, 1861-12-05


be sure reward of intelligence, dde0ty, ana = =
service. - -
The course above recommended has been ! al
pursued by this Department, and it is my IN
entiou, SO far as in my power, to continue q C
yetem which cannot fill to have most bcne- 81
lcla1 effect upon the entire service q
,EGU1 AND VOLUNTEERS 70 RANK THE SAME. q
By existing hws and regulations an officer
If the regular army ranks an officer OF vol
nuteers 81 the same grade, notwitastand- Q
Ins the commission Of the latter may PC
Of antecedent date. IN my % 1aag :
tie ardor and to limit the opportunity for DIS
tinction Of volunteer officers, and . change
should be made By which seniority OF commits 8
sion should confer the right Of command
submit for reflection the question, "he5neF
the distinction between .gulars and Volun-
teers which nov exists, should be permitted to
continue, The efficiency Of the army, it ap-
pears to me, might be greatly Increased oy
consolidation Of the two during tue cont'n-
forces, would constitute them one grand army
Of the Union. ...
RECRUITING FOR TIE nEGrLAR SERVICE.
Recruiting for theregular army has not been
attended with that SUCCESS WHICH vas antlc1-
pated, although large number Of men nave
entered this branch OF the service. smle ILLS
admitted that soldiers in the regular army,
nnder the control Of officers Of military euuca-
lion and experience, are generally oetter e:aIta
for than those in the volunteer service, 1t Is
certain that the popular preference Is hEge1y
en to the latter 1oun dnra men hn fci{
friends and acquaintances, and, besides tne
bounty granted to volunteers n most ol tne
States, inducements are often directly onefea
to them by those whose commissions uepe44a
unon their success in obtaining recruits. N
addition, the volunteer is allowed to draw his |
full pay Of S13 per month, while by Law S3per |
month are deducted from the pay Of the
regular, to be rcturned to him at The end
| Ills I law i should be repealed, and TIC
bis full pay when due. He should
also receive either reasonable bounty upon
| enlisting, OF an advance Of go OF the $lou
which law Of the last session Of Congress
grants to regulars and volunteers on the e
piration Of their periods Of service. This
would doubtless stimulate cnlistnents, as it
would enable the soldier to makY ;;s,s sonis &c, pro
| vision for those dependent upon Inn lot sup
port I1utn nc receives his pny.
AIDS TO MAJoR-GESERAa.
By the Act approved August $, 1861, the
President is authorized to appoint as many
aids to Major- Generals Of the regular army,
acting in tie field, as he may deem proper.
The number Of aids, in MY opinion, should be
limited, and no more should be allowed to
each Major r-General than can be advantageous
II employed upon his own proper staff Much
expense would thus be saved, and the Excel
tive and this Department would be relieved Of
| applications very embarrassing from their -na-
| turc and extent.
DISCHARGE OF MINORS.
The fifth section of the Act approved Sep
| tcmher rs, 1850, makes the discharge Of MI
nors obligatory upon this Department, upon
proof that their enlistment was without the
| consent Of their parents or guardians. III view
OF the Injurious operation Of this law, and OF
. the facilities which it opens to frauds, re-
spectfully urge its early repeal. Applications
for discharges Of minors can then be deter
, mined either BY this Department, in accord
, lnce with such regulations as experience may
| have shown to be necessary, or by the civil
I | tribunals of the country.
REG1MESTAI. BANDS.
: The culp1oruent Of refrlmellt:A bands
= should be limited; the proportion Of nlus
! clans now allowed By law being too great, and
: their usefulness not at all commensurate "ltl
= their heavy expense. -..-.
n Corporations, like individuals, arc liable tt
= be governed by selfish motives IN the absence
i, ot competition. An instance Of this kind oc
= CURED IN the management Of the railroads be
: tween Baltimore and New York. The sum o
j. IS WAS charged upon that route for the trans
\ :, portntion Of each soldier from New York t
Baltimore. AS this rate seemed extrlFagan
to the Department, when considered III con
nection with the great increase Of trade apo
q these roads, made necessary by tho wants 9
1t the Government, inquiry Was made concern
New York to Baltimore, sit harrisburg: I'll
le result wa6 IN arrangement by Which troop
SC were brought by the last-named route at
1e each; and, as a consequence, this rate was :
IT once necessarily adopted by all the railroad
le in the loyal States. making a. saving to IL
IL Government Of g 8 Is Per cent. in all lis tram
rortation uf soldiers, and at the same tin
H. giving to the railroads. through Increased bus
e, ncss, u liberal compensation.
~ u RAILROAD CONNECTIONS WITH BALTIMORE
# # The railroad connection between Washln
t., ton and Baltimore has been lately much II
to sioi,s in This city. III order, however, I'll
abundant supplies may always be at the cor
lnand Of the Department, arrangements shon
bc made for laying double track betwe
Ice this city and Annapolis junction, With il
;c- proved sideings and facilities at Annapolis al
he | ;long thc branch road.
his ADDITIONAL CoSSECTIOSS PROPOSED.
~ Should the navigation Of the Potomac rly
piss be interrupted by blockade, OF the scseriti
amA ~ of winter, it would become absolutely ncc
ion s2ry for the proper supply Of the troops yR
nv, the Inhabitants Of this city, to provide ad
c;l tionul railFoad connection between Wash1I
llae ton and Baltimore 4 responsible eomIa1
with chartcr from the State Of Maryla1
have proposed to do this upon condition tt
to the Government will indorse their bont
nal they binding themselves to set aside annua
cry a sufficient sum for their redemption 1t Eaa
cili rity, and thus eventually release tile Cove
nm mcnt from amy liability whatever, and
red charge, 1or transportation, rates Ii no cast
u OF exceed four cents ton per mile
,cri- freight, and three cents per mile for paes
try. gers. During the continuance Of the u
ecu however, their charge for passengers M IS not
the exceed two cents per mile. Inc cnafge
the transportation Of passengers between
two cities is at present 331 cents per mile.
;, for freight, the rates per ton viii aFcrag5e II
tne five to eight cents per mile Ihe large say
re- to the Government in cost Of tElnsporratl
the would amply compensate for all liability,
plan give to the citizens Of all the loyal st;
Inc greatly improved f;sciiities for reaching the
zeo, tional capital, and at much less rates
g ut they are now compelled to pay. To the
hor- zc1ls Of the District it wonld cheapcn the
,cca- of sunn1ies and prove Of immense value il
vast cry respect. ....-.....--..
con- RAILWAYS At WASHINGTON.
.artls recommend that railway be constru
eudy through this city from the Navy Yard. by
v Of Capitol, to Georgctown,. forming con
c be- pots, anu using Inc aq'teuuet VI
arise for the purpose Of crossing TIC rive
ouly Georgetown. By a junction Of this prop
,5icy. railway Will. the Orange and Alexandria
r. M ! road. not only would the communication
over our troops in Virginia be greatly inpro
c af but an easy access he obtained to the 7
II by more ard Ohio railroad ncar Harpcr's +
he re- by means Of the 1oulon and Hampshire
rem read. To its importance as affording faci
n2trd for moving troops and supplies in time Of
may be added the future hene1tsit would
fer upon tle District Of Columbia The
liy rcauircd would be saved in a few INT
tic at by enabling tho Government to dispense
stions tile expensive ferry at Georgetown, ar
N our greatly decreasing The costly wagon tran
zee be tation Of the army through this city.
nj de- BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
DOH 4 | c.1,. :.~:,- ~ ,f,5