Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06


report of the Quartermaster General. =
Ii is probable however that in some instances the
pendtures both of the Quartermasers and the Commits
eary departments may have been increased by mal-ad
nistraton The transactions of both these Department.
involve such variety of details and their agents
far removed from the supervision Of their chiefs that
abuses may exist long time before they discovered
Every effort has been used to detect these abuses
and to prevent their Inspectors have been
sent to the frontiers inquire into the in which the
affairs Of these Departments administered and rigid
scrutiny into accounts has been ordered regret
that the Department has to fear that it's
prehensons this subject not altogether without
foundation.
From statements carefully prepared by the different
bureaus OF this Department appears that the increased
expenditures In the army resulting from newy-ac-
quired territory Including Texas amounted to $4,000,
70975
Congress their session omitted to provide for
deficiency which ascertaned to exist in the appropr
atoms for the Quarermasers department for the year
ending Both June last Serious embarrassment would
have resulted the service from this omission had there
not existed unexpended balances of former appro
priations which, under the act of August 26 1872
transferred to the Quartermaster department Congress
also reduced all the items of appropriations but for
the department for the current fiscal year lending
3Oh june next fifty per cent below the estimates the
consequence Of which that the appropriations for that
department entirely inadequate to its wants and that
Congress will be called upon at early period to supply
the deficiency.
Congress having clearly manifested determination
reduce far possible the expenditures of the army
II
their views into effect have accordingly labored to
form abuses enforce rgdly all regulations looking to
economy and to retrench every unnecessary expense
will enumerate some of the measures adopted for this
purpose.
The number of enlisted men in the Ordnance depart
ment, prior to the late war; amounted to $50 but
during the war it was increased to 5S7 men, By
der Of the Department they reduced to their original
number.
Prior the late there only four light artil-
Iery companies. After the broke out four of
the artillery companies converted into light
tillery making in oil eight companies This descrp-
ton Of troops, although extremely effective in regular
utterly useless in the kind of service in which
the army is employed The Department did not he
state therefore, direct that of these companies should
be dismouned Of this number four viii continue dis
mounted unless Congress should otherwise direct but
as it is deemed important to preserve portion of this de-
scrpton of force the two remaining companies will be
mounted as the Department is provided with the
of doing This will make in all four companies
each of the regiments of artillery, which
to have been contemplated by the act of 1921.
number of persons from civil life employed in the
service in various capacities, such clerks SC. An
order issued whereby their number has been greatly
reduced and their duties required to be performed by
officers and soldiers.
An order issued last spring that all the perna-
nent posts the frontier where it practicable farms
should be established to be cultivated by the troops Su
Cient time has not elapsed ascertain the result
the experiment If it should prove successful it will not
only effect considerable reduction of expense in the
Quartermasers and Commssarys departments but will
Besides these measures various Others which is need
less to enumerate, have been adopted with view pro-
mote economy and to fidelity and attention the
part of dsbursng officers.
The fact to be disguised that great axty of
pense and disregard of the regulations looking
nomy, had become somewhat prevalent in the army The
Department has exerted itself to remedy this evil and is
graed to say that in all its efforts for this purpose it
has received the aid and jealous cooperation of the supe
rior officers The effect of the it has adopted
for this purpose is already dscernbe in considerable
reduction of the expenditures and have the satisac-
ton to that the estimates of the Department for
the next fiscal year considerably below the expend
lures of the present and preceding years.
The expenditures for the support of the Army for the fiscal
year ending 30th June last, $50, 060,268 SIS
The estimates for the next year are 1898, IT'S SO
Showing reduction Of 1,16l, 400 TO
There are some other of economy which the
Department would have carried out had the aid Of legs
fation not been necessary to enable it to do so.
number Of arsenals have from time to time, been es-
tabhed apoints where they then needed but where
consequence of extension OF frontier and the vast
Iy increased facilities of transportation they now
trey useless As is doubtful whether it be competent
for the Executive abolish these establishments it is de-
srable that this authority be vested in it by law.
In my last report recommended that the Department
should be authorized to enlist men specially as Transfers
and stated length my for this
Further experience confirms me in the opinion that this
mode Of obtaining the aid of this indispensable class OF
persons (of whom FIVE hundred six hundred
stany employed by the Quartermasters Department. is
preferable to the plan resorted to- OF employing
them sometimes at wages 1T has been suggest
ed however, that instead of ensting men specially as
Transfers it would be better to increase the number OF
rivates in each company the frontier to hundred
and to authorize the allowance OF higher rate OF pay to
such should be detailed transfers. This
arrangement would enable the officer in command to use
them either teamsers soldiers, as circumstances
might require.
The removal Of the distractions to the navigation of
Red River and of the Rio Grande would greatly re-
duee the expense Of supplying many Of the posts Texas
and New Mexico, by diminishing the amount of land
transportation have little doubt that the amount that
the Government would by of this improvement
in three years. would defray the cost of the work
whatever efforts may be made, either by Congress
by the Department to curta the expenditures OF the army
they continue to be long it is neces
sry large portion Of it should be stationed the
frontier The history of the world affords instance of
army being permanently stationed great distance from
the main of its supplies 1t is evident therefore
That Congress should resort to every means to diminish
the necessity regular troops for the defence OF the from
tiers Permit to offer few suggestions on this point
though they do Immediately relate to the operations
of this Department.
and encouragement should be afforded TO the formation OF
local militia, in which possessions like all the
Mexican States, very deficient As the first step to-
wards the accomplishment of this object would recon-
mend that the Executive be authorized to distribute
among the inhabitants / fully persuaded that the
advantages that would result from the adoption of this
measure in famarizing the people with the use of arms
In inspiring them with confidence and in encouraging the
formation Of militia companies would more than compen
safe for the tfng expense that would attend it. The
very fact that the inhabitants known to be armed
would tend to intmdate the Indians The distribution
should of course be made with such precautions would
prevent their being sold converted to an improper use
Il ~