142 MILITARY. [ART. 63.

commission, office and residence of each officer and
member, and shall revise said roster annually and
correct the same; he shall make out and issue all
commissions and discharges directed by the com-
mander-in-chief; he shall prepare and provide the
necessary rosters, books of record, forms, blanks for
commissions, discharges, returns and other papers re-
quired under this act, at the expense of the state, and
distribute the same to commanding officers of divisions,
brigades, regiments, battalions and squadrons entitled
to them, upon proper requisition therefor; he shall
be charged with all correspondence between the com-
mander-in-chief and officers of the several states and
territories, the secretary of war, the adjutant general
of the army of the United States and other persons in
official stations on the subject of military affairs, and
keep a record of such correspondence. He shall annu-
ally make a return, in triplicate, of all the militia of
this state, one copy whereof he shall deliver to the
commander-in-chief, on or before the first day of Janu-
ary thereafter, one copy to be transmitted to the adju-
tant general of the United States army and one copy
shall be filed in his office. He shall receive and file
all returns made to him according to law and regula-
tion, and annually make a detailed report thereof to
the commander-in-chief. He shall, except in so far as
the duties may be distributed by the governor to the
'other chiefs of the administrative branches of the gen-
eral staff, make contracts with the lowest bidders, upon
public notice, for the supply and furnishing to such
troops as the governor may direct, within the limit of
the appropriations by act of the general assembly to
such purpose, uniforms, arms, ammunition and equip-
ments, the said uniforms not to cost more than $20
each, and in all cases; and by whatever officer these
contracts for expenditures shall be made, in the man-
ner prescribed, the said officer shall make and certify
the account, with explicit vouchers, and transmit the
same, countersigned and approved by the governor, to
the comptroller, for final settlement in the mode and