Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-24

mend that the minimum organization of all companies b.
fixed as in the mounted remen, at sxtyour priyates
and that there be added TO the present military esab
ishment regiment Of dragons and two regiments
rihemen.
This increase is materially less than that recommended
by the commanding general and is considered absolutely
indispensable TO the proper efficiency Of the military ser
vice. 1t will give minimum organization OF lo,52e
officers and men, but may be expanded IL the limit fixed
by the law Of June H. 1885, be continued to IL ALA and
on war establishment of l2S privates per company tC
81 8l8 giving for a state of effective increase OF
from O. 900 L. 900 without the creation of
regiments The experience of the last forty years has
demonstrated the wisdom of maintaining in peace mill
tary establishment that is capable of the greatest expan
sion in war The increased efficiency and economy OF
companies thus expanded in from a nucleus OF
pernced and disciplined men, more than compensate for
the additional expense of maintaining skeleton regiments
in time of peace.
also recommend that another company Of sappers and
miners be added the engineer corps for the purposes
for which the present company authorized The use
funess aud economy of this class Of soldiers has been
practically demonstrated both in peace and war.
The duties of hospital stewards are Of very important
character requiring considerable degree of nteg ence
and general knowledge There is provision for their
enlistment and it is sometimes difficult to find suitable
persons among the enlisted men Of the army II re-
commended that authority be given for the enlistment
under the direction of the Surgeon General of many
may be necessary for the public service to receive the
same compensation as is now authorized by law.
concur fully in the views expressed by the Command
ing General in relation the extension of the pension
system to the widows and orphans of officers anu soldiers
of the regular army and commend the subject to your
favorable consideration.
The experience every year gives increased force to the
recommendations heretofore made for retired list for
disabled and superannuated officers. The casualties or
the with Mexico have greatly increased the number
who incapable of tho performance OF any active duty
plan recommended by my predecessors for several
years past would retire them just compensation, pro-
mote efficient officers in their stead and thus greatly
tribute to the good of the service without any charge
upon the Treasury
The pay of officers of the army established many
years ago. when the value of money much greater
than at this time What then only aonable and
just compensation is entirely inadequate and &C
cordngy recommend to your favorable consideration the
propriety of its being increased in proportion to the in
creased cost of living This is only of justice
to ALL but it is especially due those whose duties
quire them to stations where the COMFORTS and
often the necessares, of life command such exorbant
prices to place them beyond the reach of ho who have
no other means than their pay.
The Il tn section of the Of March g. 1S47 authorized
to attach non-commissioned officers who distinguished
themselves in the with Mexico by breyet the low
est rank to any company and to bestow certificates of
merit upon soldiers who in like distinguish
ed Many of the noncommssioned officers wh were re-
commended for distinguished conduct were moi attached
III consequence of want of qualification but would have
received certificate Of merit if the terms of thu law had
not precuded it. 1t respectfully recommended that the
President be authorized grant certificates of merit
to noncommissoned officers who considered eli
gible for the position OF commissioned officers.
recommend to favorable consideration the suggestions
of the Quartermaster General in his report submitted
herewith for the increase of the comfort of troos in bar
racks the augmentation of the allowance to soldiers when
employed mechanics, teamsters and labor
ers and also the proposed changes in reaonto store
keepers and barrack and the settlement Of the
accounts of disbursing officers
The act of 1908 for arming and equipping the whole
body of the militia of the United States makes ap
preparation for supplying the several States and Terrific
by the United States troops, the "quota due each
being determined by apporoning the whole amount
cordng to the returns of the militia made to the Adu
tant General Of the army These returns furnished
irreguary by of the States and by others not at all
and it results from this rreguarity that the acual sup
plies Of and equipments furnished to the States and
Territories under the law of 1903 not distributed
prescribed by that law in proportion to the number of
the effective militia in each " is il probable that the
regularity and uniformity in these returns requisite
apportion these supplies the law requires, be at
tanned The only remedy for this be to adopt
the mode of apporoning the and equipments the
several States and Territories authorized in the Of
the State Of Iowa by the act of March g. 1853 which
was according to representation in Congress.
In connexion with this subject / respectfully invite
your attention to the Importance Of providing the mitl
Of the country with the proper books for tactical nstrut
ton They are furnished with arms at the expense If
the United States and although they required by
listing laws to observe the systems of instruction adopted
for the regular army provision has yet been made for
supplying them with the necessary books for that pur
pose. According to the estimate Of the generanchief
an annual appropriation of $4,000 for few years would
be sufficient for this object.
The Military Academy at West Point is next referred
to- and honorable testimony borne to the efficiency and
value Of the institution set forth in the Report Of the
last Board Of yisiters.
The Notifications Of the country is the next subject
which engages the attention OF the Secretary We copy
all that he says under this head:
The appropriations made at the last session OF Con
gress are all in the Of application to the several
works for which they respectively granted These
works were designed to protect interests of great value
but there are other points Of seacoast and interior frontier
winch equally require protection and the estimates sub
mitted for these also recommended favorable
sderaon, under the belief that when completed these
Notifications will be the most reliable, and by far the
most economical mode Of defence the Government could
provide An opinion has to extent prevailed that
the growth Of country the increased facilities of
transportation the application of steam the propulsion
Of war vessels and the improvements in implements Of
war; have essened If they have removed the
ION Whlch IS apt result from long continued state Of
peace and which history teaches has been usually aban
doned when nations have been submitted the test Of
defensive war.
President Monroe, than whom few will be considered
hgber authority on this subject in special message TO
Congress- March 26 1922 urged the completion of the
system Of deiences which adopted Immediately after
and in view Of the effects Of the war of 1872 and urged
his Recommendation by the expense, the waste
OF lie and property and the general distress Of the coun
try which had resulted from the want Of such prepare
tons before the commencement Of that war and he fur
Their gave this impressive admonition: Should another
war occur before II is completed the experience Of the
past marks, IN characters strong to be mistaken its
inevitable consequences and should such war occur and
lind us unprepared for it. what will be our justification
to the enlightened body whom we for not hay
ing completed these defences The increase Of po
puaton, attended by extraordinary progress in all the
10 OH 49,