Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-25

oth section OF the act 81 february ,, lel1. aud
which section Is still II force, places The different
public arnories under The direction Of The ODD
nance Department, 10 order 'to ensure system
and uniformity in heir operations" There were
officers Of that department who could he spared
from other service 10 take charge Of the arfnoftes.
and they were detailed for that purpose by the
head Of this Department who Immediately pre-
ceded he present incumbent. Believing this ar
rangcment in accordance with the spirit d the
law, and finding lis proprIefy confirmed by the
evidence afforded by the report already mention
cd, il has been adhered 10. The office Of super
inienden', therefore, has been left vacant from a
consideration Of It's being not only unnecessary,
but positively injurious to The public interest; and
because the duties # the place could be better
discharged by officers already IN the pay Of the
GJvernmen,. The abolition Of the olIice IS re
specially ~ecommended
Attention is respectfully invited to the suggss-
ton in the report Of The Ordnance Office, les.
pecting n modification # the act Of le0S, IN re-
Iatlon to the distribution Of small arms to the sew
eraI States. Great ineq1aitties exist, and great
Injustice is done to many Ct The States IN the
present mode. The rec0mmendarions i'll Inc re-
port relating to an increase Of force IN the Office,
and the regulation Of pay of The clerks, i'll doubt.
less receive the consideration to which they are
entitled.
The proceedings Of the Osdnance BRAID in re-
vising aud amending tho armament ofthe troops,
are stated in tho report. The advantage already
derived from the iniorInatton acquired by tho Of
iicers who were sent to Europe, has evinced the
wiAdom Of that measure.
The danger to tho poPnIous places in the Vi
cinity Of tho stores oil gunpowder belonging TO
the Government, and the hazard 10 which those
stores are exposed by such contignity, suggested
the ~propriety of an inquiry whether II depot for
the reserved powder, not wanted for ordinary use,
nigh, not be established IN some spot where 1t
would be as secure rs human art could render II,
and where, III case ct explosion, the least post
HE IuJury would be produced. a hOard of officers
was accordingly appointed to make such inquiry;
whose report is herewith submitted, (No. l3) and
the adoption of the measures suggested by them
is respectfully recommended.
The Quartermastcr Generals report exhibits
The very extensive operations of that department.
during the past year, and the efficiency and en-
ergy with which they have been prosecuted
They embrace so much Of detail as TO preclude
an enumeration Of them IN tins paper. The va
rious recommendatio tons which are made by the
distinguished officer at the head Of that depart
ment, will doubtless receive all tho consideration
which is due to the suggestions of great expert
enco and high military talent. Among those
which appear to the undersigned as most deserv-
ing iTneaiate attention., are the following:
Tho recommcu datIons of a military road with
in our acknowledged limits, to supply subsistence
and other stores a, Forts Kent aud Fairfield, in
the State of Maine. Circumstances of a peculi-
ar character seem 10 demand thai, no time should
be lost in the commencement of this work.
L III SstubliSUIiltut VI Il Stoig jill az L ~ Did-
dy, with commodious barracks. commanding the
communication with Lake Superior, seems also
indispensable.
And a post on the Missouri frontier, south of
Fort Lenvenworih, Is necessary, III connexiou
with the plan of defeuce for tha, portion Of our
territory.
The propriety Of commencing the erection of
permanent works in the KEYS or on the peninsula
of Florida, is strongly presented.
OF the utility of opening and approving some,
If not all, tho interior communications mentioned
in the report, at some time, there probably can he
little doubt. Whether that time has arrived, will
be for the wisdom of Congress TO decide.
The delay in the settlement Of The accounts
Of officers. alluded 10 IN ths Same report. Is I'M
ouestionably a great aud growing evil. \ report
from the Second Auditor has been made, Pursuant
,oa call from this department, by which it appears
that there arc l,l73 accounts remaining in this
Office unsettledp Of which 10 were presented pri-
or to 1889, 4 in that year, Is in 1911. and LIB
IN 1911. a similar report from the Third Au-
ditor shows tha, there are l.Slf accounts in his
office unsettled; of which 257 were presented pri
or to 1899, in that year, 1876 in 1910, lbs in ISL.
Whatever may be the cause OF this della '. which
is believed not 20 be IN any want Of efficiency
IN the Auditors or their clerks, bat rather IN the
increased amount of business, and the more fire.
quent calls for information, It's existence Is most
injurious TO the Government, and often rulnous
10 the individual concerned. Ii the remedy is 10
be found in an increase Of force in these offices,
there can be no doubt Of the necessity of It's
prompt application.
The change in the mode Of accounting for pre-
perty in the hands of officers, suggested in the
same report, Is earnestly accommodated as equal
" necessary to The protection Of the Government
and the security Of lis agents. Such n change
will do much TO diminish The labors Of the audi
tors offices.
The claims for tho subsistence If the troops
called into service IN Florida, IN 1882, by The
Governor OF that Territory, seem 10 be Just.
There is a difficulty, however, in directing their
pavmen, by this Department. III couss quence of
the only appropriation on the sutJect-that made
bv tho act of September ., l>ll-beiug, by IL
reference 10 the act OF 1885, limited Ia such MI
ltia as were called into service under the author
iN of The Wnr Dfnarfmenf. Althonuh such an