DETACHMENT OF ARMY SERVICE MEN, QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT, WEST POINT, N. Y.

This detachment is composed of 141 enlisted men. They are reported as having performed satisfactory service during the past fiscal year.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT, AT LARGE.

The subject of employees was given careful attention during the past fiscal year, and wherever possible the force has been reduced to the lowest limit consistent with the public interests.

Based upon a report of a board of officers sent to Porto Rico to investigate the question of civilian employees at that place, a large reduction in said employees has been effected, and steps taken to classify under civil-service rules from July 1, 1901, such of the war-emergency employees on duty there as entered the service prior to and on May 29, 1899, and whose continued services were found necessary. This action, when consummated, will make the civilian employees of this Department serving in Porto Rico subject to civil-service rules, the same as all other classified employees.

By reason of the discontinuance, on June 30, 1901, of the army transports running between New York, Cuba, and Porto Rico, large reductions of war-emergency employees on duty on said transports and in connection with the transport service in New York City have been made and steps taken to close up the transport service at that place. Further reductions will be made from time to time in the force of employees hired in connection with that work until the business relating thereto is entirely completed.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE.

There are at present provided, for duty in the office of the Quartermaster-General, 218 clerks and others. Of this number 120 belong to the permanent force and 98 to the temporary force.

These employees have performed efficient and commendable service during the past fiscal year, and are needed in dispatching the large volume of work which continues to come to this office.

It is believed that it will be in the interests of the service to absorb into the regular force of this office a portion of the most efficient temporary employees; otherwise the best of these employees will naturally seek permanent places elsewhere, and as soon as secured, relinquish their temporary appointments, which will result in injury to this office and to the public service. It is therefore recommended that Congress be requested to provide at its next session for the permanent appointment of about 50 per cent of the most efficient of these temporary employees. The remaining 50 per cent can be retained in their temporary character for another year, or until it can be definitely determined how long their services may be required.

To the chief clerk of this office and the principal clerks of the several branches credit is due for their efforts in successfully keeping the increased volume of work from falling in arrears.

CONCLUSION.

In the accomplishment of the large amount of work that has devolved upon this Departmentin supplying the Army in the United States,

the Philippines, and other distant stations, and also in returning the volunteer regiments, the officers of this corps, as well as the clerical force and other employees of the Department at large, are entitled to the highest praise for prompt and efficient service rendered by them. The following-named officers have also performed most able and valuable service during the year as assistants in the transaction of the business of this office: Lieutenant-Colonels Bird and Patten, Majors Martin and Hodgson, and Captains Carson, Schreiner, and Dare. Respectfully submitted.

A. S. KIMBALL,
Assistant Quartermaster-General, U. S. A.,

Acting Quartermaster-General.

The SECRETARY OF WAR.

LIST OF PAPERS ACCOMPANYING ANNUAL REPORT OF THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL, FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1901.

1. Annual report of Lieut. Col. Charles Bird, deputy quartermaster-general, U. S. A., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

2. Annual report of Lieut. Col. William S. Patten, deputy quartermaster-general, U. S. A., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

3. Annual report of Maj. M. C. Martin, quartermaster, U. S. A., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

4. Annual report of Maj. F. G. Hodgson, quartermaster, U. S. A., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

5. Annual report of Capt. F. M. Schreiner, quartermaster, U. S. A., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

6. Annual report of Capt. J. Z. Dare, quartermaster, U. S. A., for fiscal year ending

June 30, 1901.

APPENDIX.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, September 13, 1901. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith the following report of the operations of the transportation division of this office during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901.

The following statement shows that during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, transportation was furnished, exclusive of transport service, for 856,202 persons, 28,601 animals, and 308,506 tons of material:

1 This includes all passengers carried on Government ferryboats plying between military posts and adjacent cities.

ACCOUNTS AND CLAIMS FOR TRANSPORTATION.

The records show that 5,705 accounts and claims for transportation, amounting to $438,556.68, have been received at this office, examined, and transmitted for settlement during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901.

Of these, 2,066 accounts amounting to $320,515.52 were chargeable to appropriations of the War Department for the several fiscal years in which the service was rendered; 3,639 accounts of other Departments, amounting to $11,804.16, exclusive of bond-aided service and telegraph accounts.