The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-11


others, ought to be attended by such corps, and the
commentator of the Chief Engineer TO enlarge il by two
or three additional companies is entitled to favorable
consideration.
For information in regard to the employment and
vices of the Typographical engineers respectfully refer
you TO the report of the chief OF the corps.
To some extent erroneous notions prevail in relation
TO the duties Of this corps Ii is supposed that these du
ties essentially connected with military opera
tons that when lis officers employed with the army
they only engaged in ab0rs which appropriately be-
long 10 engineers and that, though fact embraced IN
the organization of the army, they but civil eng
neers. This is mistaken view Of the subject They
have appropriate and important military duties with an
army IN the held and theN presence and aid auXl
airy its successful operations The report of the chief
Of the corps shows that of the officers belonging TO
i are now on duty with the army So great has been
the demand for them for military service that all but one
have been Withdrawn from the coast survey and as
signed 10 duty with the different divisions OF our forces
They have participated in the arduous abors Of the cam
pagn, and won for themselves fair share Of the honor
and GLORY of lts achievements
The burden OF increased duties resulting from state
Of war has borne heavier upon the Ordnance Bureau,
probably than upon any other branch OF the public
vice connected with this department, except that of the
Quartermaster General IL cannot be expanded 20
meet the superadded demands upon II without the
thority of Congress
The officer in charge OF this bureau has pointed out in
his report the nadequacy OF It's present organization, and
suggested such enlargement will make II efficient
in the present emergency II proposed to give II the
organization, to the rank and number of officers,
as that Of the corps OF engineers am fully convinced
deficiency OF ordnance officers, and would respectfully
the recommendation made at the last session. for
increase OF them That suggested in the ordnance
port would not IN my Judgment be more than the public
eXigency at this time demands.
It is proper that should direct your attention to the
reports of the Paymaster General and Surgeon General
Both urge the necessity OF further aid, TO enable them
70 execute in satisfactory manner the duties OF Their
spectve departments increased they by the large
number OF troops in the field, and the different destinations
of them. There doubt that the inconvenience and
embarrassmens in these branches of the public service
OF such magnitude and importance as to claim the at
enton and receive the favorable notice of Congress.
The deficiency in the medical staff with the army has
been the subject of repeated complaints by command
ing generals. regard to the comfort of the troops,
well the good of the service, requires that the depart
ment should have the power to remove the causes OF
them. Considerations of economy also commend this
subject to the favor of Congress Where the attendance
OF army surgeons and assistants cannot be obtained ply
sicians private life Employed and the amount Of
claims against the government for their services far
ceeds the pay and emouments which the additional num-
Der asked for in the report of the Surgeon General would
receive.
As the management of the mineral lands has been de-
volved upon one of the military bureaus of this depart
ment II is proper that should briefly notice the subject,
so far relates to the operations of the last year
From the lst of October 1885, to the time when the
act Of Congress of the 18th OF July last became known to
the agents of the government, six hundred and twenty
one leases granted OF these, two hundred and
ninetytwo will expire before the earliest day fixed for
the sale of the leased lands and the remainder before the
first of August next The small number since granted
will expire the sale of the premises. The amount of
rent received during the year ending the Both of Sepem
her, exceeds the expenses OF management by the of
1874 49, and the excess of receipts expenditures
for the whole time the lead mines have been in charge of
the department. Is SS4 002 OF.
On the 18th of July, 1S45, the department suspended
the granting of permits for locations in the copper region
about Lake Superior but continued to execute leases
those issued prior to that period until the 9th day of May
last when il decided by you that the existing laws did
not authorize leases for this kind of mineral land Since
the latter period has been executed As the mining
operations in the copper region have scarcely become pro-
II,,ctt 10
ceived.
The attention of Congress was directed to this subject
and the views of the department, suggesting the necess
ty of Legislation thereon presented IN several COM
municatlons laid before that body at the last session.
The in this part Of the public domain is rich mex
haustbe and under proper management, might be made
to contribute nconsderabe to the public treas
The number OF pension agencies is forty four exclu
sve of agencies for navy PENSIONS and the number of
pensioners to be paid is about twenty thousand Two
payments made to each in every year The law pre-
scrbng the mode Of paying PENSIONS stood previous
to the 9Th of August last declares that such payments
shall be hereafter made such times and places by such
persons corporations and under such regulations as
the Secretary of War may direct but no compensation
allowance shall be made to such persons corporations
Tor making such payments, without authority OF law
Under this law, which expressly withholds compensa-
ton, the MAN, if not the only inducement for persons to
accept agencies, the incidental advantages derived
from the occasional balances OF public money IN their
hands Nearly all of them officers of interested
in M @ used banks for dso9rds and de-
The sixth section of "thc act to provide for the better
organization of the treasury and for the collection safe
keeping, transfer and disbursement of the public rev.
enue," seems to contemplate the employment of the Off
GERS therein named agents for paying PENSIONS and
renders it doubtful whether those hitherto employed
not superseded But if there be authority to continue
them the department advised that in most instances
they will decline their agencies, unless some compensa
ton can be allowed for their services.
The restrictions imposed by the act referred to have
deprived them of most of the facilities they had in
cutting their duties, and of all the resulting advantages,
and at the time rendered these duties oneous
Under these circumstances not to be expected that
they would remain agents, if the law permitted It, with
the heavy responsibility imposed
In most the officers upon whom these duties may
be devoved by the act of the 9th Of August cannot per-
form them without assistance Legislation, therefore,
upon this subject has become indispensable If the col
ecng and disbursing officers mentioned in the sixth sec
ton Of that act to be charged with this superadded
duty they must be authorized procure assistance to ena
BILE them to perform it if is to be executed by others,
they must be allowed reasonable compensation to
enable the department to procure their services AS the
preferable COURSE respectfully recommend that auhor
y should be given to continue the present agents. ap
point others their places and that reasonable com
pensation be allowed for their services.
Immediate action this subject is urged. The next
require some time to place the requisite funds in the
hands of the several agents particularly those in remote
States and Territories
BY the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and those by the Indian agents which accompany it, you
will be informed of the complicated and important trans
actions of the last year in that extensive branch Of the
public service. Since the last annual report, i3i In
dams have been removed from the to the west of
the Mississippi river, consisting principally of the Choc