727. The report will be prepared in triplicate and will then be submitted to the convening authority for approval or disapproval. Separate reports will be made for each staff department concerned.

728. On the approved recommendation of a surveying officer the following classes of property may be destroyed: (1) Clothing infected with contagious disease; (2) stores that have become so deteriorated as to endanger health or injure other stores, and (3) unserviceable property of no salable value submitted to a surveying officer under the provisions of paragraph 689. The decision of the commanding officer will be final as to whether such property has salable value. This paragraph will, in its application to ordnance stores under (3), be limited to utterly worthless articles constituting the soldier's personal equipments (not arms), horse equipments, and target materials and supplies, the cost price of which does not exceed $100 for mounted organizations and $50 for all other cases. In each case the report will give the dates of receipt of the stores surveyed.

Before ordering the destruction of property or stores under the provisions of this paragraph the commanding officer will personally inspect the same and will be held responsible that the conditions justify the action. In case the invoice value of the stores involved exceeds $500, the approval of the next higher commander will be obtained before destruction of the property, as provided in paragraph 730. A certificate of the witnessing officer that the property has been destroyed as authorized 'will be appended to the report.

729. When the value of the property submitted for survey or the loss or damage to be inquired into does not exceed $500, the report will be considered complete, for submission as a property voucher, upon the approval of the appointing authority, if the interested officer does not request the action of the next higher commander. One copy will then be forwarded to the commanding officer of the post, if a general officer, otherwise to department headquarters, and the others delivered to the officer accountable.

730. Should the appointing authority be the responsible or interested officer, or should the report be disapproved by the appointing authority, or should the report hold the accountable officer responsible, or should the value of the property submitted for survey or the loss or damage to be inquired into exceed $500, or should the officer pecuniarily interested request it, the report in triplicate will be forwarded to the next higher commander for review, and with his action is complete. But all reports of surveys of property, whatever their nature or the amounts involved, are subject on call to such review of the next higher commander as the merits of the case or the interests of the Government may require. When a next higher commander acts on a report of survey as herein contemplated he will cause such action to be noted on all 3 copies of the report. One copy will then be filed at department headquarters and the others sent to the accountable officer, except when the latter is held responsible, when 1 copy only will be sent to him and the remaining copy forwarded directly to the chief of bureau to which the property pertains.

731. The reports of a survey which recommend the relief of officers and enlisted men from responsibility should not be approved unless full and careful investigation and convincing proof to sustain the findings appear.

732. When the approved report of a surveying officer holds a common carrier, or a person not in the military service of the United States, responsible for the loss of or damage to public property or stores, steps will at once be taken to make collection from the party so held responsible. Public property that has been in transit will be carefully checked upon arrival at its destination by the receiving quartermaster with the bill of lading or manifest in order to ascertain whether the carrier has fully carried out all obligations imposed upon

him. Should any discrepancy, loss, or damage be found, the receiving quartermaster will at once make application for a surveying officer by whom the facts will be fully investigated (unless the carrier voluntarily assumes liability for the loss) and the money value of the damage or deficiency will be charged to the party responsible therefor, whether it be the invoicing officer or the carrier. The property will be delivered by the receiving quartermaster to the officer to whom it is invoiced or to other proper consignee with a statement of the deficiency or damage and that action by a surveying officer has been requested. Upon approval, the authority that approves the reports of the surveying officer will transmit 1 copy to the receiving quartermaster, 1 copy to the officer to whom the property is invoiced, and 1 copy to department headquarters. In case the report of the surveying officer finds the invoicing officer responsible, 1 copy of the report will be sent to the invoicing officer instead of to the receiving quartermaster. In case the responsibility is fixed upon the carrier the receiving quartermaster will note on the bill of lading the deductions which shall be made for such loss or damage by the quartermaster who pays the account, and will attach to the bill of lading 2 copies of the approved report of the surveying officer. The quartermaster who pays the account will make the deduction and refund the amount stopped to the proper department in the following manner, for example: If from an account of $100 for transportation services there is a deduction of $25 for ordnance stores lost, the quartermaster will take credit under the head "Transportation of the Army" for $75 paid to the carrier, and also for $25 deposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States on account of "Replacing ordnance and ordnance stores; " but if the deduction is on account of forage lost by the carrier, he will take credit on his account current, under transportation, for $25 as carried to "Regular supplies," under which head he will charge himself with that amount. If, in any instance, collection can not be made, that fact, together with reasons therefor, will be reported to the proper chief of bureau.

Should the officer to whom the property is invoiced on receipt of the same discover loss, damage, or discrepancy not noted by the receiving quartermaster, he will at once make application for a surveying officer, notifying the receiving quartermaster of the action.

In the case of shipments to the Philippine Islands via commercial lines, the receiving quartermaster is authorized to accomplish bills of lading on the receipt of stores, noting thereon the value of the stores lost or damaged, as shown by the invoices, plus the cost of transportation, settlement to be made with the carriers with proper deduction to cover the value of the stores and the cost of transportation, final settlement to await the action of a surveying officer, to be called for immediately by the receiving officer.

733. Properly approved reports of surveys of property may be submitted as vouchers to property returns. They are not to be considered as conclusive until accepted by the Secretary of War. Until then they are to be regarded simply as the opinions and recommendations of disinterested officers, to aid in the settlement of questions of accountability between the Government and the individuals concerned. If, on examination in the proper bureau, they exhibit serious errors, or defects either of investigation or of finding, they will not be accepted as sufficient vouchers, and the officer submitting them will be duly notified, that he may have opportunity to make explanations or appeal to the Secretary of War. 734. At posts or stations not under the control of department commanders commanding officers will be governed by these regulations in appointing surveying officers and acting upon their reports, but in cases referred to in paragraph 730 will forward the papers to the chiefs of bureaus to which the property pertains,

735. Whenever a report of a survey recommends a stoppage against an enlisted man and the recommendation is approved, the appointing authority will cause a copy of the report to be furnished to the company commander, who will charge the amount on the next pay rolls of the company.

736. If an inspection of property follows the report of a survey thereon, one copy of the proceedings will accompany the inventory and inspection report which is transmitted for approval, and will afterwards be returned to be used as a voucher to the officer's returns, and another, with the inventory and inspection report, will be filed by the officer with his retained papers.

737. Compensation may be made under the provisions of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1885, for private property of officers or enlisted men lost or destroyed in the military service under any of the following circumstances:

1. Without fault or negligence on the part of the claimant, and on account of some exigency or necessity of the military service.

2. Where the private property so lost or destroyed was shipped on board an unseaworthy vessel by order of an officer authorized to give such order or direct such shipment.

3. Where it appears that the loss or destruction of the private property of the claimant was in consequence of his having given his attention to the saving of the property belonging to the United States which was in danger at the same time and under similar circumstances.

Compensation will not be made for losses sustained in time of war or hostilities with Indians, and claim for compensation must be presented within two years from the occurrence of the loss or destruction. Each claim for compensation will be forwarded, through military channels, to the Auditor for the War Department and will, if possible, be accompanied by the proceedings of a board of officers showing fully the circumstances of the loss. All personal property for the loss or destruction of which payment is claimed must be enumerated and described in the proceedings of the board of officers, but the board will recommend payment for only such articles as in the opinion of the board were reasonable, useful, necessary, and proper for the claimant to have in the public service in the line of duty.

ARTICLE LVII.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.

GENERAL PROVISIONS.

738. In the staff corps and departments the employment of civilians will be regulated by the respective chiefs of bureaus under the direction of the Secretary of War. Those whose services are engaged with the intention or probability of retaining them for more than three months are classified as permanent employees. Their appointment, dismissal, promotion, or reduction will be made, under the supervision of the respective chiefs of bureaus, by the officers employing them, except as controlled by statute or the civil-service rules; but in selections for such employment preference will be given, as far as practicable, to applicants who have served meritoriously as enlisted men in the Army, and the appointments and promotions of all permanent employees, except mechanics, laborers, teamsters, and others of similar or kindred occupations, will be submitted for the approval or confirmation of the Secretary of War.

739. The clerks and messengers authorized by the act of Congress of August 6, 1894, will be employed and apportioned to the several headquarters and stations by the Secretary of War, and will not be transferred without his authority. All messenger service at the several division and department head

quarters, except for staff officers not assigned to the headquarters' staff, and, as far as practicable, all clerical services thereat, will be performed by this class of employees.

740. Department commanders will confine expenditures for civilian employees within the allotments for the purpose made under the direction of the Secretary of War.

741. Civil engineers, clerks, inspectors, storekeepers, packers, watchmen, messengers, teamsters, mechanics, and laborers will, as a rule, be engaged by the month, day, or piece, and paid at the end of each calendar month. They will be designated upon the rolls in the capacity in which employed and at the rates established. When discharged and not paid, certified statements will be given them.

742. Eight hours shall constitute a day's work for all mechanics, laborers, and workmen employed by the several staff departments. The service of mechanics and laborers employed by contractors in the execution of public works, including the construction of barracks, quarters, or other buildings on military reservations, is also limited and restricted to eight hours in each calendar day, and no officer or contractor shall require or permit any such laborer or mechanic to work more than eight hours in any calendar day except in cases of extraordinary emergency. There are excepted from the operation of this rule: (1) The officers and crews of vessels; (2) teamsters, packers, and other employees belonging to wagon and pack trains when engaged in field service or in the prosecution of military operations; (3) persons employed as cooks and cooks' helpers, overseers of labor of prisoners, and others who, owing to the nature of their employment being peculiar, may be decided by the Secretary of War, upon the facts being reported to him, to be neither laborers nor mechanics within the meaning of the eight-hour law. All exceptions on the ground of extraordinary emergency will be promptly reported to the Secretary of War.

All contracts for the execution of public works, including the erection of buildings for the use of the military establishment, will contain a stipulation restricting the service of mechanics and laborers to eight hours per day, and officers charged with the supervision and execution of such contracts will report all violations of such stipulation to the head of the bureau charged with the prosecution of the work.

TRAVELING EXPENSES.

743. For authorized journeys of civilian employees of any branch of the -military service transportation requests will be obtained when practicable, but will be obtained in every case for travel over bond-aided railroads.

744. Reimbursement of actual expenses when traveling under competent orders will be allowed, under the following heads, to civilians in the employ of any branch of the military service, excepting the expert accountant of the Inspector General's Department, paymasters' clerks, and those mentioned in paragraph 745, viz:

1. Cost of transportation over the shortest usually traveled route, when it was impracticable to furnish transportation in kind on transportation requests.

2. Cost of transfers to and from railroad stations, not to exceed 50 cents for each transfer.

3. Cost of one double berth in a sleeping car, seat in a parlor car, or customary stateroom accommodations on boats and steamers when extra charge is made therefor.

4. Cost of meals, including tips, not to exceed $4.50 a day while en route when meals are not included in the transportation fare paid, and not to exceed $4.50 a day for meals, tips, and lodgings during necessary delay en route, and when

meals are included in the transportation fare paid, tips for meals no to exceed 15 cents each.

5. Cost of meals, and lodgings including baths, tips and laundry work, not to exceed $4.50 a day while on duty at places designated in the orders for the performance of temporary duty.

745. Laborers, teamsters, and employees of similar character, traveling under competent orders, will be entitled to such actual and necessary expenses of travel and subsistence as may be authorized by the chief of bureau which pays the accounts. Those entitled to rations under paragraph 1224 will not be allowed commutation therefor, and if it be impracticable for them to carry food, a ration and savings account will not be opened for them for the period during which they are traveling.

746. None but the authorized items of traveling expenses of civilians will be allowed. They will in all cases be set forth in detail in each voucher for reimbursement, supported by oath and, when practicable, by receipts.

747. The allowances hereinbefore provided for the subsistence of civilian employees cease upon the arrival of the employees at the destination mentioned in their orders for travel; they must then subsist on their rations, if entitled to them, or provide for their subsistence out of their regular pay.

748. Paymasters' clerks and the expert accountant of the Inspector General's Department when traveling on duty will, when transportation in kind can not be furnished by the Quartermaster's Department, be reimbursed for cost of transportation paid by them exclusive of parlor or sleeping car fares or transfers, and will receive in addition thereto, for all travel, whether or not on transportation requests, 4 cents per mile for each mile necessarily traveled by them in the performance of duty; distance to be computed over the shortest usually traveled route. But in traveling on duty only actual expenses shall be paid for sea travel. 749. Actual traveling expenses, as contemplated in the preceding paragraphs, are paid by the following departments, viz:

Pay Department.-To paymasters' clerks, the expert accountant of the Inspector General's Department, civilians summoned as witnesses before, and authorized reporters of, military courts.

Ordnance Department.—To employees at arsenals and armories (cost of transportation included) from appropriations for the service of the Ordnance Department.

Engineer Department.-To employees on public works and fortifications (cost of transportation included) from appropriations made specifically for the work. Quartermaster's Department.—To employees of the Quartermaster's and Subsistence Departments, and other employees of the Army not above provided for. 750. When officers of the staff departments change station the transfer of clerks or other employees to the new stations at the expense of the United States is prohibited, except in cases of urgent necessity, for which the sanction of the Secretary of War will be first obtained. The Pay Department is excepted from this regulation.

ARTICLE LVIII.

STAFF ADMINISTRATION.

751. The supply, payment, and recruitment of the Army, and the direction of the expenditures of the appropriations for its support, are by law intrusted to the Secretary of War. He exercises control through the Chief of Staff and the bureaus of the War Department. He determines where and how particular supplies shall be purchased, delivered, inspected, stored, and distributed.

752. The exercise by the President of his power to call the organized militia into the service of the United States, or to raise volunteers, authorizes the chiefs