Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-12-12
both with the United States and with the other

A..
II is due to the regiment Of Dragons u re-
mark. that its composition is believed 70 oe soou'
and. I anticipate, It will do honor 10 t"e H'"!
and render effectuai service to the country.
vt feel II , duty. once more to ask your iavora-
~. inter nosi,ion 10 behalf Of the Medical Corps.
Their - no portion of the Army, whose comPen'
sstiop is SO utterly inadequate to their services.
The nav of the highest grade but niue easeeus
that Of Captain, and the pay OF the 'o"es. "a'
of FIRST Lieutenant; and these Two eraaes eo"
stitute the whole range OF SERVICE "ithin .he
ss.ch If Medical officers. In the line of the Ar-
INV and most Of the Staff Departments. there are
successive grada,ions Of rank. each with increa,
sod emolument. to stimulate the exertions, anu
N reward the services Of the officers. Inc IN
rortance of professional skill aud talent IN the
Medical Corns will not be doubted. Ana Tue :,
dispersed condition of our Army, IN time o'
peace. and its exposure to the effects OF various
climates render the conservation OF ITS heaith an
object of much soiici;ude. And in time OF war,
this solictude will be increased by the periis OF
active service. AZ.
In order to place in proper condition tn's
branch Of our military establishment, system OF
examination has been recently Instituted, oy
which the pretensions Of medical gen'Iemen'
seeking appointments in the Army, VIII De SUI
jected to rigid scrutiny. A board comPoseu VI
able and experienced Surgeons, has been organ.
lied, and the various members OF the "epa.'"'"'
have been examined by them The result mas az
ready been highly useful, and cannot Ian 10 DC
60 for the future. But while the standard OF pro-
fes,onal aco1isemen,s is thus increased, justice
demands that the rate Of compensation should De
examined. and that il should be rendered com.
mensurate with the duties and responsibility OF
this most useful class Of officers 1t not TO DC
expected that the Medical Corps can retain the
able men, who now compose II, or see others
ion it, unl ess their services are adequately re-
warded.
The act organizing the Subsistence Depart.
ment, expires by its own Limitation on the ."
day of March next. II was originally passed 10
1918, aud mas been continued by successive tcm'
norary acts, till the present time. The reason
of this course Of legislation is undoubtedly to De
found in the fact, that the introduction ot the
TEN was all experiment, aud 1t was deemed Pru
den, to test its operation, before permanent
character was given to it, This has been iuiiy
done, and the result is, in every point OF view,
| satisfactory. All who were acquainted with the
mode Of supplying the army, previously to. and
during the late war, and for few years alter It's
termination, must be sensible Of the superiority
Of the present plan. In the quality of the pros''
sons, in the certainty Of The supply, and IN the
economy If administration, its operation IS dec''
dedIy superior to the old system. where contrac-
tors Furnished and issued all the subsistence re-
CURED. The continued failures that took place.
and frequently n the most critical state OF ahairs'
the controversies arising out OF perpetual attempts
to issue unsound provisions, and the serious oo
stacles which these aud the other operations OF
the system interposed to the public service must
be fresh in the re collection of every military man,
| 4 ,h, s.E thna
" Pdfftfeiff hsSs esfs6TIshed system of
purchasing. OF issuing. and Of responsibility.
which, while il ensures this result, guards the
public interest against loss and imposition as far
IS business. necessarily so extended, permits
Daring the fifteen years in which this department
mas been IN operation, more than five millions
anu ball Of dollars haze been expended under
us direction, aud the whole loss which has been
incurred by the detaIcations Of its officers, does
not amount to sixteen thousand dollars.
consider that the time has arrived when the
present arrangement should be rendered perma.
ment, and therefore present the subject, with
that view, TO your notice. And also beg leave
to suggest that The compensation of the clerks in
the Office should be increased 1t is now lower
than the average amount allowed in the other
public offices. and less than is due to their labor
and responsibility.
Inc report OF the Fisiters. appointed to exam.
Inc the Military Academy, shows that the insti.
tuition is IN prosperous condition, and is fulfil.
ling the duties, committed 10 it, in the education
OF the young men destined for the military service
OF the country. The suggestions. made bv the
sisiters, for the Improvement Of this national
school, are the result of careful examination,
and coming. as they do, from body Of able and |,
impartial citizens, are entitled to much conside.
ration They appear to me just in themselves,
and promising, in the event Of their adoption,
sanitary conseq sences to the institution.
There IS one subject which feel particularly
desirous OF placing before you The situation Of
teacher Of drawing corresponds, neither with the
nature and Importance Of the duties required of
that officer, nor with the profrssiona merit of the
distinguished artist, who has reinquished the fair
to accept it. The art itself is hishlv impor,ant
to military men, and its acquisition is essential
10 respectable standing at the Academy. Ills
very desirable, that the instructor should unite in
ms person those high qualifications, natural and
acquired, which have IN all ages been the Iot rs