9.0.

14.

1371. The law provides, in regard to inspection of accounts, "that no officer so detailed shall be in any way connected with the Department or corps making the disbursement. "-[G. O. 33, 1874.]

1372. The Inspector will make a minute and thorough inspection of the accounts of disbursing officers, and compare the result in each case with the officer's balance at his place of deposit; and each Inspector will be held responsible for any defalcation or misapplication of the public money or property which may occur within the command to which he is assigned that an active vigilance on his part might have detected.— [G. O. 87, 1872.]

1373. The commanding officers of posts too remote for quarterly visitation, or such other officer as the Department Commander may direct, will perform the duty of Inspector in the manner prescribed by the above paragraph, excepting that they will not be required to visit the depository where the disbursing officers of their posts keep their funds; but the disbursing officers shall procure from their depositories the official statements of their balances on deposit, required to be furnished by Treasury Circular No. 1, of January 2, 1872, which statements shall be placed on file in their offices, and form a part of their records, subject to the Inspector's examination. In cases where the depositories are too remote from the points of disbursement for the quarterly visitation by Division and Department Inspectors, the official statements will be exhibited by the disbursing officers for the verification of their accounts by the said Division and Department Inspectors.-[G. O. 87, 1872.]

1374. The inspections contemplated in the foregoing Regulations, so far as relates to the Battalion of Engineers and its post, Engineer establishments, officers, and agents, under the direct orders of the Chief of Engineers, will not be made by Inspectors acting under the orders of either Department or Division Commanders.-[ G. 0.9, 1873.]

1375. The blank inspection reports furnished from the Inspector General's Office are designed for use in inspecting the accounts of the chief disbursing officers of Divisions and Departments, and of other officers who disburse considerable sums of money. Where the disbursements are small, as at most military posts, the inspections and reports will conform to the requirements of the law above cited, but the specific form of the blank reports will not be required.—[G. O. 64, 1874.]

1376. Reports of the inspections made in compliance with these Regulations will be promptly forwarded through the regular military channels to the War Department.— [G. O. 45, 1874.]

INSPECTION OF TRANSPORTS.

[G. O. 5, 1866.]

1377. In inspecting water transportation for troops, the Inspector must be governed by circumstances and necessities. Military emergency is not unfrequently a controlling consideration, but should never cause undue risk to life. In an ordinary condition of things, and especially in voyages of any length, Inspectors are to see that the vessels provided are such as promise reasonable comfort to passengers. If there be anything to indicate necessity for a critical inspection, the services of an expert are to be employed.

1379. The Inspector will call for the contract and see that its stipulations are complied with. He will report whether the vessel is adapted to the purpose and voyage designed; in what particular, if any, she may be defective, and whether any repairs or alterations are necessary before sailing.

1379. He will ascertain how the vessel is rated at the underwriters; the age of the hull and machinery, and their existing conditions, so far as he can judge. He will inquire when the vessel was last in dock, the condition of the boilers, and when last put in. He will examine whether the outfit of tackle, spare spars, &c., is sufficient; whether there is an ample provision of boats, life-buoys, and deck room enough for quarters for officers and enlisted men, and if the limit of the act of Congress defining the relation of tonnage to passengers is not exceeded. He will see that the vessel's crew is large enough for her proper working, and inquire into the competency of the officers; that there are the proper instruments of navigation, compasses, &c.; report if the chronometers have been rated, and if there is a supply of charts. The water tanks and butts are to be looked at to see if there is water enough for passengers and crew. He will specially inspect the cooking arrangements, see that the vessel is clean, and that the portion occupied by troops is dry and well ventilated.

1380. In order that the paddles may be secure from the action of the waves, in a side-wheel sea-going steamer, the projection on the sides under the guards, called the sponsons, should be covered up to make that portion as solid as any other part of the ship; the keel, stern apron or inner stern, futtocks, floor timbers, dead wood, stern post, transom, inner post, frame and filling timbers abreast of the engine, the wales, the rudder and rudder fastenings, should be increased in strength twenty-five per cent. over those of river steamers. The weight of machinery should be well below the

water-line. The vessel should be high between decks and well ventilated by hatches, wind-sails, and side-lights. There ought to be water-closet and temporary bath arrangements. Provision for sufficient masts and sails, in the event of accident to the motive power, should be made, and there ought not to be less than a fore and aft sail to each mast set upon a gaff, and a trysail to each mast to be set in a storm.

INSPECTION OF PROPERTY FOR CONDEMNATION.

1381. Inspectors are the only officers authorized to inspect public property with a view to condemnation. The final disposition of condemned property, except it be worthless, can only be ordered by Commanding Generals of Departments.-[Circ. War Dept., Nov. 2, 1868.]

1382. All surveys and reports having in view the condemnation of public property, for whatever cause, will be made by Inspector Generals, or Inspectors specially designated by the Commander of a Department or an army in the field, or by higher authority. Such surveys and reports having a different object from those of Boards of Survey, will be required independently of any preliminary action of a board on the same matter.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1021.]

1383. Public property must not be reported as unserviceable, or condemned by an Inspector, merely because of its shabby appearance, when it is really strong and serviceable.-[G. O. 5, 1866; Circ. War Dept., Nov. 2, 1868; G. O. 55, 1875.]

1384. Generally inventories of unserviceable property should be forwarded to the Department, or superior headquarters, in anticipation of the visit of an Inspector. But Inspectors, during their tours, will inspect all property presented to them for condemnation, on proper inventories and inspection reports.-[Circ. War Dept., Nor. 2, 1868.1

1385. Officers having property requiring inspection will make a request therefor, in letter form, throngh their immediate commanding officer. They will send to the proper Inspectors through the regular channel signed inventories in triplicate, according to form furnished from the Inspector General's Office, Washington, D. C., accompanied by a letter of advice stating where the property is. The property will be arranged according to description, and every article of each class must be examined by the Inspector, the officer responsible for it accompanying the Inspector, and giving all required information as to its use, care, means taken to preserve it, &c.[G. O. 5, 1866.]

1386. All reports of inspection of property will be submitted by the Inspector, through his immediate commander, to the officer empowered to order final disposition of the property.-[G. O. 5, 1866.]

9.0.56.81

4.82

1387. An officer commanding a Department, or an army in the field, may give orders, on the report of the authorized Inspectors, to sell, destroy, or make such other. l5'. disposition of any condemned property as the case may require-ordnance and Ordnance stores alone excepted, for which the orders of the War Department must always be taken. But if the property be of very considerable value, and there should be reason to suppose that it could be advantageously applied or disposed of elsewhere than within his command, he will refer the matter to the Chief of the Staff Department to which it belongs, for the orders of the War Department. No other persons than those above designated, or the General-in-chief, will order the final disposition of condemned property, saving only in the case of horses, which should be killed at once to prevent contagion, and of provisions or other stores which are rapidly deteriorating, when the immediate commander may have to act perforce. Inventories of condemned property will be made in triplicate, one to be retained by the person accountable, one to accompany his accounts, and one to be forwarded through the Department or other superior headquarters to the Chief of the Staff Department to which the property belongs. Separate inventories must be made of the articles to be repaired, of those to be broken up, those to be sold, to be dropped, &c.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1023.] 1388. Great care should be taken to prevent property once condemned, and ordered to be dropped from the returns, from ever being again presented for inspection. When public property is presented to an Inspector for condemnation, the officer responsible will certify, on the inventory, that the property had not been previously condemned.— [Circ. War Dept., Nov. 2, 1868; G. O. 193, 1863.]

1389. Property unfit for the purpose for which it was designed may often be applied to other uses. Inspecting officers, in recommending the disposition to be made of condemned property, especially of the Quartermaster's Department, will bear in mind that there is hardly any species of material, however worn, which cannot be put to some use. Old linen, cotton, wool, iron, &c., can all be worked up in some new form, and wood can be used as fuel. No condemned articles that have any salable value will be recommended "to be dropped," unless there be special reasons there. for, which reasons must be stated in the report.-[G. O. 5, 1866; G. O. 8, 1869.] 1390. The Inspector will mark the letters I. C. (Inspected-Condemned) upon all property condemned and ordered to be dropped from the returns, with a brand, stencil,

9.0.41.

.82.

45.82

cold chisel, steel cutter, or punch, depending on the material to be marked. Should it happen, when final action is had, that the Inspector's recommendation is disapproved, the marks will be canceled, and a certificate of the fact will be given to the officer accountable.-[G. O. 193, 1863; G. O. 5, 1866.]

1391. Officers inspecting public property will cause the destruction, in their pres9.0.56.81 ence, of all property found to be worthless, and which is without any money value at the place of inspection. The action of an Inspector, on property of this character, will be final, and his inspection report on the same will be a valid voucher for the officer responsible for the property. In the discharge of the duty devolved upon Inspectors in this regulation, they are reminded they will be regarded as answerable that their action is proper and judicious according to the circumstances of the case.— [Regs. 1863, ¶ 1024; G. O. 85, 1877.]

1392. Unserviceable arms and stores will be inspected and disposed of in like manner with other property. Their sale can be ordered by the Secretary of War only.— [Regs. 1863, ¶ 1023; G. O. 5, 1866.]

1393. Inspectors will state in their reports of damaged or inferior Quartermaster, Commissary, or Medical stores the depot whence such stores were obtained, the marks upon them, and, if practicable, the marks upon original packages, and the names of contractors and inspectors who furnished and passed the articles so reported.-[G. O. 5, 1866.]

1394. The inspection report on damaged clothing shall set forth, with the amount of damage to each article, a list of such articles as are fit for issue, at a reduced price stated.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1164.]

1395. Inspection reports of Medical property will be referred to the Medical Director before being acted upon by Department Commanders.-[G. O. 20, 1868.]

1396. Inspectors, when called upon to inspect unserviceable property, will note whether due care has been exercised by officers concerned to protect the interests of the Government, and will report the officer responsible for any loss accruing to the United States, if such loss has not been previously charged against the soldier.-[G. 0. 55, 1875.]

ARTICLE LXXI.

BOARDS OF SURVEY.

1397. Boards of Survey will not be convened by any other than the commanding officer present. They will be composed of as many officers, not exceeding three, as may be present for duty, exclusive of the commanding officer, and the officer responsible in the matter to be reported on. In case the two latter only are present, then the one not responsible will perform the duties. When the responsible officer is the only officer at a post, he will, instead of constituting himself a board, furnish his own certificate of the facts of the case, accompanied by affidavits of non-commissioned officers at the post cognizant thereof. If this should not be satisfactory, the Department Commander, upon notification, may send an Inspector to make the necessary report. Neither the commander nor any member of the Board should be parties interested in the matter to be investigated.-[Regs. 1863, ¶¶ 1019, 1020; G. O. 25, 1872.]

1398. A Board of Survey has no legal power to swear either itself, its members, or witnesses before it.-[G. O. 68, 1873.]

1399. Every member of a Board of Survey, and commander acting on its proceedings, shall be answerable that his action has been proper and judicious, according to the Regulations and circumstances of the case.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1024.]

1400. Boards of Survey shall have no power to condemn public property. They are called only for the purpose of establishing facts or opinions by which questions of administrative responsibility may be determined, and the adjustment of accounts facilitated; as, for example, to assess the amount and kind of damage or deficiency which public property may have sustained from any extraordinary cause, not ordinary wear, either in transit or in store, or in actual use, whether from accident, unusual wastage, or otherwise, and to set forth the circumstances and fix the responsibility of such damage, whether on the carrier, or the person accountable for the property or having it immediately in charge; to make inventories of property ordered to be abandoned, when the articles have not been enumerated in the orders; to assess the prices at which damaged clothing may be issued to troops, and the proportion in which supplies shall be issued in consequence of damage that renders them at the usual rate unequal to the allowance which the regulations contemplate; to verify the discrepancy between the invoices and the actual quantity or description of property transferred from one officer to another, and ascertain, as far as possible, where and how the discrepancy has occurred-whether in the hands of the carrier or the officer making the transfer; and to make inventories, and report on the condition of public property in the possession of officers at the time of their death. In no case, however, will the report of the Board supersede the depositions which the law requires with reference to deficiencies and damage.-[ Regs. 1863, ¶ 1019.]

1401. It is required that Boards of Survey shall fully investigate the subject of losses submitted to them; that they shall call for all evidence attainable without limiting their inquiry to that submitted by the party or parties at interest; that they shall scrutinize rigidly the evidence, especially in the matter of property alleged to have been stolen or embezzled by deserters or others; and that they shall recommend no officer or soldier to be relieved from responsibility for property till the proof shall be clear and conclusive that he has given it his watchful attention, and fully performed his duty in regard to it.-[G. O. 55, 1879.]

1402. In order to relieve an officer from liability on account of public property which has become damaged, except by fair wear and tear, or which is believed to be unsuitable for the service, it shall, before being submitted to an Inspector for condemnation, be examined by a Board of Survey. Exceptions will be made in cases of animals or other public property infected with contagious disease, which may be summarily disposed of by order of a commanding officer.-[G. O. 79, 1880.]

1403. One copy of the proceedings of the Board will accompany the inventory and inspection report which is transmitted, as a voucher, with the accounts and returns of the officer responsible for the property. Another copy of the proceedings of the Board and of the inventory and inspection report will be filed with his retained papers.-[G. O. 29, 1880.]

1404. The proceedings of the Board will be signed by each member, and a copy forwarded by the convening officer to the headquarters of the Department or army in the field, as the case may be, duplicates being furnished to the officer accountable for the property.—[ Regs. 1863, ¶ 1020.]

1405. Proceedings of Boards of Survey recommending the relief of officers or soldiers from property responsibility should not receive the approval of the convening authority without convincing proof that they are not properly to be held accountable therefor, and that the fullest investigation practicable has been made of the subject.[G. O. 55, 1879.]

1406. The action of the Board of Survey will ordinarily be made complete in form by the approval or disapproval of the convening authority, but will be subject to revision by higher authority.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1019. ]

1407. When the amount in question, or the value of the property submitted to a Board of Survey, exceeds five hundred dollars, the proceedings will not be regarded as complete in form until they have been acted on by the commander of the Department in which they originate.-[G. O. 29, 1880.]

1408. If the officer interested ask it, the proceedings of the Board of Survey shall be submitted to the Department Commander, whatever the amount involved, before being forwarded to the bureau.-[G. O. 29, 1880.]

1409. If the interests involved be large, they should also be submitted to the Division Commander.-[G. O. 29, 1880.]

1410. If, on examination in the proper bureau, the proceedings appear defective, or any objection arise, they are to be submitted for action of the Secretary of War.[G. O. 29, 1880.]

1411. Proceedings of Boards of Survey may be submitted, when necessary, as vouchers to property returns or cash accounts; but even though properly approved, they are not to be considered sufficient as vouchers until accepted by the Secretary of War. Till so accepted, they are to be regarded simply as the recommendations of a board of disinterested officers to aid in the settlement of the accounts between the Government and the individnal.-[G. O. 55, 1879; G. O. 29, 1880.]

1412. The final authority, which decides whether they constitute a sufficient voucher to relieve an officer from responsibility for property, rests not with any military officer, but with the Secretary of War.-[G. O. 29, 1880.]

1413. When proceedings of Boards of Survey are not accepted as sufficient vouchers to returns or accounts, the officer responsible for the property will be duly notified, that he may have early opportunity to make explanations or appeal to the Secretary of War, by whose authority alone stoppages can be made against officers for property accountability.-[G. O. 55, 1879.]

ARTICLE LXXII.

CIVIL EMPLOYÉS.

1414. The Chief of each Military Bureau of the War Department shall, under the direction of the Secretary of War, regulate, as far as practicable, the employment of hired citizens required for the administrative service of his Department. He will distribute the aggregate number which can be allowed, whether rated as clerks, teamsters, mechanics, or laborers, to the several Military Departments according to the number of troops therein, or according to the work to be done.-[ Regs. 1863, ¶ 1010; G. O. 30, 1869.]

1415. Each Chief of Bureau will critically examine the rolls of civil employés retained by his subordinates, and order reductions to the lowest limit practicable.— [G. O. 96, 1867.]

1416. Officers are expected themselves to do much of their office duty, instead of employing clerks.-[G. Ó. 97, 1870.]

1417. The employment of civilians in any branch of the service as clerks, mechanics, laborers, guards, or for any purpose for which soldiers could be detailed without manifest injury to the service, is strictly prohibited, except in cases where civilian. clerks are allowed by Heads of Bureaus to Chiefs of the Staff Departments. This is to be construed as prohibiting any increase of civil employés beyond the number authorized from time to time by the War Department, except that commanding officers may order the temporary employment of civilian mechanics and laborers, when the same cannot be furnished by troops, for the construction of any specially authorized works, subject to the conditions specified in these Regulations. Commanding officers must satisfy themselves, personally, that it is absolutely necessary, before they allow soldiers to be assigned to extra or special duty in lieu of civilians discharged.—[G. O. 96, 1867; G. O. 97, 1870.]

1418. Quartermasters at frontier posts are authorized, on approval of the Department Commander, when competent enlisted men cannot be obtained, to employ, in addition to the post blacksmith, one citizen blacksmith for every fifteen teams in their possession.—[G. O. 85, 1873.]

1419. The authority of the commanding officer shall be requisite for the employment of hired labor. He will cause the proper Staff officers to report to him the circumstances which render the same necessary, and will be held strictly responsible that such necessity exists. By "hired labor" is meant day laborers, or those hired for temporary work, to be discharged on its completion.-[G. O. 96, 1867.]

1420. At depots, arsenals, posts, and stations not under the immediate control of Division or Department Commanders, the officer in charge or command shall fix the number and grade of the employés within the allotments allowed, under the direction and subject to the approval of the proper Heads of Military Bureaus, and in accordance with the classification authorized.— [G. O. 106, 1879.]

1421. In all cases where a commanding officer authorizes the employment of civilians, he will immediately transmit copies of his order, together with the report showing its necessity, to the Department Commander, and to the head of the proper Bureau of the War Department. Should the circumstances not justify the issuing of the order, the expense incurred thereby will be charged to the officer responsible for it.-[G. O. 96, 1867.]

1422. Except for the Corps of Engineers [Sec. War, Dec. 30, 1879], the grades of pay of clerks and other employés under the Staff Departments of the Army whose salaries are not fixed by law are hereby authorized as follows:-[G. O. 106, 1879; G. O. 51, 1880.]

There shall be six classes of clerkships, and each clerk or employé within the scope of this regulation shall be graded for pay in accordance therewith, viz:

Any compensation greater than the above must receive the special approval and sanction of the Secretary of War; but nothing in this regulation shall be construed as prohibiting the payment of smaller salaries than the above for such lower grades of clerkships as the wants of the service may require.

Superintendents, transportation agents, storekeepers, inspectors, and all other employés now receiving not less than the lowest grade herein authorized, will be rated for pay according to the above classification by the officer employing them, with the approval of the Department or Division Commander or Head of Bureau.

The number and grade of clerks is to be fixed by the Heads of the Military Bureaus in accordance with the above classification. This number and that of other employés shall be so regulated that the aggregate sums paid monthly shall not exceed the allotments made, under the direction of the Secretary of War, by the Heads of Bureaus under whom the appropriations are accounted for, and to the extent only that those allotments will permit. If any employés are needed whose services would require an expenditure beyond the amount of said allotments, special application stating the