Ohio sufferers may be used for the relief of destitute persons in the district overflowed by the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Resolution of June 7, 1884 (23-273), allows for same purpose the unexpended appropriation for the relief of the Ohio sufferers. Act of July 5, 1884 (23 Stats., 107). AN ACT making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, and for other purposes. . Provided, That hereafter SUBSISTENCE OF THE ARMY.all sales of subsistence supplies to officers and enlisted men shall be made at cost price only; and the cost price of each article shall be understood, in all cases of such sales, to be the invoice price of the last lot of the article received by the officers making the sale prior to the first day of the month in which the sale is made. QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT.— Provided, That hereafter all purchases of regular and miscellaneous supplies for the Army furnished by the Commissary Department for immediate use shall be made by the officers of such department under direction of the Secretary of War, at the places nearest the points where they are needed, the conditions of cost and quality being equal: Provided also, That all purchases of said supplies, except in cases of emergency, which must be at once reported to the Secretary of War for his approval, shall be made by contract after public notice of not less than ten days for small amounts for immediate use, and of not less than from thirty to sixty days whenever in the opinion of the Secretary of War the circumstances of the case and conditions of the service shall warrant such extension of time. The award in every case shall be made to the lowest responsible bidder for the best and most suitable article, the right being reserved to reject any and all bids. The Commissary-General of Subsistence shall report promptly all purchases of supplies made by his department, with their cost price and place of delivery, to the Secretary of War, for transmission to Congress annually. April 25, 1890 (26-671).—Authorizes purchase of subsistence stores for the relief of such destitute persons as require assistance in the district recently overflowed by the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Act of June 16, 1890 (26 Stats., 157). AN ACT to prevent desertions from the Army, and for other purposes. SEC. 5. That the army ration now provided by law shall be increased by the addition thereto of one pound of vegetables, the proportion to be fixed by the Secretary of War. Act of March 29, 1894 (28 Stats., 47). AN ACT to regulate the making of property returns by officers of the Government. That instead of forwarding to the accounting officers of the Treasury Department returns of public property intrusted to the possession of officers or agents, the Commissary-General of Subsist ence shall certify to the proper accounting officer of the Treasury Department, for debiting on the proper account any charge against any officer or agent intrusted with public property arising from any loss, accruing by his fault, to the Government as to the property so intrusted to him. Act of August 6, 1894 (28 Stats., 233). AN ACT making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, and for other purposes. FOR PAY OF THE GENERAL STAFF. Provided, That vacancies in the lowest grade in the hereafter all appointments to fill Subsistence Department, respectively, shall be made from the next lowest grade in the line of the Army. * * Act of February 12, 1895 (28 Stats., 654). AN ACT making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and for other purposes. Subsistence Department: Provided, That there shall be no appointment of commissary of subsistence with the rank of captain until the number of such officers in that grade shall be reduced below eight, and thereafter the number of such officers in that grade shall be fixed at eight. March 2, 1895 (28-764), abolishes section 229, Revised Statutes, requiring annual statement of contracts for supplies or services. April 7, 1897 (30-219).-Rations to be issued for the relief of destitute persons in districts overflowed by the Mississippi River and the Red River of the North. Provision repeated in joint resolution of June 9, 1897 (30–221). May 27, 1897 (30-220), authorizes purchase of food for the relief of destitute citizens of the United States in Cuba. December 18, 1897 (30-226).—Subsistence stores to be issued for the relief of persons in the Yukon River country. Act of April 22, 1898 (30 Stats., 361). AN ACT to provide for temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United States in time of war, and for other purposes. SEC. 10. That the staff of the commander of an army corps shall consist of one chief commissary of subsistence, the rank of lieutenant-colonel; who shall have one who shall have May 18, 1898 (30-419).-Prescribes modes of issuing subsistence stores to the destitute inhabitants of Cuba. Act of July 7, 1898 (30 Stats., 715.) AN ACT to increase the efficiency of the Subsistence Department of the Army. That during the existence of the present war, and for not exceeding one year thereafter, every commissary of subsistence, of whatever rank, who shall be assigned to the duty of purchasing and shipping subsistence supplies at important depots shall have the rank next above that held by him and not above colonel, but the number so assigned shall only be such as may be found necessary, not exceeding twelve; also, that the two commissaries of subsistence who may be detailed as assistants to the Commissary-General of Subsistence shall have the rank of colonel, provided that when any such officer is relieved from said duty his temporary rank, pay, and emoluments shall cease, and he shall return to his lineal rank in the Department. SEC. 2. That there is hereby authorized to be added to the subsistence department in the volunteer service during the present war, and not to exceed one year thereafter, eight majors and twelve captains for the discharge of such subsistence duties as may be assigned to them by the Secretary of War, to be nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to be appointed by the President. Act of March 2, 1899 (30 Stats., 977). AN ACT for increasing the efficiency of the Army of the United States, and for other purposes. That from and after the date of approval of this act the Army of the United States shall consist of , a Subsistence Depart Subsistence Department, consist of the officers and enlisted men now provided by law: SEC. 11. That so much of the act approved July seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, as authorizes the assignment of certain officers of the subsistence departments with increased rank, and the continuance in service of certain volunteer officers of these departments for a period of one year after the close of the present war, is repealed. SEC. 14. That the President is hereby authorized to continue in service, or to appoint by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, officers of the volunteer staff as follows: Six commissaries of subsistence with the rank of major, and twelve assistant commissaries of subsistence with the rank of captain. Act of March 3, 1899 (30 Stats., 1064). AN ACT making appropriation for the support of the regular and volunteer army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred. [The total appropriation for the Subsistence Department] to be disbursed and accounted for as "Subsistence of the Army," and for that purpose shall constitute one fund. Act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stats., -—). AN ACT to increase the efficiency of the permanent military establishment of the United States. That from and after the approval of this act the Army of the United States shall consist of a Subsistence SEC. 17. That the Subsistence Department shall consist of one Commissary-General with the rank of brigadier-general, three assistant commissaries-general with the rank of colonel, four deputy commissaries-general with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, nine commissaries with the rank of major, twenty-seven commissaries with the rank of captain, mounted, and the number of commissary-sergeants now authorized by law, who shall hereafter be known as post commissarysergeants: Provided, That all vacancies in the grades of colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major, created or caused by this section, shall be filled by promotion, according to seniority, as now prescribed by law. That to fill original vacancies in the grade of captain, created by this act, in the Subsistence Department, the President is authorized to appoint officers of volunteers commissioned in the Subsistence Department since April twenty-first, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. SEC. 26. That so long as there remain any officers holding permanent appointments in the Subsistence Department, including those appointed to original vacancies in the grades of captain and first lieutenant under the provisions of sections sixteen, seventeen, twenty-one, and twenty-four of this act, they shall be promoted according to seniority in the several grades, as now provided by law, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to apply to vacancies which can be filled by such promotions or to the periods for which the officers so promoted shall hold their appointments, and when any vacancy, except that of the chief of the department or corps, shall occur, which can not be filled by promotion as provided in this section, it shall be filled by detail from the line of the Army, and no more permanent appointments shall be made in those departments or corps after the original vacancies created by this act shall have been filled. Such details shall be made from the grade in which the vacancies exist, under such system of examination as the President may from time to time prescribe. All officers so detailed shall serve for a period of four years, at the expiration of which time they shall return to duty with the line, and officers below the rank of lieutenant-colonel shall not again be eligible for selection in any staff department until they shall have served two years with the line. That when vacancies shall occur in the position of chief of any staff corps or department the President may appoint to such vacancies, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, officers of the Army at large not below the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and who shall hold office for terms of four years. When a vacancy in the position of chief of any staff corps or department is filled by the appointment of an officer below the rank now provided by law for said office, said chief shall, while so serving, have the same rank, pay, and allowances now provided for the chief of such corps or department. And any officer now holding office in any corps or department who shall hereafter serve as chief of a staff corps or department and shall subsequently be retired, shall be retired with the rank, pay, and allowances authorized by law for the retirement of such corps or department chief: Provided, That so long as there remain in service officers of any staff corps or department holding permanent appointments, the chief of such staff corps or department shall be selected from the officers so remaining therein. SEC. 27. That each position vacated by officers of the line, transferred to any department of the staff for tours of service under this act, shall be filled by promotion in the line until the total number detailed equals the number authorized for duty in each staff department. Thereafter vacancies caused by details from the line to the staff shall be filled by officers returning from tours of staff duty. If under the operation of this act the number of officers returned to any particular arm of the service at any time exceeds the number authorized by law in any grade, promotions to that grade shall cease until the number has been reduced to that authorized. SEC. 40. That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to prescribe the kinds and quantities of the component articles of the army ration, and to direct the issue of substitutive equivalent articles in place of any such components whenever, in his opinion, economy and a due regard to the health and comfort of the troops may so require. AN ACT making appropriation for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and two. Provided, That appointments to fill original vacancies the grade of captain in the Subsistence Department in may be made from officers of volunteers commissioned since April twenty-first, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. |