The daily union., 1856-12-10

tive service that should be deferred from again repeating
il but for the conviction that 1t Is Indispensable to the e
cheney of the army and that each year but renders greater
the injury TO the public service resulting from the want OF
the measure heretofore recommended.
have TO the recommendation heretofore present
ed for such legislation will give certain and permanent
rules for the determination Of rank and command than
which nothing Is necessary TO harmony and
efficiency In an army. The act OF September TO- l716
known as the "Rules and Articles of War, was originally
reported by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. John Adams The lat
ter gives for their adoption that "here
ant system Of articles Of which had carried two
empires TO the head Of mankind the Roman and the Brit
sh for the British articles OF only literal trans
aton Of the Roman" and cites observation founded
in undoubted fact that the prosperity of nations had been
In proportion to the discipline OF their forces by sea and
land.
The commendation bestowed by such high authority
upon the system then adopted in connexon with its real
merit may have protected it from future criticism and
Innovation; and did the circumstances which now sur
round US continue 10 be the same as at that time should
not to recommend legislative revision. But
changes have occurred which give application TO
the terms then employed the necessity Is eKgeat and
evident either for the revision OF the subsequent laws
which affect the rules and articles of war for modi-
heaton OF those articles so as 10 make them conform to
the requirements resulting from subsequent legislation
and altered circumstance Ii is true that revision OF
the original act made in 1906 but 1t contained no
important alteration and since then various acts OF egis
anon, changing the organization OF the army, having
given rise To questions Of construction and created such
radical difficulties in the application of the original rule,
that further legislation alone furnish adequate
remedy for instance, the law known as the Rules and
Articles of War recognises three kinds of commissioned
officers viz those of the line of the army, of the marine
corps and of the militia 1t is scarcely to be doubted
that the phrase line Of the army meant the of the
confederation and included all of ts officers whether staff
egmenta But subsequent legislation creating special
corps deachments composed Of officers whose duties do
not involve the command OF troops has given rise TO- and
pei haps produced necessity for construction of the
phrase line of the army which places regimental and
staff officers in relation inconsistent with the general
principles OF subordinaton, aud which must sometimes
seriously embarras if not defeat the great purposes of
anEt Ehpui1
few exceptions practicable have rank effective for
purposes of command have heretofore presented propo
son for reorganization which, among other things was
designed TO generally 10 officers OF the staff that
knowledge which only be acquired by the performance
of company and regmenta duty To the views hereto-
fore communicated in relation the organization of the
army have only TO add that additional experience has
but confirmed them.
In last annual report called attention to exist
ing abuse in the discharge from the army of persons who
having represented themselves to the recruiting officers
being OF mature age had after enlistment and ransport
ton distant posts brought forward evidence sucentto
require their discharge under the provision of the act Of
September 2s 1850 which directs sit shall be the
duty Of the Secretary of War order the discharge of
soldier OF the army of the United States who the time of
his enlistment Under the of I'll years upon evidence
being produced him that such enlistment without
the of his parent guardian The regulations Of
the recruiting service provide carefully devised checks
against the enlistment OF minors and deliberate frauds
practised upon recruiting ocerst is submitted wheh-
legislation should not provide penalty rather than at
tach premium to its successful preparation Experience
has shown that the practice increasing and the last
furnished examples Of its repetition by the offender
Should a recruiting officer from neglect otherwise,
list minor immature that bare inspection would
pose the fact IL Is fair 10 that upon proof being
submitted the Secretary of War besides holding the ccer
strict account would order the discharge of the minor
the application of his parent guardian though there
should be mandatory provision Of law to require IT,
But be should fail in this in any clear to pre-
sent instance of real hardship ii is not to be doubted
that appeal to the civil would give adequate pro-
lection to the rights of the parent guardian
The annual estimate2 being for the current eIpendi
tures presupPoses an annual settlement Of all accounts
but it well known that delays occur for much longer
period and appropriations for the current year
unfrequeny charged with the settlement of the accounts
Of many years standing As long as this practice contn
Deficiencies must arise for which the department pre-
pairing the estimates ia In degree responsible 1t s be-
eved that administrative policy 1t would be
wise require all such areaages to be grouped with
pendtures resulting from Unforeseen contingencies and
for which the appropriations inadequate, into
annual deficiency bill where should be
rendered Of each item Of additional appropriation asked
tor.
To simplify the accounts Of the disbursements in the
military service and to expedite their final settlement
have heretofore repeatedly recommended that instead OF
being arbitrarily divided, as they now are between two
audor they should be concentrated at the Office Of
and have TO renew the recommendation that an ac
cOuntant be authorized for the War Department the
means of securing uniformity decisions upon that class
OF questions which, resting upon military usage and the
records of the War Office necessarily referred TO It, and
decided by the Secretary Of War according to the nature
Of the
Atten ion is again called to the want legislation upon
the subject Of military sites and the recommendations 10
my last annual report IN that respect renewed
The great improvements recently made in small arms
whereby their effective range has been much increased
must considerable supersede the necessity for
Of small calibre This consideration added 20 the
heavy attending the maintenance Of light bate
ries OF efficiency has induced the department 10
limit the number Of such batteries 10 four and, for the
purpose Of instruction the Of garrison seaeoas and
siege guns 10 assemble company from each regiment
OF ARTILLERY at the forhcatOn beet adapted to experiment
al firing according 10 the various modes which the
tingences Of active service may demand.
The report Of the Colonel of Ordance Ia referred for
detailed information IN regard to the operations Of that
branch Of the military service under his charge With the
limited Furnished by the appropriations for the year
progress in providing for Notifications, in the
manufacturing OF small of the improved model and
in applying the Improvements 10 those Of the old
model has necessarily been slew The fortihcaaons
under construction and those Authorized 10 be constructed
will require for their about 23o0 psces Of ord
nance and 1000 guncarriages in addition those
forts and arena To procure these aud TO supply each
mounted piece the forts with hundred rounds Of
munion, WILL at the usual rate Of appropriations require
period Of forty years. But many foruhcations not yet
commenced projected, will doubt be built with
in that PERIOD that the end of the time stated
will not probably be complete than II Is
tIons without guns than useless and guns will
have only part Of their value without torthcatons II
therefore evident that armament should keep with
hcaous and the latter progress with the necessities
for defence recommend more liberal appropriations for
this object and have estimated accordingly.
The use OF wrought iron instead Of wood as material
for guncarages has engaged the attention OF the Ord
Department The durability Of this material fo7
Run-carrisgss especially for country which may expect
enjoy such long p.riods Of peace that wooden
would decay before being required for use us6es their
trial under all circumstances OF exposure and have d