Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-18


tons of the national armorcs, affords the best guar
antee that similar results will attend the employment
of similar means in the construction OF cannon As
il is not proposed TO take the business INTO Tie hanos
of the Government exclusively, but To continue the
purchase of cannon from private establishments the
expense Of executing the plan will be comparatively
unmpor,ant The foundry may be connected WAN
one of arsenais, TO be under the charge OF ON
GERS already in the public service, by which the cost OF
its construction and supervision may be essentially di
minshed. Admonished, are, BY the efforts o!
other nations to Improve the weapons oil desfucton'
il would that time should be los' IN tue
sary incpient measures TO select anu pulGhase '
for foundry the limited scale suggested, OUT ea
BILE of expansion according TO future exigences anu
ia therefore hoped that the estimated Tor tha Pu
nose will be appropriated al the coming session OIL ooh
gress. :, f,o,
In the report from this department submitted 10 Coh
oress with The Presidents message at the last sesso'
the objections the civil SUPPLEMENTARY oil the M
tona armories were fully stated, and the propre Oh
dispensing with such agencies, was iorcoiy urssu-
board of very competent citizens was appointed, Oh
the 18th of August last, to examine the armory ~
Snr;np6eld and their very able report fully Justhes
the objections that had been thus made. IL SHOWS
what might indeed have been expected, that Tue h-
mediate and direct responsibility secured oy Tue e
ploymen of the regular officers having charge OF every
other branch of the military service, was waning III
This and that it could not be attained so long as
person was employed as superintendent VINO oa not
feel his obligations to his superior ohlcers' oys'eu,
and regularity in the hours of labor, are as essenta
in this as in any other workshop. The yin section OF
ITO not of February g. 1915, and which section is still
in force places the different public armores under the
direction of the Ordnance Department III ORDER 10 en-
sure system and uniformity in their operations.
There were officers of that Department VINO conio oe
.pared from other service to take charge OF the aro
RES and they were detailed for that purpose, oy Tue
head Of this Department who Immediately preceded the
present incumbent Believing this arrangement III ac-
cordance with the spirit Of the law, aud hndng us pro
rIadh q
prety confirmed by the evidence ahoroeo ~ Tug IT,
mort already mentioned it has been adhered to nc
office of Superintendent therefore, has been eil va
can't from a consideration of its being n"t ohy Iu'e
cessary but positively injurious to the puplc
and because the duties of the place o0nd De os1e us
charged by officers already in the pay OF tie ouse"
Inent The abolition Of the cdice ~ Respectfully IT,
commended. a,;on
Attention is respectfully invited to the suggestoi
in the report Of the Ordnance Once, respee."g
fication Of the act of 1906 in relation to Inc
tion of small arms to the several States Gfany Of
qualities exist and great injustice IS done
the States in the present mode The rerce in the Of
in the report relating to an increase 9the clerks will
fee and the regulation of the paEto which they are
doubtless receive the considers
entitled. -dnance Board in revising
The proceedings OF tnent of the troops, are stated
and amending the armasntage already derived from the
in the report The sby the officers who were sent to
information acq14a the wisdom OF that measure.
Europe has the popuous places in the vicinity for
The dangrunpowde belonging to the Government,
the sorsazard to which those stores are exposed by
and ntiguity, suggested the propriety OF an inquiry
sIether depot for the reserved powder not wah'eu
r ordinary use might not be established in some spot
where would be secure as human art could renoeF
IL and where in case of explosion the least possible IN
iury would be produced. board Of officers was ac-
cordnply appointed TO make such inquiry; whose re-
mort is here with submitted NO 49, and the adoption
of the measures suggested by them is respectfully re-
commended
The Quarermaster- Generals report exhibits the We
~ extensive operations of that department during Inc
mast year. and the efficiency and energy with winch
thew have been prosecuted. They embrace much Of
detail as to preclude enumeration oil them IN tins pa
per The various recommendations which are maze
by the distinguished officer at the head OF that depart
men will doubtless receive all the consideration winch
ia due to the suggestions OF great experience anu n's"
military talent. Among those which appear to the I'M
dersiened rs most deserving immediate attention are
the following:
The recommendations Of military road within our
acknowledged limits, TO supply subsistence ana o'her
stores at Forts Kent and Fairfield, in the State OF
Maine Circumstances Of peculiar character seen
10 demand that time should be lost in the commence
ment Of this work.
The establishment Of strong fort at Fort Brady,
with commodious barracks, commanding the communi'
cation with Lake Superior, seems elso indispensable
And post on the Missouri frontier South OF Fort
Leavenworth is necessary ia conneXlon with the plan
of defence for that portion of our territory
The proprety Of commencing the erection OF perma-
nent works in the Keys or on the peninsula OF flofoa
10 strongly presented
OF the utility of opening and improving some, if not
all the interior Communications mentioned IN the re-
port at some time there probably can be little doubt
Whether that time has arrived VIII De lor lle WISDOM
of Congress TO decide.
The delay in the settlement Of the accounts OF OH
cers alluded 10 in the report, ~ unqnestIonaoy
q great and growing evil, report from the Second
Auditor has been made pursuant 70 call from thls
department, by which it appears that there are ll73
accounts remaining in his office unsettled; OF which IN
were presented prior to 1899, IN that year, 10 IN
$780, and ,l43 in ls4l.
A similar report from the Third Auditor shows that
there are 1914 accounts his Office unsettled Of which
o57 were presented prior TO $780, 1873 in that year, 43O
in 1910, 735 in ls4l. Whatever may be the cause OF
this delay which is believed net TO be IN any want OF
efficiency in the Auditors their clerks, bnt rather IN
the increased amount Of business, aud the more ire
uuent calls for information, its existence IS most nu-
rous to the Government and often runous to the ind
yiduas concerned If the remedy is to be found IN an
increase of force in those Offices there can be no doubt
of the necessity of its prompt application.
The change in the mode OF accounting Tor properly
in the hands of officers suggested in the same report
is earnestly recommended, equally necessary to the
protection of the Government and the security OF us
agents Such change vii! do much 10 dinhish the
labors Of the Auditors Offices.
The claims for the subsistence of the troops called
into service in Florida in 1889, by the Governor OF
that Territory, seem TO be just. There IS diihcu
w. however, in directing their payment by thus De-
partment, in consequence OF the only appropriation
on the subiect-that made by the act OF September
9, 1S4l-beug, by it's reference to the act OF 1880,
limited to such militia as were called into service under
the authority of the War Department. Although
such authority was given for larger number than
actually raised, yet the troops in question, seem
not TO have been called service under il, but un
der act of the Territorial Legislature, and were
not mustered into the service Of the United States
The case requires the nerposition of Congress, as
we'll to defay the charges for subsistence, as TO pro-
do for ho voff hc truon
objections Of merely technical character will prevent
full justice being done to the militia who obeyed the
call of the Governor.
The strong appeal made by the Quartermaster Gene
raj the justice of the country to redeem pledge Civ
en- by him to the Creeks consideration for their re-
moyal to the West and of their raising regiment of
warriors who served faithfully in Florida, cannot be re-
sisted consistently with any regard for those principles
which it is the object of institutions TO ntain-
lnfdelity to engagements, and refusal TO remu
either lie