, 1862-01-18

AAAAAe
We print elsewhere the bill introduced
into the Senate by Senator John Sherman,
reducing and regulating the pay Of officers
in the army; the number and cempensa-
lion Of clerks employed by Congress, and
the mileage Of the members. The to-
tai saving effected to the Treasury BY
this bill, amounts to several millions per
2nnum. There is room for retrenchment not
only in the pay Of officers, but every depart
n1ent Of thearmy: The aggregate expense of
cur military service could safely be reduced
one-fo11th to one~third without impairing
its efficiency. The whole system by which
supplies are procured for the army and
navy is wrong and corrupt. Spectators
so to Washington and hang around the
hsr-roonls and departments, engineering
and log-rolling for contracts and jobs.
Older and more experienced lobby vu1tures
act as contract brokers, and sell their "inf1u-
ence'' with this or that Secretary or tacto-
tum Of 1. Secretary, and procure contracts
on commission. Unlawful gains IN the
shape Of perquisites are regarded as legiti-
mate business transactions. It is stated that
manufacturers and st-hands visit tho
Capital eager to furnish what is wanted at
fair prices, but either go away unsuccessful
because they hare not the influence
necessary in order to secure q hearing, or
make bargain with some go-betwcen who
has the ear Of high officials The result
Of all this is, that the Government pays
Is to so per cent. more than the fair market
value for nearly everything it buys
These frauds are practiced not alone in
Washington, but in each military depart
ment, and more or less in each Sttc.
swinding follows the raising Of every regi-
ment and troop, and the QUILTING Of every
vessel in the Government service. :.
Army transportation is another branch
Of the military service which sadly needs
reforming. The cost is one-third to one
half too much. Millions have been s9uan-
dered in railroad transportation, and other
millions in chartering sail and steam yes
sells An investigation into this subject
would develope a fiightful waste Of money.
In respect to the pay Of officers, All army
officer Of high rank, large experience
and close observation, makes this State
mcut:
In his opinion the psf ofcommiseioned officers is
rank and dc, and on the other hand the pay ofaon.
erso@fd. An Orderly Sergeant renders moro
l Atn IL xJ-NY% 7 7tNt%t1-
sGs ho os anS Snsa s1o n1a We the tSsa SSaf
termaster's Sergeant, the hardest worked
nan IN =. the ssnsnt 1eselses but 81 Ths
Of all reason, compared with the .pay Of Chap,
lain: $15e-so. Now what service does Chaplain
render to regiment commensurate to his pay:
j At the very most, even if Chaplain does attend
to and discha1ge ali his duties, and e1pounas, il
bis own way, the gospel once week, and attends
funerals when he is well, and the weather izuot IN
| pleasant, does he earn $1.T5s ycar;''
Let Congress give the contract system &
thorough oyerhauliDg,. establish respon
sibility and accountability somewhere
and have d stop put to tie present fright
fully loose method Of expenditure. Bill:
for the reduction Of salaries Of military ani
civilians who render some service, will effcc
some relief to the Treasury, but it is a smal
| fraction that can be saved in that direction
as compared with what is abstracted b,
battalions Of sappers and miners, bette
known as contractors and peculators. I
is there the axe should be laid unsparlngl,
to the root Of the tree. A twig or brancl
may be Topped off to advantage elsewhere
but tho huge leak holes in the Ship Stat
arc made by the rc1norscless knayes witt
fttten Oh contracts. Senator Hale has in
troduced a bill to reach those villains
which if enacted, will hugely delight th
honest class Of people. One Of its section
reads as follows:
s'TIat any person who. BY any false and fraudr
lent pretence, pretext, deyice. co1triyancs 0
representation Of any kind whatsoever, eh2l
the treasury Of the Cnfted States. or from an an
person or corporation legally charged with til
collection, custody Or disbursement of any part {
the money Of the United States, shall pay 3 fine {
not less than the sum fraudu1ently obtained. m
be punished by imprisonment, at hard labor, for
I term Of not less than one year nor more than te
years. according to the aggrayation Of the offence.
| Nothing less stringent than the aboy
} will arrest the dishonest greed Of the arm
+ :! iackals, Has Congress the virtue to d
its duty in this hour of National Per
and sore distress?