The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-12

roofs are sustained Ia places with props These buildings
are insecure, and viii become dangerous.
The reports Of the engineer win exhibit the state OF
things at the Military Academy aud ia relation 10 other
matters especially under the charge Of that bureau
The report OF the officer in charge OF the Capitol ex-
tension and Post Office will give detailed statement OF
the progress of the work for the last year
The reports from the different bureaus and officers in
charge of particular works referred ar calculated
TO give full Information upon the respective subjects
braced in them.
call your particular attention to the necessity of pro-
yding, by law for payment of the claims brought against
the government by different States aud Territories for
services heretofore rendered by volunteer forces ia
pressing Indian hosttes These claims numerous
and amount, in the aggregate, to a very large
Where they are just every principle OF equity and fairness
requires their payment II any should prove upon strict
examination, to be without foundation TO pronounce this
judgment promptly, and settle the question definitely
would bring relief to those presenting the claims and
this It would seem they are at least entitled.
rxrEDroRTs OF THE ARMY.
desire TO call particular attention to the subject of
army expenditures think there is misapprehen-
sion in the public mind upon this point which be
moved by succinct statement Of facts.
Tho disbursement OF money through the War Depart
nent embraces many subjects entirely disconnected with
the army proper but all OF which is in general apprehen
sion ascribed wholly TO the army. All work done upon
Notifications along the sea-coast in which many millions
spen has, in fact, to do with the operations
of the army than the sbps-ofwar which built at the
nayy-yards Nor has the army as SUCH anything to do
with the expenditures of money annually appropriated
for rivers and harbors SO, too, of the buildings and
works of public character put ia charge of army officers
for construction 1t is certainly not just to charge to
the army the millions spent upon the aqueduct for bring
ing water into the city of Washington, whe in all pro-
liability not platoon of soldiers will ever in the
of any year, be solaced with drink Of water
from those capacious fountains.
The fair and legitimate expenses of the army
braced within comparatively few items. The pay Of
men il Inv dol
less be expended upon that object So, too
with their rations and clothing Nothing would be easier
aud nothing in the future would be certain than
estimate exactly what would he the to the country
of maintaining whole army, any portion of it, at
any fixed and permanent post for year But when the
movements Of troops depend upon the uncertain temper
and disposition of savages upon frontier line of more
than thousand miles in extent latitude must be
allowed in calculating the probable cost of making such
movements those precarous contingencies necess
tate The OF the year and the locality where the
marches to take place enter materially into the compu
tation Of expenses all Of which is too obvious to require
any illustration So much for the general proposition
about army expenditures have attempted as far as
possible your just wishes in reducing the expend
of the army, and the estimates of the next fiscal
year less than the appropriations of the last by the
sum So l60 1873 49, They less than the estimates
laid before you at the last session of Congress by the
sum of So 40S 55 They amount in the aggregate
to sIs, Ol0 900 %; and entertain strong hope that
the expenditures may be still further reduced in the
course of another year.
1t affords pleasure to say that notwithstanding the
Indian in Washington, New Mexico, and Texas, all
which unforeseen and unexpected STILL unless
there shall be further and larger demands for expend-
lures suppressng other Indian hostites additional
those already incurred in Washington Territory, New
Mexico and Texas there win be necessity for asking
appropriations in the shape of a deficiency bill
have the honor to be, very respectfully your ODE
dent servant, JOHN b. FLOYD,
Secretary OF War.