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Commutation of quarters," and your estimate is $86,000, as against the appropriation last year of $79,000? Col. MCCAWLEY. The increase of $7,000 under this head is based on the assumption that the new officers provided for will be on a commutation status annually until permanent quarters can be provided, proportioned in the same manner as the appropriation "Provisions," i. e., for nine months. In the event of these officers being on a commutation status for over nine months it is believed that the funds appropriated under this head will be sufficient to cover such cases. For nine months. 1 colonel (7 rooms, at $12 per month per room). 1 major (5 rooms, at $12 per month per room). G captains (4 rooms, at $12 per month per room) C first lieutenants (3 rooms, at $12 per month per room). 4 second lieutenants (2 rooms, at $12 per month per room). |