These percentages, however, can not be taken to illustrate the general loss in these articles, as many of these stores have been in the island of Cuba for three years, and in some instances reshipped several times.

In my judgment there are several articles which, if added to the regular sales list as prepared by the Commissary-General, United States Army, would add greatly to the comfort of officers and men. For instance:

Asparagus, canned; asparagus tips, canned; cherries; India relish, bottles; powdered horse-radish, bottles; witch-hazel; cigarettes, Havana, packages.

The articles of food mentioned would be a boon in this climate, where the variety of vegetables and relishes is indeed limited. The witch-hazel is universally recognized as useful in cases of bruises and stiffness, and is an excellent toilet article.

The cigarettes manufactured in Havana (several varieties) are of excellent qualities and very popular with Americans of all classes who have spent more or less time in the island. They are said to be practically as healthy as the cigar and there is great demand for them, and they could easily be sold at 2 cents per package of 15 cigarettes. They would, I think, be less injurious than the cigarettes now made by the soldiers from pipe tobacco and so-called rice paper.

The following is the proposed list of subsistence stores to be kept for sale in the Philippine Islands, submitted by Col. J. P. Sanger, inspectorgeneral, Division of the Philippines:

Needles.

Nutmegs.

Oatmeal, "R."

Olive oil, quarts.
Olives, pints.
Oysters, 2-lb. cans.
Paper, letter, best.
Paper, note, best.
Paper, toilet, flat.
Peaches, 3-lb. cans.
Pears.

Peas, American.
Pencils, lead, No. 2.
Penholders.
Pens, fine.

Pens, coarse.
Pens, stub.

Pepper, red, cayenne.
Pickles, C. C., pints.
Pickles, gherkins, pints.
Pickles, mixed, pints.
Pineapples, 2-lb. cans.

Maj. H. E. Tutherly, acting inspector-general, Department of Alaska, recommends the following list of articles of subsistence stores for the Department of Alaska, in addition to lists already authorized:

CONTINGENT FUND OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

By act of Congress approved May 26, 1900, $1,000 were appropriated for the contingent expenses of the Inspector-General's Department at the offices of the several department inspectors-general, being for the purchase of the necessary articles of office, toilet, and desk furniture, binding, maps, books of reference, and police utensils, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

This fund was allotted by the Secretary of War, upon recommendation of this office, to the several inspectors general. It has been disbursed by officers of the Quartermaster's Department, and the vouchers, abstracts, and accounts current were transmitted to the Quartermaster-General's Office and by that office to the InspectorGeneral's Office, where they were examined and forwarded to the Auditor for the War Department for final settlement.

Prior to 1898 the appropriation was placed to the credit of the disbursing clerk of the War Department, who paid all vouchers upon the approval of the Inspector-General of the Army.

Under the provisions of the act approved March 2, 1901, this appropriation has been omitted as a separate item, and possibly, in lieu thereof, the amount has been merged into a like appropriation of the Adjutant-General's Department "For contingent expenses at the headquarters of the several military departments, including the staff corps serving thereat," as that appropriation is increased by $1,000 and is to be expended in the discretion of the several military department commanders.

ALASKAN INDIANS.

Major Tutherly, in his report of inspection of Fort St. Michael, Alaska, made September 12, 1900, says:

*

*

There are no Indians in this vicinity requiring the presence of troops. There are, however, a few hundred destitute Indians scattered about this section, to whom as a humane necessity quite a quantity of subsistence stores have been issued between July 25 and date of inspection. * Medical attendance and medicines were also supplied to alleviate suffering from diseases prevalent among the Indiansmeasles, grippe, etc. During my journey down the Yukon River between Fort Gibbon and this post, deaths, sickness, and destitution among the Indians were casually reported to me to a far greater extent even than in the immediate vicinity of St. Michael; e. g., among about 600 Indians in the vicinity of Nulato there were 27 deaths in three weeks and about 220 sick, and it was said that this proportion would probably extend to neighboring villages, the general sickness being grippe and measles; and at Holy Cross Mission, Koserefsky, among about 200 Indians there had been 49 deaths; and in another smaller village nearly 11 deaths were reported. The former supply of game and revenue from furs has become reduced till fish catching is their principal means of food supply, and it would seem as though these Indians, and in fact all those scattered through Alaska, should come under the care of the Interior Department, similarly to those in the States, whereby a timely provision would be insured for food, medical attendance, and medicines.

CLERICAL FORCE.

I can not conclude this report more fittingly than by a reference to the clerks of this Department and Bureau. The zeal, intelligence, and devotion to duty which have been shown by them under every circumstance and condition merit my highest approbation, and it affords special pleasure to invite attention to the faithful, efficient, and valuable service which they have cheerfully rendered. The successful accomplishment of much of their work requires intense application and special ability, and frequently demands extra hours of labor, and they have habitually met every demand of whatever nature with the utmost cheerfulness.

This office enjoys a unique distinction in respect to its clerical force, which is that its chief clerk is compensated at the rate of a clerk of class 4, viz, $1,800 per annum. This flagrant discrimination can hardly be defended, and the urgent necessity of a chief clerk at $2,000 for this office, thus placing it upon the same footing as the other bureaus of the War Department, must be quite apparent and should need no argument to support it. The legal responsibilities of the position should be properly recognized and suitably rewarded, and the duties are not less exacting than for those occupying similar positions elsewhere in the War Department. And in order that an opportunity may be afforded to suitably reward long, faithful, and efficient service, permit a simple act of justice to deserving employees, and provide a chief for each of the divisions of the office, it is urgently recommended that the two additional clerks of class 4, as submitted in the annual estimate, be granted.

RETIREMENT OF CLERKS.

Any acceptable plan for the retirement of these valuable public servants without expense to the Government should receive fair and favorable consideration. As they have devoted their best years to the public service, some consideration seems due in their old age. Respectfully submitted.

The SECRETARY OF WAR.

J. C. BRECKINRIDGE,

Inspector-General.

APPENDIX A.

THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES
CUBA, BY COL. G. H. BURTON, INSPECTOR-GENERAL.

ARMY, IN

*

In treating of the work of this department in the island of Cuba it will be necessary, as a prelude, to indicate its position in the Army and to define its scope and functions in our home government.

The corps of adjutants-general and the corps of inspectors-general in the Army of the United States are denominated the general staff, in contradistinction to staff officers, such as quartermasters, commissaries, ordnance officers, etc. The former is the bureau of orders and records, through which all orders and instructions emanating from lawful command pass to every branch of the service; the latter the department through which governing authority sees and hears the Army in its remotest ramifications, and its sphere of inquiry includes every branch of military affairs except when specially limited by regulations or orders. Inspectors-general are specifically cautioned to exercise a comprehensive and general observation within the command to which they may be respectively assigned over all that pertains to the efficiency of the Army, the condition and state of supplies of all kinds, of arms and equipments, of the expenditure of public property and moneys, and the condition of accounts of all disbursing officers of every branch of the service; of the conduct, discipline, and efficiency of officers and troops, and to report with strict impartiality in regard to all irregularities that may be discovered by them. time to time they are required to make such suggestions as may appear to them practicable for the correction of any defects that may come under their observation. These functions, stated in detail, cover the morality, training, and discipline of the troops, conduct of officers and men, condition of supplies, of public animals, of transportation, the state and condition of posts of the command, and of all the departments therein.

From

In Cuba the inspector-general and his assistants have kept the military governor advised of the state of efficiency of the United States troops, respecting their training, discipline, general appearance, and behavior; of the state of their arms, equipments, and accouterments of all kinds; the sufficiency, fit, and uniformity of their clothing; as to whether commanding officers observe the system of instruction enjoined by regulations, and whether all officers and soldiers obey the orders of the Secretary of War and of their immediate commanders; whether justice is promptly and legally administered; whether all officers are efficient; whether any officer or soldier has distinguished himself or shown special efficiency in any department of study or duty; the manner in which chaplains perform their duties; the efficiency of staff officers and the correctness of their accounts; whether payments and issues have been made in accordance with law and regulations; whether surplus supplies have been taken up on returns and deficiencies accounted for. They have ascertained and reported the nature and number of all drills, recitations in tactics and drill regulations;