The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-25


Captain, Assistant Quartermaser.
Mr.. HALL. ! only wish 10 ask the chairman OF the
Committee OF Ways and Means il be knows OF any good
why it should cost the government nothing for
forage in the with Mexico, while IL $500
10 support horse ia New Mexico in time of peace
Mr. HOUSTON. Mr Chairman. ! will III, notice those
points as progress with my remarks. When the hon
orable gentleman interrupted me, remarking upon
the at of the posts selected and which has
been abandoned | was remarkng upon the great ex-
pense oil carrying and hauling fuel and all such arti-
ces-articles which cost the government large amounts.
Some OF the posts located far from water that
they have to keep four horse team, and at be-
lieye six-horse leam constantly employed in hauling
water for the supply OF the troops Now, sir 1t seems TO
me that this is great abuse and an exuayagant waste
of the public money. | must however proceed little
rapidly, or shall be able TO conclude my
marks in the time allowed me-
My friend from South Carolina Mr.. ORRl asks me
who is responsible for these abuses-who is responsible
for this waste OF the public money! My mind, sir, is
made up upon that subject Aud in the opinion have
formed, dider materially from the gentleman from New
York, Mr. BRooKs,) who addressed the committee on
Saturday last; and differ materially from many gentle
who expressed opinion at the last Congress- the
debates OF which have recently read.
IL stated by gentlemen at the last session OF
Congress that the Quariemaster General response
bic. have 10 very different conclusion. Let us
what is the authority and responsibility OF the Quar-
termasler General He has TO furnish the Transports for
all the supplies that intended and purchased for the
army, and also for The army itself Gao he direct that
the supplies which 10 be delivered AT New York by
the contractor, under the terms OF his contract shall be
10 San Antonio lndianoa' Nest certainly not !;
he direct the Subsistence department TO make
contracts for articles deliverable at those points The
Quarieunaser General has control over the contracts
made, to be made, for the subsistence of the army
No, sir; these contracts made by another and differ
ent officer OF the government They are male by the
Subsistence department. under the direction " necessary,
of the Secretary OF War; and he Is responsible for the
contracts, and not the Qpartermaster General. The
Qusrermaser General is bound to receive the barrels
with the proportions two pounds OF hard bread and
pound Of wood wherever the terms Of the contract require
the delivery be made, and is bound TO transfer them,
wood and all, al the cheapest price he can repeat the
question for what is he responsibel Does he control
the location OF the posts Certainly not. l understood
the gentleman from New York as attempting TO show,
under the regulations OF the army, that the Quaremasler
General did locate those posts
Mr. BROOKS No; that is not so. $3.50
Mr.. HOUSTON, Very well will take that back.
The gentleman from New York agreed with me upon
tha, subject that the responsibility of the location OF
these posts with the Secretary OF War, who is OF
the executive officers Of the President Of the United
States lis suggested 10 me that is the commanding
officer who is responsible; bot beg leave to read regu
laiion No. go, which settles that point.
A MEMBER Read IL.
Mr.. HOUSTON. The regulation is as follows:
"s7o No barracks quarters. hospitals shalt be erected
and according plans which he shall have approved and
officer, whatsoever may be bis rank, shall make the
slightest alteration any plan Of barracks, qnarers, or
hospital 80 approved without order OF the Secretary
War; communicated through the Qasnermaster General.
These restrictions do extend to temporary hus, where
troops may DO compsled by the unheshiusss of their po
stons TO their quarters during the summer season or
where from OF the sevicc they may be
required occupy positions the Indian frontier, in adj
vance ofthc established posts"
Well. - il will be observed that this regulation hnes
the entire responsibility upon the Secretary oil war.
Regulations 80 aud OIL, by recent regulation OF tne
Secretary OF Wat are attempted 10 be rigldy enforced
would ike to read the regulation Just referred to, but
have, unfortunately, misaid IT, IL evidences deerml-
nation the part of the present Secretary OF War to
stop this great source OF improprety and abuse and "
had not misaid IT, would feel ii due, an act o JUS
tce TO him, TO read It. SO there s clearly no RESPONSE
hal (kt rtornn aotar( (c,n r.t hn.n
have doubt but that the commanding officer does
in many and possibly 10 all cases select sites for the
tabshmeni OF posts but II must be done the respon
sblity OF the Secretary OF War who could by his
order, prevent such location II he should fl to do
But let press this matter little further One OF the
abuses to which called the attention OF the committee
particularly, and TO which | will refer briefly, is
that Of renting quarters and barracks at the various mill
tary posts at such enormous sums Why, sir rents are