ALLOWANCE OF FORAGE FOR PRIVATE HORSE OF A VETERINARY SURGEON. Neither laws, regulations, nor orders authorize the issue of forage for the private horse of a veterinary surgeon. When his duties at the post or station where he may be serving require him to be mounted, a public animal should be provided.—[Decision Sec. War, letter Nov. 19, 85-7061 A. G. O., 1885.] EXTRA-DUTY PAY. The extra-duty pay allowed General Service clerks and detailed messengers, by General Orders, No. 104, of 1884, from this office, is not affected by General Orders, No. 60, of 1884, nor by the decision published in Circular, No. 10, of 1884, from this office, which have reference to extra-duty men employed in the Quartermaster's Department.-[Decision Sec. War, Nov. 20, 85-8640c A. G. O., E. B., 1885.] CLOTHING FOR BURIAL OF DECEASED SOLDIERS. Where it becomes necessary to issue new clothing from the Quartermaster's Department for use in the burial of deceased soldiersas in the case of a man who comes to his death away from his proper command and under circumstances which render his clothing unfit for use in burial-the cost of such clothing should be borne by the Government.-[Decision See. War, Nov. 23, 85—6000 a 4. G. O., E. B., 1884.] COURTESIES BETWEEN COMMANDING OFFICERS OF SEA-COAST FORTS AND COMMANDERS OF FOREIGN SHIPS OF WAR. Paragraphs 705 and 708 of Colonel Tidball's manual (heavy artillery) seem to have been well considered by both the Navy and War Departments before adoption. Colonel Tidball's position, that the commanders of our sea-coast forts represent the Government, is, in my judgment, correct, and I hope for that reason, and because of the simple common-sense method that flows from it, his manual will be maintained.-[Views Lieut. Gen., concurred in by Sec. War, letter Nov. 17, 85-3454 A. G. O., 1885.] INSTRUCTION IN MILITARY SIGNALING. While it is desirable that all officers and men should know something of military signaling, it is not thought necessary that surgeons, hospital stewards, and ordnance, commissary, and quarter right to retained pay was forfeited in consequence of the provisions of section 1282 of the Revised Statutes, as well as by the forfeiture of "pay" imposed by the sentence.-[ Opinion Actg. Judge Adv. Gen., concurred in by Sec. War, letter Dec. 17, 85-412A A. G. O., E. B., 1885.] POST AND REGIMENTAL FUNDS. The tax received from the post traders on account of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the general staff is subject to division for the benefit of the regimental fund. The decision contained in letter from this office dated November 19, 1881, that the tax received from the post trader on account of Indian scouts reverts wholly to the post fund, is revoked.-[General decision, letter Dec. 8, 85-7306 A. G. O., 1885.] RUBBER BLANKETS AND PONCHOS AND METALLIC TRIMMINGS FOR HELMETS AND CAPS. Under existing orders rubber blankets and ponchos are issued only to enlisted men in the field or in active campaign. They are issued gratuitously in the same manner as canvas fatigue clothing, fur overcoats, &c. The money value of these rubber goods does not form part of the money allowance of the enlisted men. They are classed as "equipage," and their value is given at $1.55 and $1.13, respectively, so that if lost or misapplied they can be charged to the proper person. Metallic trimmings for helmets and caps form part of the soldier's clothing allowance, and should be issued and accounted for as other articles of clothing.-[General decision, letter Dec. 10, 85-7313 A. G. O., 1885.] ISSUE OF POST SHOES TO REPLACE THOSE FOUND DEFECTIVE. The shoes should be issued on receipt rolls as other clothing is issued, but their value is not to be charged on the clothing accounts of the men. The authority for the gratuitous issue and the approved proceedings of the board of survey should in each case accompany the roll. The imperfect shoes turned in by the soldiers should be turned over by the company commander to the post quartermaster.-[General decision, letter Dec. 19, 85-7429 A. G. O., 1885.] CLOTHING AND MONEY ALLOWANCE OF MUSICIANS. The period of time intended to be covered by General Orders, No. 23, March 10, 1885, amending General Orders, No. 92, August 11, 1884, from this office, expired on the 30th of June, 1885. The increased allowance established by General Orders, No. 23, series of 1885, from this office, applies only to chief trumpeters, principal musicians, and band musicians-not to trumpeters or musicians serving with their respective troops or companies. General Orders, No. 82, July 30, 1885, is amendatory of General Orders, No. 23, of 1885, and fixes the money allowance of chief trumpeters, principal musicians, and bandsmen.—[General decision.] BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL SHERIDAN: OFFICIAL: R. C. DRUM, Adjutant General. Assistant Adjutant General. CIRCULAR, No. 12. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, December 31, 1885. The following decisions, rulings, &c., have been made during the month of December, 1885, and are published to the Army for the information of all concerned: CLOTHING. The issue of overcoat capes to enlisted men, separately from the overcoats, is not authorized.-[Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 3, 857198 4. G. O., 1885.] FUNERAL EXPENSES OF ENLISTED MEN OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE. General Orders, No. 105, October 5, 1885, from this office, limiting the expenditure for burial of officers and enlisted men, applies to Signal Service men as well as to other enlisted men of the Army-[Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 3, 85-7144 A. G. O., 1885.] FUNERAL EXPENSES OF RETIRED OFFICERS. General Orders, No. 105, October 5, 1885, from this office, applies to officers who die in active service, and under it no allowance can be made for the burial of retired officers.-[Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 8, 85-7336 A. G. O., 1885.] FUNERAL EXPENSES OF AN ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON. The expenditure for a burial casket for an acting assistant surgeon is not a proper charge against the appropriation for the Quartermaster's Department.-Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 12, 85-6985 4. G. O., 1885.] FORAGE. The sale of forage to mounted officers in excess of regulation allowance is disapproved.-[Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 18, 85— 7255 A. G. O., 1885.] BUTTONS FOR BLOUSES OF ENLISTED MEN. The addition of three small buttons at the under seam of the sleeves at the cuffs of blouses worn by enlisted men is authorized. Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 21, 85-7146 A. G. O., 1885.] SALE OF LIGHT WINES, ALE, AND BEER AT ARMY POSTS. The sale of light wines, ale, and beer at Army posts is not in violation of orders issued from the War Department.-[Decision Sec. War, letter Dec. 29, 85-6528 A. G. O., 1885.] MILITARY SIGNALING. The instructions based on General Orders, No. 109, October 12, 1885, from this office, do not contemplate the practice of electric telegraphy.[Decision Lieut. Gen., letter Dec. 12, 85-7242 A. G. O., 1885.] TARGET PRACTICE. Regimental field officers should be included in the individual classification of the regiment, but not in that of the band or any company-par. 522, Blunt's "Rifle and Carbine Firing."-[Decision Lieut. Gen., letter Dec. 15, 85—7206 A. G. O., 1885.] DISCHARGE FOR DRUNKENNESS, ETC. It is not deemed for the best interests of the service to discharge enlisted men on surgeon's certificate of disability by reason of chronic drunkenness or chronic alcoholism.-[Decision Lieut. Gen.. letter Dec. 15, 85–9190c A. G. O., E. B., 1885.] POST FUNDS. An expenditure from the post fund for purchase of caldrons for bathing purposes is not authorized by the Regulations.-[Decision Lieut. Gen., letter Dec. 17, 85–7486 A. G. O., 1885.] TRAVELING EXPENSES OF PAYMASTERS' CLERKS. It is best to leave with the paymaster the propriety of taking his clerk when ordered to make a payment, unless the department commander sees fit to forbid it; in which case he must assume a certain amount of responsibility in the event of loss of funds. -[Views Paymr. Gen., concurred in by Sec. War, letter Dec. 14, 85-6773 A. G. O., 1885.] FORFEITURES BY DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE. Where a soldier was sentenced by court-martial to dishonorable discharge and to forfeiture of "all pay now due or to become due" (instead of "all pay and allowances," &c.), it is held that the soldier's right to his clothing allowance was wholly unaffected by his sentence, "allowances" being distinct from pay; but that his |