The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-20

ana is ieedng IN tbat way And yet we ind this i'm
mense expenditure for foageS600 900 for oraeejn M
Mexico aone-in the last fiscal year We md w
bis report that The expense OF mule is something ~
$3.50 OF $50 per year Tor corn alone, and about ss 81
annually Tor iarrley and medicines. We md The al
male Tor forage IN Oregon, Seilacom 10 be nearly Sn
per month, and al other points 8i4 50 per month An
this in county where horses wild, and moun,sd
Indians ride about with no other support for their horse
than the spontaneous growth Of the plains In CsIio,
MIA the estimate Tor forage for horses. mules and ors
is nowhere less than 2o per month and in some places
such Rancho Delchno. the estimate is $40 as ~,
month"; or upwards OF $3.50 per year. In the same ssl
mates had that at Monterey il is $40 Is per month
And permit me TO read you something in relation 10
that matter The estimate for forage al Monterey Cali.
ornia, for the present fiscal year. is $40 25 per month o
$243 per annum. read now from document from ill.,
Quaermastes department, being report made by Alfred
Sully in 1919. while a, Monterey. He says
% For ue the country Is well supplied with wood ON ~
spot For forage, the grazing about four miles om here
good the gear round"
Quaermasiers department that the subsslng OF animals
by grazing is pretty good the year round and yet here
an estimate OF $50 per month Tor forage for animals
that point
But sir, there is another cause which believe has l,d
10 great deal OF unnecessary expense. acknowedgs
that there great difficulties in the way. trust thai
am speaking IN no captious spirit but solely with The o.
ec OF revealing The truth That other cause which ha.
operated in increasing the expenditure is the mode IN
which provisions aud other supplies transported 10 he
army Iii the interest OF the Subsistence department, 10
they often purchased at distant places without regard
to the cost OF transportation II is also the interest Of
the Quarlermasers department 10 have them purchased
al points where the transportation will be as lille a,
possible; and in this conflict of interest il ia the duty Of
The Secretary OF War to that the public interest Is moi
thereby damaged. But owing perhaps, this conflict Of
interests, not untfequenty happens that these stores
transported at very heavy sometimes al HE
rate OF twenty-five twenty three cents per pound
when all things are estimated. Such. l think, was the
expenses OF transporting supplies through ndianoa, ia
Hay tn lin Ma. Nav II Ia truo HAT
parlment is altering this. and in this respect will not
say an abuse but an error, Is reforming They now
contracting Tor their transportation from Fort Leayen
worth IN such way as 10 make cost not than from
twelve to fourteen cents per pound 10 the contractors
though the expense OF escorts and other things swell this
rate somewhat. But with respect TO all, except few
contracts for transportation made about years ago.
will be found that these beginnings of reform Originated
since the criticism OF the estimates from the War Depart
men at the last session OF Congress do not say that
we should not have had them without this, Tor necessity
would have forced them upon the attention of any head
OF the department But one Of the great evils is that the
public agents distance to act without any sense
OF responsibility 10 the government Sir. we have had
brought up in which officers OF the army have be-
contractors 10 furnish the army with forage and
hay. We shall soon have another brought before
us, in which the Indian commissioner in California I'm.
derook TO feed thousands OF indians, thereby spending
hundreds of thousands of dollars. without the authority
OF this government.
Mr.. DAWSON. May ask the permission Of The
senator from Virginia TO make remark He speaks OF
this case being brought out by his call he ought 10 DO
the Secretary OF War the justice 10 say that far back
as The 9th of February, he made communication 10 the
Senate of that very fact and asked this body provide
some legislative remedy, as there no law in exist.
ence applicable 10 il. -J
Mr. HUNTER That is certainly the fact The sen
aor from Georgia informed me- sir that the Secretary
Var had addressed a letter 10 him the subject
mentioned the call TO identity the case
But, as was going on TO say, these facts show that
the hand OF authority is wanting to hold the rens with
trmer and vigorous grasp in those distant portions
oil that should be
that would be heard and needed IN those distant tegons
or else agents and officers will act on Their ownt
sponsibty, without obedience TO what is desired or o.
dered here But believe that the expense Of keeping
up army in those distant countries must be great
matter who administers the government. believe tbs
there great and inherent difficulties in the and
think thai they have not been mel 10 spirit OF al
mnlstrave reform believe that they did not begin 10
time; AMI that, when they dill begin, they did moi pro-
coed with sufficient yigor. Bat am inclined TO think
that the appropriate committees will have TO turn then
attention this subject-ior II is impossible that the
Finance Committee can attempt tfor the purpose oil d.,
vlslng such measures as viii enable us to defend these
distant possessions al less cost
Sir, IN Oregon we have already made grants OF land
why not adopt some system OF military colonization,
so as TO promote the settlement OF the country, and
render IFS defence cheap i-some plan which would
in fact make the public lands in that Territory support
this expense, and IN mode which would facilitate Their
settlement This system OF military colonization
one OF the modes by which the old Romans defended
their distant possessions.
Austria now subssts seventeen OF her best regiments
on her military frontier where they furnish not
merely military service TO the government, but supply
their ratIons 10 consideration OF the occupancy Of
the land. | mention these facts as instances OF ID.
modes in which other nations conform their systems Of
administration 10 the circumstances of the case not
examples 10 be strictly and exactly followed. Wn
should be the system that we should adopt do not PIE
tend to say II has been suggested that something ne
cessary, and think the subject is worthy of careful
sderaiion In California, General Jesup has recon.
mended, account of the evil resulting from The desc.
ton OF the troops rendering II difficult TO defend The
country that portion OF the should be employed in
working in The mines OF The gold region, nearly ,be
whole of which belongs TO the government and poT
ton might perhaps, be thus employed furnish
the means for defending the country How far this sug
gcson NAV be worthy OF consideration do not knew
but think il may be OF some Importance understand
that the Pueblo Indians in some places, have been
driven away and are swelling the bands OF the
ing tribes who menacng the frontier Of California
How far these Indians may be made TO snbseve the gen
era object cannot say either by working the mines, OF
auxiliary force in keeping down the Indans-wh
hordes who threaten the peace OF the country But be-
lieve it will be better to employ them thus than TO do
the Indian commissioners have done, by attempting
support and feed them the expense OF the government
If are TO keep peace among them, to prevent
their destruction by war; and furnish them also with ood
to support them IL is obvious that they will increase
faster than the whites, and the more do fbe more
trouble shall have IL seems 10 that something
lily, ia order to diminish these expenses.
But pass from matters merely conectural and specui
tive and come facts which are more Immediately
connected with this bill say that the department ougb
wards making the troops support and thenselre
Before however pass from these matters, must say
in justice TO General Jesup, that do not think be IL
sponslbe for most OF the TO which have referred
He could not post the army IL the troops were placed
towns instead OF places where fuel and forage were
ana Ho AZ, l.. tl.,a