Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-15

lis feeding in that way. And yet we find this immen.
expenditure for 900 for forage New Mes
leo aloneclear in the last fiscal year We and by hi
report that the expense of mule is something like
or $3.50 per year for alone and about $lS SO ann
ally for fariery and medicines We find the estimate 70
forage in Oregon, at Steiacorm, to be nearly $40 De
month"; and at other points $l4 30 per month AN thi
in country where horses wild, and mounted Indian
about with other support for their horses than tn
spontaneous growth Of the plains In California the es
mate for forage for horses mules and oxen is nwhers
less than $40 per month; and in places ,uch a.
Rancho Delcno the estimate is $40 % per moith o,
upwards Of $3.50 per year In the same estimates we
find that at Monterey it is $50 25 per month AMI now
permit me to read you something in relation to tha
the present fiscal year. is $40 % per month"; or 24 per
annum. read now from q document from the Quarter
masters department being report made by Alfred suy
in 1849 while at Monterey. He says
"For fuel the country well supplied with wood on the
spot For forage the grazing about four miles from hre
where most Of the public animals now kept pretty god
the year round"
So that in I849 we have an officer reporting 70 no
quartermasers department that the subsistng of All
mails by grazing is pretty good the year round and vt
here is an estimate Of twenty dollars per month for fora
| for animals at that point
But, sir there is another cause, which believe hal
led to great deal of unnecessary expense Iacknow.
ledge that there great difficulties in the way III trust
that am speaking in no captious spirit but solely with
the object Of revealing the truth That cause which
has operated in increasing the expenditure the mode in
which provisions and other supplies transported
the army 1t is the interest Of the subsistence depart
ment to purchase PROVISIONS &C. cheap they can
and hence they are often purchased at distant places
without regard to the cost Of transportation 1t is also
the interest Of the quartermasters department
them purchased at points where the transports wan oe
as little as possible; and in this copa " ineres. y y
interest not therehy damaged But owing perhaps to
this interests it unfrequenty happens that
these stores transported at very heavy cost
times the rate Of twenty-five twentyhree cents
pound when all things are estimated Such Think
the expense of transporting supplies through Indanola
in Texas to posts in New Mexico 1t is that the
Department is altering this and in this respect will
not say abuse but error is reforming. They
now contracting for their transportation from Fort Lea
venworth in such way to make it cost not than
from twelve to fourteen cents per pound to the contrac
tors although the expense of escorts and other things
swell this rate somewhat But with respect ALL except
few contracts for transportation made about years
ago. it will be found that these beginnings of reform
gnated since the criticism of the estimates from the War
Department at the last session of Congress do not say
that should not have had them without this, for ne
cessy would have forced them upon the attention any
head Of Departments But Of the great evils is that
the public agents distance seem to act without any
sense of responsibility to the Government Sir have
had cases brought up in which officers of the army have
become contractors furnish the army with forage and
hay We shall soon have another brought before
in which the Indian commissioner in California undertook
to feed thousands of Indians thereby spending hundreds
of thousands of dollars without the authority of this Gov
eminent. gas4a r3 -Ta
Mr.. DAWSON. May ask the permission of the Senator
from Virginia to make remark He speaks of this
being brought by his call he ought do the Sec
rotary Of War the justice say that far back the
9th of February he made communication to the Senate
Of that very fact and asked this body to provide
legislative remedy there law in existence APP
plcable to it. m ra 6
Mr.. HUNTER. That is certainly the fact The Senator
from Georgia informed me- sir that the Secretary of War
had addressed letter to him on the subject mention
ed the call to identify the case. ii
But as going to say these facts show that the
hand of authority is wanting hold the reins with firm
er and more vigorous grasp those distant portions of
immense empire that voice should be raised that
would be heard and needed in those distant regions
else agents and officers viii their response
bity without obedience to what is desired ordered
here But believe that the expense of keeping an
army in those distant countries must be great matter
who administers the Government believe that there
great and inherent difficulties in the case and think
that they have not been met in the true spirit Of admins
trative reform believe that they did begin in time
and that when they did begin they did proceed with
sufficient vigor But inclined to think that the ap-
propriate committees will have their attention to
this subecfor it simpossble that the Finance Commit
tee attempt ifor the purpose Of devsng such
viii enable to defend these distant possessions
| at less cost.
Sir in Oregon we have already made grants of land
why not adopt some system Of military colonization
to promote the settlement of the country and render
defence mere cheapsome plan which would in fact make
the public lands in that Territory support this expense
and in mode which would facilitate their settlement
system coionfzaton OF the MODES
which the old Romans defended their distant posses
sions. -.t4t ~ ftgteg VIA 6.a
Austria subssts Of her best regiments
on her military frontier" where they furnish
y military service 10 the Government but supply their
raons in consideration Of the occupancy Of the land
Imenton these facts instances Of the modes In which
other nations conform their systems Of administration
the circumstances Of the case, not examples to be
strictly and exactly followed What should be the system
that should adopt do pretend to say 1t has been
suggested that something Is necessary and think the
subject is worthy Of careful consideration I'm California
Gen. Jesup has recommended Of the evil
suting from the deserion Of the troops rendering it diff
fcult TO defend the country that portion Of the
should be employed in working In the mines Of the whole
gold region which belongs to the Government and
portion might perhaps be thus employed 50 as furnish
the means for defending the country How far this sug
geston may be worthy Of consideration do not know
bat think it may be Of importance understand
that the Pueblo Indians in places have been driven
away, and are swelling the bands Of the rowing tribes
who were menacng the frontiers of California How far
these Indians may be made subsere the general object
cannot say either by working the mines, aux
airy force in KEEPING down the Indans-wild hordes who
threaten the peace OF the country Ru believe IL will
be better to employ them thus than to do as the Indian
commissioners have done, by attempting support
feed them OF the expense Of the Government If we ar,
to keep peace among them 50 as to prevent their de
port them it is obvious that they will increase faster thar
the whites and the do the trouble shall
have 1t seems to that something in relation to th
matter must be done, and done speedily in order to di
ninish these expenses
But pass from matters merely conjectura and specu
latye, and come to some facts which imnedi
ately connected with this bill say TINT the Department
ought to push still further the it has commence
towards making the troops support and themselves
Before however, pass from these matters must say