The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-20
The Mcdowell and Porter Court MartiaIs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in answer
to resolution of the House of Representa-
tives, has sent communication to Speaker
Grow, in which he states that the acquisitions
of the Secretary of War for money for the
payment of troops have always been prompt
ly met by the Treasury, when absolute want
of means did not prevent. He says that since
the lst of July last the sum of S66,554 ,2Sl has
been paid on such acquisitions, as follows
For bounties on enlistments, S7,500O00; re-
cruiting, collecting, drilling and organizing
troops, $40, 1880 Al, and ordinary pay, $4S-
SS1 ,921 %. The amount of acquisitions of
this description now in the Treasury Depart
ment unpaid is S2s,700,OO0. These unpaid
acquisitions are about equal to the amount re-
quired for pay during one bi-montly period,
portion Of which fell due before the commence
ment of the last bi-monthly period of Septem-
Der and October, while about equal amounts
have been supplied for pay which has become
due since its commencement. The precise in
formation on these points can only be OBJ
tanned from the books of the Department.
When the resources of the Treasury became
inadequate to the demands upon it, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury communicated the fact
to the Secretaries of War and of the Navy,
and requested them TO designate particular
acquisitions which they regarded as most ur-
gent to the amount Of about $l000,000 daily.
To this extent acquisitions are now daily met
from customs from Internal Revenue from the
proceeds of conversions of temporary loans
and from new issues of United States notes.
These resources, though large, are, as Con-
gress has been already informed, inadequate.
No one can feel deeper regret than the Sec
rotary that single American soldier lacks a
single dollar of his pay, and no effort of his
has been wanting to prevent such condition.
1t is not in his power, however, TO arrest the
accumulation of demands upon the Treasury
beyond the possibility of provision for them
under existing legislation. In his annual
port he has laid before them the measure
which, in his judgment, will enable him to
provide for the estimated wants of the public
service. II, in his judgment, he is fortunate
enough to have their concurrence, he enter
tains the hope that all grounds of complaints
because of delays of payment may soon be re-
moved
Senator Henderson's bill, in aid of the eman-
cipation of slaves in Missouri provides for
compensations to that State upon the passage
of law emancipatng all slaves therein, to
the amount of 25,000,000.
The petition presented to-day by Repre-
sentative ColiaX was referred to the commit
tee of Ways and Means 1t was from numer-
Gus editors and publishers OF New York,
Buffalo, Troy, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore,
Portland, Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati,
Detroit, Wheeling, Albany, Pittsburg, New
Haven, Hartford, Providence, Manchester,
Milwaukee, Newark, Muscatine, PEORIA Du-
buque, Toledo, Cleveland, and many other
cities, in favor of the reduction or abolition of
the duty on paper.
1t will be gratifying to the friends of soldiers
wounded in the battle Of Fredericksburg, TO
learn that upon their own application they
can be sent to the military hospitals in their
respective States, or in those adjoining.
The Mcdowell court of Inquiry assembled
at eleven o'clock. No witnesses were sworn
but lengthy correspondence was read COM
prising letters between the General and his
subordinates; also between him and Generals
Banks and Fremont and the Secretary of War,
all indicating energy and foresight in General
MeDowelfs operations. Nothing else of spec
| ial interest occurred.
The Porter court martial did not sit to-day
on account of the absence of several witnesses.