Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-08


in actual service, and the experience OF the pres
| ent war in Europe, will enable US soon 10 decide
on the value Of the recent notifications, and 10
continue the manufacture Of arms upon improved
| models
Congress, at its last session, made an appropri-
j alton for the purchase Of "A number of the best
breeeh loading rifles. To ascertain which among
the many that have been invented are the best,
public notice has been given through the news
papers OF the appropriation and its object, inviting
all inventors TO furnish samples ofthe arms
! When all who choose TO compete shall have sub
! mitted their arms number Of each kind deemed
worthy Of trial, will be subjected TO such practical
tests as may determine their relative merits as
military weapons. Should the result, as i prob
ably Will, secure substantial and simple breech
/ loading arm,it will supersede our present pat
terms for the use ofcAvary.
The efficacy OF these new patterns Of arms will
! be further increased by an improved mode Of
printing, which has been approved by the highest
4 officers in our military and naval services. Ope-
lrations are pown progress 10 perfect the details
OF fabrcating this new primer and applying il 10
finished arms ofihe old pattern as well ms TO new
| ones now in PROCESS ofmanufacture.
In anticipation Of an increased, IL not exclusive
use OF rife arms by the regular army, and be-
cause Of the belief that the rifle or light infantry
system Of instruction, is best adapted TO the foot
The ssd 81 sb Z 81 oSr
countries, that complete or light infantry rife
i tactics might be introduced into our service with
| such Improvements as the experience of other
armies has shown 70 be valuable. work on
and il is expected will be, in short time, sub
mtted to you for such action as il may be deemed
worthy 10 receive.
/ Attention is again called 10 the necessity for.
legislation TO provide more certain and equitable
mode for the distribution of arms among the
militia, and 70 the propriety Of supplying them
with books of tactical instruction, as contemplated
in the clause Of the Constitution afor training the
militia, according 70 the discipline prescribed BY
/ Ihaye to ask attention 10 the necessity for fur
| Their legislation for the sale of useless military
sites. According 10 the construction which has
been given to the acts upon this subject, and
which, though its correctness has been doubted.
department, the act of March 8 1919. applies only
to military sites then held, and that OF April 26.
1928, only to lands conveyed 10" the United
States for forts, &c. According to these views
there is no provision for the sale Of lands which,
since the Sd of March, 1919 have been reserved
from the public domain for military purposes, and
therefore recommend that the provisions of the
act giving authority 10 sell useless military sites
be extended TO embrace these reservations
Many reservations around military posts criei-
nally established on the frontier and now rendered
useless by the advance Of population, have ac-
CURED great value, not only from the rise in the
price ofands in such localities, but from improve
ments put upon them by the labor Of the troops or
at public expense. In disposing at public sale Of
some of these (which came within the act Of 1870
It was found that the bids were far below the fair
market value of the land--a result which has been
attributed, no doubt correctly, to combinations
among the bidders concur with the Quarter
master General in the opinion that similar results
can be prevented in future only by establishing a
| minimum price, below which the land shall moi be
sold, and Irecommendt that provision be made for
thls purpose in any act that may be passed on the
The accounts of disbursing officers have been
rendered with more than usual punctuality dur
| ing the past year, but yet not with the prompti-
tude which the Department desires 10 enforce.
Many officers, not having staff appointments, be-
side the performance OF their appropriate duties
in the active and arduous service Of the frontier
are charged with the disbursement of public
money, and with the care Of public property.
This, besides the labor il involves subjects them
10 some loss which no care can avoid, and which
IS tax upon their pay. To reimburse this loss
| II not 10 remunerate their labor, concur with the
QuartermasterG General in recommending that
some additional pay be allowed
Icannot too strongly urge the necessity Of effec-
tual measures being taken for the prompt settle
ment OF the accounts Of disbursine officers at the
Treasury. The delay to which they are now sub
Jected exerts most injurious effect by destroying
the salutary impression Of watchful supcrin-
tendence Of public expenditures, paralyzes the.
| efforts of this Department TO enforce promptness
| in accounting, by keeping il in ignorapce OF the
true state OF officers accounts, and exposes them
~ ~ sss men, me no,ce o. errors or
,;,s y esuence un' ~, me accidents and muta-
ab;p;,v =, s.n;e - 49, hle lave oesroyed tner
cause Of he aeIay has hen ,Is i1s Inc
military accounts between two A,S;,ors III, " "
,rber, e sn,,'a e. TWO Auonors, DON OF
M rts Of ,be me scc,,n - seize oInerent
different Items ~ he - me ,nnoS fo1lnes
This inconvsn;.e, snS nsaie. nvPeo
sboshsd nj All ,hs L; VII De
10 single Auditor !, ;s.noI,., oomm.'ea
boweves thai hs rss.nss aloa - Ue expee,eds
evil which has resisted the earne.t sea,,s r ,h;a
Department for long series OF vears n N bou,-
ever, the remedy suggested bv onr rresen, lnc,.-
ledge OF the case and. II further inves,i.s,,o..
shall develope other causes Of The deisvs com.
planned Of il will also indicate the add;,ions II
necessary 10 complete the reform.
| The arrangement made by The Treas,ry r,.o.,,.
ment, by which dsbursine ofIlcers arr e5sble5 ~
keep funds on deposite win The Ass;s,sr, rs.s,
surers Of The United States proves ~ Ia ~ go,
advantage 70 the service, and promises, when
effect. 10 obvste most of,bs ,n.1 iun
tofore experienced IA transmitting funds ana MAJ
ing disbursements in remote parts Of the country.