highest grade they have held, by brevet or other commission, as is now authorized for officers of volunteers by section twelve hundred and twenty-six, Revised Statutes.

The text on page 45 of the History of the General Staff, under the title

Act of May 28, 1898 (30 Stats., 421),

is that of the

Act of June 29, 1898 (30 Stats., 525).

AN ACT to amend section ten of an act approved April twenty-second, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, entitled 'An act to provide for temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United States in time of war, and for other purposes.'

The first section of the act of May 28, is as follows:

That section ten of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United States in time of war, and for other purposes," approved April twenty-second, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, be, and the same is hereby, amended by adding at the end thereof the following, to wit: And provided, That officers of the Regular Army shall be eligible for such staff appointments, and shall not be held to vacate their offices in the Regular Army by accepting the same, but shall be entitled to receive only the pay and allowances of their staff rank:

June 2, 1862 (12-411).-Secretary of War to furnish officers appointed by him to make contracts with a printed letter of instructions and blank forms of contracts, affidavits of returns, etc., to secure uniformity in such instruments.

March 2, 1867 (14-571).-Forbids payment of accounts, claims, etc., against the Government which accrued prior to April 13, 1860, in favor of disloyal persons; this not to apply to claims assigned to loyal creditors of such persons in payment of debts incurred prior to March 1, 1861.

REVISED STATUTES, 2D EDITION, 1878.

SEC. 1304. In case of deficiency of any articles of military supplies or of damage to such supplies, the value of the deficient articles or that of the damage to be charged against the officer responsible, unless he can show that the deficiency or damage was not occasioned by any fault on his part.

SEC. 3480. Forbids payment of accounts, claims, etc., against the United States which accrued or existed prior to April 13, 1860, in favor of disloyal persons; this not to apply to claims assigned to loyal creditors of such persons in payment of debts incurred prior to March 1, 1861.

SEC. 3747. Secretary of War to furnish officers appointed by him to make contracts, with a printed letter of instructions and blank forms of contracts, affidavits of returns etc., to secure uniformity in such instruments.

May 25, 1900 (31).-Authorizes replacement of quartermaster supplies which the volunteers from a State or Territory carried into the service of the United States Army during the recent war with Spain, and which have been retained by the United States.

THE SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT.

JOURNALS OF THE AMERICAN (CONTINENTAL) CONGRESS. September 27, 1775.

Resolved, That the expense of kettles, canteens, and spoons, supplied to the soldiers, be charged to the continent.

STATUTES AT LARGE.

May 18, 1826 (4-173).—In case of deficiency of any article of military supplies or of damage to such supplies, the value of the deficient articles or that of the damage to be charged against the responsible officer, unless he can show that the deficiency or damage was not occasioned by any fault on his part.

June 2, 1862 (12-411).—Secretary of War to furnish officers appointed by him to make contracts with a printed letter of instructions and blank forms of contracts, affidavits of returns, etc., to secure uniformity in such instruments.

March 3, 1865 (13-495).-Commissaries may sell rations on credit to officers in the field, reporting monthly to the Paymaster-General the amounts due for such purchases.

March 2, 1867 (14-571).-Forbids payment of accounts, claims, etc., against the Government which accrued prior to April 13, 1860, in favor of disloyal persons; this not to apply to claims assigned to loyal creditors of such persons in payment of debts incurred prior to March 1, 1861.

REVISED STATUTES, 2D EDITION, 1878.

SEC. 1145. Commissaries may sell rations on credit to officers in the field, reporting monthly to the Paymaster-General the amounts due for such purchases.

SEC. 1277. One ration in kind or by commutation allowed to hospital matrons and female nurses.

SEC. 1304. In case of deficiency of any article of military supplies or of damage to such supplies, the value of the deficient articles or that of the damage to be charged against the officer responsible, unless he can show that the deficiency or damage was not occasioned by any fault on his part.

SEC. 2110. Governs issue of rations to Indians who may visit the military posts or agencies of the United States on the frontiers or in their respective nations.

SEC. 3480. Forbids payment of accounts, claims, etc., against the United States which accrued or existed prior to April 13, 1860, in favor of disloyal persons; this not to apply to claims assigned to loyal creditors of such persons in payment of debts incurred prior to March 1, 1861.

SEC. 3747. Secretary of War to furnish officers appointed by him to make contracts with a printed letter of instructions and blank forms of contracts, affidavits of returns, etc., to secure uniformity in such instruments.

March 3, 1881 (21–435).—All the old clothing now held for issue to the National Home to be turned over to the managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

April 23, 1901.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, March 26, 1901.

66

In accordance with the provisions of section 40 of the act entitled "An act to increase the efficiency of the permanent military establishment of the United States," approved February 2, 1901, which authorizes the President to prescribe the kind and quantities of the component articles of the army ration, and to direct the issue of substitutive equivalent articles in place of any such components whenever, in his opinion, economy and a due regard to the health and comfort of the troops may so require," the following is promulgated for the information and guidance of all concerned.

The kinds and quantities of articles composing the army ration and the substi

tutive equivalent articles which may be issued in place of such components shall be as follows:

In Alaska 16 ounces of bacon, or, when desired, 16 ounces of salt pork or 22 ounces salt beef. 3 When impracticable to furnish fresh meat.

To be ordered issued only when impracticable to use flour or soft bread.

In Alaska the allowance of fresh vegetables will be 24 ounces instead of 16 ounces.

When they can be obtained in the vicinity or transported in a wholesome condition from a distance.

7 When impracticable to furnish fresh vegetables. In Alaska 32 ounces instead of 23 ounces. 8Thirty per cent of the issue to be prunes when practicable.

When illumination is not furnished by the Quartermaster's Department. In Alaska ounce instead of ounce.

2. For troops in the field in active campaign (field ration).

3. For troops when traveling otherwise than by marching, or when for short periods they are separated from cooking facilities (travel ration).

4. For troops traveling on vessels of the United States Army transport service.

Food on transports for troops traveling will be prepared from the articles of subsistence stores which compose the ration for troops in garrison, varied by the substitution of other articles of authorized subsistence stores of equal money value when required. No savings will be allowed to troops on transports.

5. For use of troops on emergent occasions in active campaign (emergency ration).

An emergency ration, prepared under direction of the War Department, will be issued to troops on active campaign, but will not be used at any time or place where regular rations are obtainable. It will be packed in a conveniently shaped package, and will be carried in the haversack or saddlebags and accounted for at inspection, etc., by the soldier.

6. Proportions of meat issues.

Fresh meats will ordinarily be issued seven days in ten and salt meats three days in ten. If fish (dried, pickled, or canned) is issued, it will be in substitution of salt meat. The proportions of the meat issues may be varied at the discretion of department commanders, not, however, without due consideration being given to the equitable rights of contractors engaged in furnishing fresh meats to the troops under their commands.

7. Substitute when the issue of both fresh meat and vegetables is impracticable.

Whenever the issue of both the fresh meat and vegetable components is impracticable, there may be issued in lieu of them canned fresh-beef-and-vegetable stew, at the rate of 284 ounces to the ration.

(General Orders, No. 56, A. G. O.)

WILLIAM MCKINLEY.

THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

STATUTES AT LARGE.

March 16, 1802 (2-132).—This act allows one ration each to such matrons and nurses as may be necessarily employed in hospitals.

April 24, 1816 (3–297).—Under this act garrison surgeons and mates were to be considered thereafter as post surgeons.

May 18, 1826 (4-173).—In case of deficiency of any article of military supplies or of damage to such supplies, the value of the deficient articles or that of damage to be charged against the responsible officer, unless he can show that the deficiency or damage was not occasioned by any fault on his part.

S. Doc. 229- -14

THE ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.

JOURNALS OF THE AMERICAN (CONTINENTAL) CONGRESS.

October 16, 1775.

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all persons who are possessed of the salt petre lately removed from Turtle Bay, on the island of New York, forthwith to send the same to the president of the convention of New York, to be manufactured into gunpowder, for the use of the Continental Army.

October 17, 1775.

Ordered, that the President write to the convention of New York and inform them that it is the desire of the Congress that the sulphur in that city be immediately removed to a place of safety.

October 25, 1775.

Information being given to Congress that there has been lately discovered, in the colony of Virginia, a minera! containing a large quantity of saltpetṛe,

Ordered, That the delegates of Virginia send an express to enquire into the truth of the fact, and to bring a sample of the mineral.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several provincial assemblies, conventions, or councils of safety, of the United Colonies, to export to the foreign West Indies, on account and risk of their respective colonies, as much provisions or other produce, except horned cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry, as they may deem necessary for the importation of arms, ammunition, sulphur, and saltpetre.

THE SIGNAL CORPS.

Act of June 30, 1882 (22 Stats., 117).

AN ACT making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-three, and for other

purposes.

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*

*

Provided, That the allowance for commutation of quarters for officers and enlisted men of the Signal Service serving in the Arctic regions, [shall be] the same in amount as though they were serving in Washington, District of Columbia: