The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18

this subject In the views expressed by him fally
concur, except that q NJ opinion that portion
OF the ipcrt ase winch he recommends shoold D. at
tanned by the addition Of another regiment rather
than by tire prop sej increase of the company orgaa-
izatioP. After inI consideration ot what il now
and probably will hercaf eI be r,gai ei Of the army,
earnestly IecomumeDd that tie mini .aula organi-
zsiion Of all compaeies se fixed, As in the mounted
rihemen st sixty tour pri and that there he add
I'd to the present military establishment oue regi-
Dent OF drayooas aud two rteigonts Of riemop.
This increase 10 materially less tim that recon-
mended by The commanding gsoeIl. and is con-
sidered absolutely indispensable to the proper eff
CLERGY of the military service. !, will give MIMI
nun oiganiz atiou Of 10, 52S officers aud men, out
may he expanded II Tile limit fixed by the la ' of
June Z, 1850 Ike continued, to l74l4; AID on war
establishment OF l2S privates per company, t.
27,ols-siviDg for state of war an effective in
crease of from 10 COO 10 $4,000 men, without the
creation Of new regiments. The experience of the
LAST forty years has demonstrated the wisdom of
mail taiDtg 10 reace mil,t ny establishment that
IL capable Of the greatest expansion in war. The
increased efficiency and economy of companies thus
expanded IN war, from nucleus OF experienced and
disciplined men, more than compensate for the addi
toDsl expense Of maintaiaiDg skeleton regiments in
time OF peace.
/ slso recommend that another company OF sap
pers and miners be added t0 the engineer corps for
the purpose for which the present company was
organized. The usefulness and econsmy OF this
class Of SOLDIERS have been practically demonstrated
both In peace and war.
The duties of hospital stewards are OF very i'm
portsnt character, recurring considerable degree
Of intelligence and general knowledge. There is no
provision for their enlistment, aud it is sometimes
difficult to find suitable persons among the enlisted
men OF the ai1ny 1t Is recommended that authority
be given for tie enlistment, under the direction OF
tie surgeon General, Of as many as may be neces
sary for fhe public service, to the same com
pcDsation as is now authorized by law.
! concur fully in the views expressed by the COM
in rp LAT IN hp q tens nj
pension system to the widows and orphans of Off
GERS and soldiers Of the regular army, and commend
the subject to your favorable consideration
The experience OF every year gives increased force
to recommendations heretofore made for q retired
lit for disabled and supeaannuated officers The
casualties OF the war With Mexico have greatly in
creased the number who are incapable OF the per
Torrance OF any active duty. The plan recommend
ed 10y my predecessors for several years past would
retiresthem on just c0mpens alton, prom Dte eceut
officers in their stead and thus greatly contribute to
the good of the service, without any new charge
The pay Of officers Of the army was established
many years ago, when the value Of money was much
greater than at this time. What was then only
reasonable and just compensation Is nov entirely in
adequate, and accordingly recommend to your fa-
vorable consideration, The pr0prey Of its being in
crease in proportion to the increased cost of living.
This Is only measure Of justice to all, but is espe-
cialy due to those whose duties require them to
at stations where the comforts and often the
Decessaries Of life command such exorbltaat prices
to place them beyond the reach of those who have
no other means than their pay.
The 18th section of the act Of March 3, l841, au-
thOfized the President to attach non-cOmmissioned
officers who distinguished themselves in the war
with Mexico by brevet OF the lowest grade OF rank,
to any company and to bast0w certificates OF merit
upon soldiers who were in like manner
Many of the non-comuissioned officers who re-
commended for distinguished conduct, were not
attached, in consequence OF want Of qualification
but would have received q certificate Of merit il the
terms of the law had not precluded it. II is respect
fully recommended that the President be now autho-
rized to grant certificates OF merit to non. commits
stoned officers who were not considered eligible for
the position Of commissioner officers.
recommend to favorable consideration the sug-
gestiou Of the Quartermaster General in his report
submitted herewith Tor the increase of the comfort of
apce to soldiers when unavoidably employed as me-
chanics, teamsters and lab0rers, and also the pro-
posed changes in relation to storekeepers and bar
rsckn asters and the settlement Of the accounts Of
dsbursing officers.
The act of 1908, for arming and equiDpng the
whole body of the militia Of the United States"
makes an appropriation for supplying the several
States and Territories annually with such arMs and
equi ments as are used by the United States troops
the quota due to each being determined by appor
tioung the whole mount according to the return of
the militia made to tae Adju!ant General of the
army. These returas are furnished irregolarly by
some If the Sta,es, and by others not rs ALL and 1t
results from this inequality that the actual supple
OF and equipments furnished to the States and
Territories, under the law OF 1908 IRE lot distrio
pted as prescribed by that law, in proportion to
the number of the effective militia ia EACH nYr it
probable tt at the regularity AID uniformity in these
returns requisite to appoition these supplies as the
law requires, can be attai: ed. The only rece1y for
this seems 10 be, to ADOPT the Of VI airport oDng
the arms and equipments to the several states aud
Territories author iZej in the csse Of the State OF
Iosa, by the act Of March g. 1888, which )rd
ing 10 representation in Congress.
In connection with this subject l respectfully in
lie lilp III
the militia of the country vita the proper books for
tactical instructions. They are furnished with arms
al the expense Of the United States, and although
they are required, by existing laws, to observe The
system of instruction adopted for the regular army,
no provision has yet been made for supplying them
with the nece sary books for that purpose Accord
ing to the estimate Of the General in chief annual
appropriation Of $4,000 for few years would be
sufficient for this object
For the condition Of the Military Academy refer
to the report of the Chief Engineer, and the accom-
papy ing highly cODmendatory repor; Of the last
b, ard Of Visiers, in which you win find further con-
frmation Of the estimate placed on the value and
efficiency Of that institution. The recommendation
OF the Board, to increase the academic term to five
years. is which has been frequently presented by
preceding Boards OF visters, and which is believed
be sustained by important considerations.
The low standard OF requirement now fixed to en-
title cadet to admission, must often lead to the in
PRODUCTION of those whose previous education has
been very defective, and the study of the scientific
and military branches included in the course, leaves
little time for the acquisition Of that knowledge Of
international law OF language, and OF literature, de-
mapded by the interests Of the service The officer
of the army may often be required promptly to de-
eide upon questions OF national law, where errors
would be seriously injurious to his country, and his
reports and memoirs are the channels through which
deeds most illustrating his counsrys history are trans
United to other people and to other times. To raise
tie staDc ard OF requirement to be possessed previous
TO admission to the acantmy, wouli, in some degree,
deprive the Institution If il present popular cbarac
ter, by excluding those who, rom the rant OF early
advantages, could not pass the preliminary examina-
ton.
The grade Of cadet, being the lowest in commission
known TO our army, should be, as il now is, within
the reach Of youths iii every condition Of hfe and
this together with the fact That b., the mode of ap
Iointment, a sections aud I'll palies fsirly rep
resented, gives to the institution that character
which should btlong to il part of the military
ettabl SHINE mt Of the United States. Il then,
finished education than that which is to be obtained
by the course now prescribed be desirable for the
officers Of the army the recommendation OF the board
for Increase Of the academic term presents it is