The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-08
|. In that event, the collec.

The business of collecting the contributions has beer
necessarily devolved military officers. This duty ha
been performed at unhealthy places, where destroyn.
epidemic prevails during many months OF the year |
seems be but Just that those thus employed and thu
exposed should receive additional compensation; but
under the restriction of existing laws there author
ily to sanction their claim to extra allowance. re
specfuy recommend that Congress should be asked 4
allow 10 officers engaged at the Mexican ports IN collect
ing contributions, per centage the received
and that authority should be given regulate the numbe
and determine the pay of the several persons employed II
this business. There official information III tins
department showing the amount OF revenue or conirbu
tons which has been levied al the ports in occupancy
on the Pacific; bu, II is understood that collections hav,
there been made, and the amount applied towards The
support of the civil government established in California
The despatch OF Col. Mason, TO which have before
alluded refers TO the unsettled claims in that coun,r,
against the United States, and recommends that imme
date should be taken TO ascertain the amount
such well founded, and that provision be made FOL
immediate payment These claims principally for prop
erty OF various descriptions furnished to- taken BY
forces in The course of the military operations in tina
country. The delay TO pay them has already produced
much dissatisfaction, and preudcla TO the interests Of
the United States Some OF the officers engaged IN tins
distant service have become personally responsible io
debts contracted for the and in the service Of the
United States; is also due them that provision should
be made for paying these debts.
The resolution OF the 81 of March last providing for
the payment of expenses incurred by States and ndvdu
ais in organizing, subsisng and transporting volunteers
previous their being mustered and received into the
service of the United States had reference TO such troops
only had been mustered before that period Like
claims OF subsequent date have been presented which
could not be paid for want of authority recommend
that Congress be asked provide by law for the ADJUST
ment of these claims by the accounting officers.
also recommend that provision be made for the,pay
men of regiment OF volunteers from Texas which
tered the service in February last, compliance with
call by the commanding officer al Camargo, under what
he deemed TO be pressing emergency. The regiment,
after being mustered proceeded to the Rio Grande where
was discharged pursuant to an order OF MAJOR General
Taylor. As this call was made without authority from
either this department or the commanding general, APP
rllftn will hp IN fha vTn
the time they were IN service.
respectfully repeat the recommendation my last
nual report the subject OF clothing in kind for volun
leers, lieu of the money which at present paid to
them a communication The experience OF the past year
has shown the necessity for this change The clothing
provided By the volunteers themselves, both in kind and
quality, generally unsued for the SERVICE and often
proves TO be deficient In quantity. Serving IN enemy
country, and at distance from the ordinary OF
supply, 1t seldom be replaced when lost out
and always al an eyorbant pnce. Much OF the suffer-
ing which has been experienced by these troops may be
attributed TO the want of proper clothing If authority
were given to supply the volunteers in the manner pro-
vded Tor the regular troops is believed they would be
better clothed and at less cost to themselves and TO the
government, than by the present mode Ii understood
that such PROVISION is made, the arrangements of the
Quarermasers Department such in relation to pro-
vding clothing, that can readily furnish supply to the
volunteers.
also repeat the recommendations in my last report in
regard to retired list of officers of the army, Who BY
age n6rmes, have become unable TO perform active
duties The experience OF the past year has added force
q
the details of the plan, well for favor of
invite your attention to the report OF the Adjutan
General.
Besides the reports of the Adutant General and the
Quar,ermaster General before particularly referred to,
also herewith submit for your consideration others from
the Commissary General the Paymaser General the Chief
Engineer the Chief OF the Typographical Engineers the
officer in charge Of the Ordnance Department the Sur
geon General, the Commissioner OF Pensions, and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs These several reports
presented in the fullest confidence that their eYamina
loHo bat hIIc
duties deyolved upon each, though unusually arduous
have been, throughout the past year, faithfully and ably
The report of the Chief Engineer exhibits the condition
OF the permanent defences under construction and repair
along seaboad and northern frontier Owing to the
small amount OF means placed within the control OF the
department for this purpose but little progress during
the last year has been made IN these works In pre-
cedng years. the system of defence has been prosecuted
with considerable success. Important points have been
placed in comparative securty but there others,
having strong claims TO protection, thatyet remain In
deenceless state 1t is not deemed wse under present
circumstances, to withdraw all attention from system
of exterior defence
The estimate which has been submitted for expendi
ture upon those works is moderate. is below that OF
last year, and much less than the average grants in for
ner years.
Congress having provided for board of visers to
attend the general examination of the Military Academy
at West Point, number OF eminent citizens from yarl-
Gus States invited TO form such board with
10 inquire into the state OF discipline OF that institution,
its instruction, police administration, financial affairs,
and OeT concerns, and 10 report thereon lor le ior
nation of Congress Their report will be found among
the papers herewith, from the Engineer Department 1t
presents the institution, all respects, in very favor
able light; and trust that besides the appropriations
required for IFS maintenance and efficiency, provision
will be made for an annual board of visiters.
The company OF engineer soldiers, authorized by the
act of Congress of May 5h, 1885, has been than
year active duty Mexico, and has rendered efficient
service. again submit, with approval, the proposition
OF the Chief Engineer for increase of this description OF
force, required meet the wants of our armies in the
field
The surgeons and assistant surgeons constituting the
medical stall OF the army all required for the troops
in the field, and ii ascerained by experience that they
scarcely sufficient for the exigences Of the service
The wants OF the have rendered it necessary TO
employ physicians civil life, to assist in the duties OF
the medical staff This deficiency of medical assistance
has been owing part, to the number OF surgeons and
assistants who have been detached from the troops to
take charge of the several hospitals which the proper
and treatment of the sick and wounded have
deed Indispensable Ample provision for the cure and
comfort of the officers and soldiers suffering by wounds
or disease is demanded by justice and humanity there
fore earnestly commend to your approval the proposition
for authority to appoint six hospital surgeons TO be
unued in office only TO the end of the present war.
| do not doubt, however much il is TO be lamented
that many soldiers who have faithfully served their
Try in the army will retire from it worn out in service
disabled by wounds, permanently impaired in health,
by exposure and hardships, without the means of
Portable support the ability 10 it, In his sItua
uon, they Will look with reasonable expectation to their
than that which is now made by our pension laws.
lhls would be afforded TO them By an army asylum or
retreat The comforts Of such public institution are
due 10 tins unfortunate and mertorous class OF e
,ow-ciuzens, IRON grateful and paternal government
concur In the acting surgeon Generals Recommendation
OF sch an establishment and submit ii to favorable
consideration
he number OF pensioners of all classes on the rolls of