REPORT OF THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL. WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL, Washington, October 15, 1908. SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual report of the operations of the Quartermaster's Department for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. By acts of Congress and allotment there was credited to the regular service of the Quartermaster's Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908, the sum of......... During the fiscal year there was deposited to 'the credit of appropriations from various services as shown the sum of.. Making total of. Of this there was remitted to disbursing officers.... There was paid on account of settlements made at the Treasury, etc.............. Leaving a balance on July 1, 1908, available for payment of outstanding obligations... On July 1, 1907, there was on hand from the regular appropriations for service of the Quartermaster's Department, pertaining to the fiscal year 1907..... From appropriations of other years including all indefinite appropriations... For special purposes there was appropriated and allotted during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908, the sum of... During the fiscal year there was deposited to all appro- Of this there was remitted to disbursing officers............. Leaving a balance on hand July 1, 1908, of....... RECAPITULATION. Remitted to disbursing officers and paid out on treasury settlements, etc., from appropriations fiscal year ending June 30, 1908.. 32, 271, 024. 61 And from appropriations of other fiscal years and for special or indefinite appropriations.... 10, 554, 299. 09 42, 825, 323. 70 Every effort was made at the beginning of the fiscal year to so apportion and allot the appropriations of the department as to avoid deficiencies, except for extra expense of operations in Cuba. Early in the fiscal year, however, it was realized that this was impossible with the appropriations "Regular supplies" and "Clothing and equipage." In case of the former appropriation, failure to secure in full a much needed deficiency estimate for the fiscal year 1907, and the appropriation for the fiscal year 1908 of a sum inadequate to meet demands arising out of the increase of the artillery, together with the extra expense of Cuban operations, threatened a deficiency of $1,365,388.05, for which amount an estimate was submitted with a comprehensive and clear statement of needs therefor under this appropriation, and the deficiency estimate was passed by Congress in full. For the appropriation Clothing and equipage" $716,163.21 was estimated for and needed to properly clothe and equip the army, meet calls from the militia, extra expenses of Cuban operations, etc. Of this deficiency estimate $416,163.21 was appropriated, and while the reduction rendered it extremely difficult to meet all needs of the army, and impossible to respond fully and promptly to militia calls, it has been managed so as to get through the fiscal year without further deficiency. A deficiency of $204,240.79 was estimated for under the appropriation "Incidental expenses," to meet the extra cost of Cuban operations and increased cost of the recruiting service due to the extraordinary efforts it had become necessary to put forth to keep the army recruited. Of this $200,000 was appropriated and has been made to suffice. The other deficiency estimates were on account of extra cost of Cuban operations, reappropriations to meet unpaid obligations from unexpended balances, which under the law would be turned in to the Treasury surplus fund, but against which remained outstanding obligations, or special cases. It is gratifying to be in position to omit from this report a repetition of past arguments for increased appropriations. The appropriations for the fiscal year 1909, while not in any sense extravagant, are sufficient to enable the department to carry on its work and meet the needs of the army to which it ministers, in a businesslike and economical manner. Of course there are directions in which more money could be advantageously used, as in construction of buildings, extensions and betterment of utilities, etc., but so far as actual needs are concerned the provision is sufficient, barring emergencies. |