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for the efficient performance of regular Bureau duty in the rural portions of the District, I strongly urge some modification of orders, the instrument from the 11th line. of the May Genl Commisioner dated May 11th, '68. allowing "in addition to the cost of transportation, whatever sum officers may pay for subsistence over and above what it would have cost them had they remained at their stations" is distinctly limited to be "not allowed on advisory journeys made within the limits of the district under the charge of the agent and requires a special order in each case." This by no means meets the difficulty which enhances cases where no transportation is charged, and where from the frequent and discretionary character of the journey necessary. No special order can be given for one order than another. It is submitted that decisions of disbursing and auditing officers of the Army should not always be enforced as conslusive authority concerning civilians, and regarding matters of duty of a nature wholly different from any required in the military service. 
It is time that every officer should do his free duty and without other compensation than that for which he was engaged as an equivalent for the same for the fact remains that the present system is a premium upon illness.