§ Mr. ASTORasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that for several years non-commissioned officers serving in the Army of the rank of corporal and above have been entitled to wear plain clothes when off duty, and that privates have been allowed to walk out in plain clothes if they have had two years' good character; whether in the Southern Command the order granting this privilege has been cancelled without notice; if so, whether he will state the reason for the cancelling of the order; and (2) whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to non-commissioned officers and men in the Southern Command by the cancelling of the order granting them the privilege of wearing plain clothes, the question may be reconsidered?
§ Colonel SEELYInquiries are being made in this matter.