An outline of the activities of the Federal land banks joint-stock land banks, and the national farm loan associations was prepared and furnished the Governor of the Virgin Islands. A descríption was furnished also of the operations of the more recently instituted Federal intermediate credit banks, national agricultural credit corporations, the various cooperating, producing, marketing, and credit associations, and the corporations organized under State laws for lending money for agricultural purposes or for raising livestock. With this data were furnished various circulars issued by the Federal Farm Loan Board going into the details of the operations under these institutions. PUBLICATIONS AND PRINTING A comprehensive article entitled "The Navy Supply System," intended primarily for the information of enlisted men, was prepared by the bureau and forwarded to the supply officer of each capital ship with the request that he assure himself that the article be read by all commissary stewards, storekeepers, and yeomen. The bureau prepared, for issue by the Bureau of Navigation to the naval service, a pamphlet containing information relative to opening checking and savings accounts with banks. This pamphlet also dealt with the various forms of securities best adapted to investment by enlisted personnel of the Navy. Every effort is being made to reduce the number of local forms in use at the several yards and stations by the substitution of standard forms. This reduction in the number of local forms will result in greater uniformity of procedure and appreciable reduction in the cost of printing. An endeavor was made to secure from the forces afloat recommendations looking toward the consolidation or possible discontinuance of reports and returns now required of Supply Corps officers afloat other than those required by law or regulations. However, no suggestions were received that enabled the number of such reports to be reduced. CIVILIAN PERSONNEL The civilian personnel of the bureau have continued to maintain the standard of excellence for which they have always been distinguished. This bureau is charged with providing supplies of all sorts for the Navy. Any serious intermission in the work of the civilian employees would mean that the ships of the Navy could not run for lack of fuel and of general supplies, that the enlisted personnel could not live for lack of food and clothing, and that every person in the Naval Establishment would be gravely embarrassed for lack of money. The civilian personnel of the bureau meet its heavy responsibilities with the greatest cheerfulness, ability, and zeal. The classification act, approved March 4, 1923, as amended by joint resolution of June 7, 1924, went into effect on July 1, 1924. As a result there has been some improvement in the compensation received by the civilian force. However, under the appropriations provided, it is not possible adequately to remunerate most of the bureau's employees. It is hoped that sufficient funds may be provided to make more adequate remuneration possible. DAVID POTTER, Paymaster General of the Navy. PRINCIPAL ITEMS Amount appropriated by Congress, warranted during the fiscal year 1924 Total expenditures during 1924_ Expenditures for purchase and construction of vessels: Tenders, gunboat, repair ship, and ammunition ship....... Submarines__ Submarine chasers and mine sweepers_ . Total (at navy yards, $8,622,538.68; under contract Expenditures for pay and allowance of officers and men: Marine Corps. Total. $339, 712, 441. 55 328, 211, 868. 75, 9, 093, 771. 38. 121, 999, 989. 11 10, 686, 160. 47 5, 763, 195. 77 1, 414, 652. 74 148, 957, 769. 47 26, 548, 769. 95 5, 697, 375. 36 897, 980. 53. 7, 233, 537. 94 7, 138.00 40, 384, 801. 78 122, 405, 083. 70 16, 078, 492. 54 138, 483, 576. 24 Cost of subsisting the enlisted men of the Navy and marines__ Cost of output of industrial yards: Labor Material Overhead expense Total... Value of new and reclaimed materials received into store____ Property investment of Naval Establishment: Ships. Stations Total... Present value of clothing and small-stores fund: Cash.. Stock. Unsettled accounts___ Total.... Total expenditures for the Navy, 1794 to 1924. 34, 557, 250. 47 96, 161, 446. 78 190, 831, 555. 92 320, 968, 638. 49 1, 307, 084, 439. 14 605, 076, 258. 69 794, 666, 322. 44 2,706, 827, 020. 27 262, 075. 58 31, 410, 041. 28 6, 336, 914. 49 38, 009, 031. 35 9, 399, 888, 524. 10 (661) Total repairs, changes, and additions.... $17,864, 008. 98 Title C. Operating expenses of vessels (see Statement 3). 121, 999, 989. 11 Total maintenance and operation of vessels. $139, 863, 998. 09 79, 028, 519. 10 15, 241, 188. 69 63, 787, 330. 41 REPORT OF THE MAJOR GENERAL COMMANDANT OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, Washington, September 26, 1924. From: The Major General Commandant. To: The Secretary of the Navy. Subject: Annual report of the condition and service of the United States Marine Corps. APPROPRIATIONS The appropriation for the past fiscal year provided for an average commissioned strength of 1,002 and an average enlisted strength of 19,500. The average enlisted strength for the year was 19,431. All activities of the Marine Corps have been undertaken with due regard to the necessity of economy in all expenditures. By close observance of this principle and by careful supervision of all expenditures, the Marine Corps has been able to perform all its missions and maintain its organization with the funds provided. The appropriations for "Pay, Marine Corps" and for "Maintenance, Quartermaster's Department, Marine Corps," have sufficed, and a small saving from both of the appropriations has been effected. RECRUITING At the beginning of the fiscal year 1924 the corps had an enlisted strength of 18,633, or 967 under the number appropriated for by Congress. In the early part of June an intensive drive was started to recruit the corps to the full strength, which was accomplished on October 29, 1923, there being 19,519 in the corps on that date. total of 7,010 were recruited during the fiscal year, and an average strength of 19,431 was maintained." A The standards (physical, mental, and moral) were placed on a high plane and were maintained during the entire fiscal year. For reenlistment the usual high standards were required of ex-marines, and only those ex-Army and ex-Navy men with excellent conduct records were permitted to reenlist. Every care has been taken that applicants for original enlistment and for reenlistment should be of good moral character. The height standard for first enlistment was raised to 65 inches on November 27, 1923, which standard remains in force. Ex-enlisted men may be accepted if 64 inches or over in height. On May 20, 1924, orders were issued directing that thereafter only native born or fully naturalized citizens of the United States be accepted for first enlistment. Former marines who are aliens, but who have legally declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, may be accepted for reenlistment if qualified in all other respects. The three-year enlistment period has been discontinued and since April 1, 1923, all first enlistments have been for a period of four years. Men are permitted to reenlist for three years, but recruiting officers have been instructed to urge the four-year enlistment. All men have been enlisted for general service, with no promise of any special assignment or special duties. A limited number of young men between the ages of 17 and 18 years have been enlisted as privates to learn the drum and trumpet and upon graduation from the music schools at Parris Island and San Diego are rated as trumpeters. If they are found to be inapt for field musicians, they are retained and finish their enlistments as privates in the line. Twenty enlistments to learn the drum and trumpet (five from each recruiting division) is the monthly limit. Married men have not been accepted for original enlistment or for reenlistment if below the rank of sergeant, except in a few special cases, such as men employed on recruiting duty or on duty at Headquarters, staff offices, etc. The economy practiced during the fiscal years 1922 and 1923 has been continued during the fiscal year 1924 with success. Rentals of recruiting stations have been practically eliminated. Nearly all recruiting stations are now in Federal or Government owned buildings. During the fiscal year 1924 the recruiting bureau has been continued in a high state of efficiency. Arrangements have been completed whereby the publicity matter of the bureau is reproduced in a large number of newspapers of the country at no additional cost to the recruiting service. Permission has been obtained in many cities to place Marine Corps advertising matter on both the outside and inside of street cars without cost to the Government. The cards for this advertising are printed at the recruiting bureau at very small cost and this has been found to be a very profitable form of advertising. Large recruiting oilcloth signs have been painted at the recruiting bureau and distributed to the various divisions. They have been placed in excellent locations and from all reports have been productive of excellent results. GAINS AND LOSSES The following figures show the gains and losses in the enlisted force for the fiscal year 1924, with the average strength of the Marine Corps for the same period: Of the enlistments and reenlistments noted above, 1,177 were for three years and 5,833 for four years. There were 651 extensions of enlistments during the year. |
