Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17

I the troops would thus be less encountered with
baggage, and the expense of their movements
would be diminished
By the 7th section of an act in addition to
the several acts for the establishment and re.
gulation of the Treasury War, and Navy De.
partments approved May /, 1920, il is pro.
vided that no land shall be purchased on &C.
count of the United States except under a
law authorizing such purchase Although the
steady progress of our frontier westward, and
the advance of our military posts with il, has
rendered 1t frequently necessary to abandon
old sites, and occupy new ones, the prohibition
10 purchase land has not until recently been
the cause of much embarrassment since
the troops were operating in territories where
nearly all the land was already the property OF
the Government. In Texas, however, the case
is different; there this Government owns no
land, except such it may have acquired by
purchase for specific objects, and the greater
number OF our military posts stand upon the
property OF private persons or of the State.
Embarrassmenis have arisen from this cause,
and have therefore to recommend thar the
act above cited be so amended as to permit
tins department, under such limitations as
Congress may deem proper, to purchase such
land as may be required for the sites Of military
posts.
have again to ask attention to the neces-
sity of legislation 10 authorize this department
to sell useless military sites Two statutes
have been enacted for this purpose, but neither
according TO The contemporaneous construc-
ton given them, is applicable to the largest
class OF cases that now embarraSs the depart
ment. According to that construction, the act
OF March 3, 1919 e Stat, 52O,) applies only
c,,a A. T. .
States, and that of April %, 1923, "a Stat,
264,l applies only to lands conveyed TO the
United States for military purposes; neither
including reservations from the public domain
which were not occupied as military sites on
the Sd of MarcA, 1919. Owing to this omis
sion, when the troops find it necessary to
abandon post of this description, the de-
partment cannot sell the land upon which
the buildings and improvements OF the abau-
doned post are located, but can only sell the
buildings to be torn down and removed, and,
of course, the price obtained bears no proper.
ton to their value. l hope that authority will
given the deparimentIn such cases to sell a
portion of the land with the buildings, and use
| the proceeds for the establishment of new
posts in such sdvauced positions as it may be
necessary for the troops to occupy.
In transmitting the aunuel report of the
Board of Commissioners of the military Asy-
lum for the past year, take occasion to trans
init, also. their reports for three preceding
years, which were made annually to this de.
partment, pursuant to regulations but which
have not been heretofore forwarded
The view which these reports give of the re.
suits of the institution does not fulfil the anti
| cipations which were entertained at the time
OF its establishment. Although early means
were taken to give notice of their rights to all
entitled 10 the benefits of the ASYLUM, by
| orders published to the army, and by handhils
| sent TO every post office in the United States
| yet the aggregate number of inmates Of the
| several branches OF the ASYLUM was, at the
| dates OF the respective annual reports, so, 10
| IL and 81; in addition TO the last number
| six men, having families were receiving relief
without being quartered a: the Asylum. In
the mean time, the treasurer's accounts show
that the net receipts were S490,l40 II; that
the cost of sites, buildings, furniture, stock
&c, was S2S0lS3 70 and that the amount
OF current expenses was $9l,3l4 10. If to
the current expenses of the several branches
there be added interest on the cost of build
ings, &c, the average cost of maintaining each
inmate will be found to exceed S500-an ex-
pense so great as to indicate the propriety Of
seeking some proper mode Of effecting a re-
duction.
The buildings on the site near Washington
city, with the addition thereto, now far ad.
vanced towards completion, will probably aE
| ford accommodation for $50 men-a number
greater than that which, judging from the past
| rate OF increase, will seek admission into the
Asylum for many years to come.
The branch which was established in 1852
at East Pascagoua, Mississippi, has been
already discontinued, and the same measure is
deemed desirable with regard to that at Har
rodsburgh, Kentucky. THIS branch was founded
at heavy charge upon the Asylum fund, and
IS maintained at an expense much exceeding
the advantages conferred upon the disabled
soldier; but as it was established in conse.
quence Of the provisions of law contained in
the army appropriation acts OF August 81,
1852, section l8, and Of March 3, 1853, section
| IA, the propriety of declaratory legislation in
the case is suggested.
j would again call attention to the proprety
Of additional Legislation which shall place the
widows and orphans of the officers and soldicrs
OF the army on an equality with those Of the
officers and sailors OF The navy.
| also again invite attention 10 the necessity
Of legislative provision for the more prompt
settlement Of the accounts Of dsbursing officers
by iutrusiing 10 a single accounting officer the
audit of the whole instead Of requiring disburs.
ing officers TO render accounts TO two Auditors
as at present. The confusion and embarrass.
ment consequent upon the division Of duties,
involving injurious delays in final settlement,
have heretofore been brought TO The attention
Of Congress, and il IS hoped that the evils rep.
resented will not be suffered to exist much
longer.
Under the appropriation made NJ The last
session, for the importation Of camels Of officer
Of the army and one Of the navy have been
directed 10 proceed to the East TO obtain
animals Of the different breeds most likely 10
be useful in our climate. By The kindness Of
the Secretary Of the Navy, storeshp destined
for the Mediterranean with naval supplies was
placed at The disposal Of this department, TO
bring in return cargo Of camels aud drome.
diaries and from the last report received from
the officer charged with the execution Of the
commission, il is expected that as many Of
these animals as the vessel will transport will
be shipped for the United States in February
next. Recent inquiries respecting the use OF
these animals in the Crimea confirm me in the
belief that they will be found highly valuable
in the military service in our country.
For detailed information respecting the Mill