New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-09

the vessel IL OF sea the very implies tht he s
l"rgb be cannot desert no canno except on rare os
casoDs, lie taken prisoner by The enemy. The proper
oaie Mi y The rays q ING eaas know gyer,,ng
SSE Z 30 5GSs 81 to enable tie FsJ,h
Moreover it should be borne 10 mind that tho whole
number OF persons who have died in the naval service
since the beginning Of the war ia not equal to tho loss
Of soldiers OccasiOned by q single battle.
How shall the present system be improved without
opening the doors to immense trends upon the Govern
menti This is question worthy the attention of the
Depe rtments a9d OF Congress Frauds 10 the amount
of hundreds Of thousands ~ dollars were perperated
after the close Of the Mexican war by claim ag nts,
who procured the back pay ana landwsrrants Of de-
ceased soldiers two or three times over.
The question TO be presented 10 the Second Auditor
Is one Of evidence purely, and fr as there is any
fault in the present system II relates TO the procuring
and presenting proper evidence. IL the claimant the
real person entitled 10 receive the back pay and bounty
Is The soldier dead Tie latter question Is generally
answered by the binontLy rolls as already Indicated
The cases whore the rolls DO not, and cannot furnish
the necessary evidence, and where the hospital returns.
mortality lists and inventories are silent, require
special remedy If the Auditor states that the papers
presented in particular case are IN proper FORM and
then delays sixteen MONTHS one month. TO settle the
claim IL proves either that the work in his office u no
much behind that the before him is one OF those
exceptional ones where all of ho above sources OF n
formation il show the death of the soldier If tho
former, which understand to be the fact then the
remedy ~ be found in an increase OF The force OF MS
Office.
II would be well for Congress to make the inquiry;
lst whether the business VI the Auditors Office IS 90
far behind has been representod ID whether oil the
CLERKS authorized by law have been employed IN his
office; Sd whether application made 70 Congress at
the last sessou for the number Of clerks necessary "
keep VI tie business. Let there be fun exposition nom
Official dsta and let the blaine If there be blame, rest
where Il belongs II IL rests with tho Second Andi'Or
let the fact be known. II il rests with the AdJutsBt
General OF the Postmaster Of Washington. ar the Sec
rotary Of the Smithsonian 1nsttnton. let the proper
iiuuCiionary be pointed ous.
While the subject OF prov dng remedies is under con-
dereton IL shOuld be borne in mird DGt the eppcants
Tor back pay aud bounty generally poor and almost
unycrssy ign0rau. Of the forms necessary TO be fol-
lowed IA establish their own identity. The amounts
due them are generally sua ana hence they ought to
get the whole. aud not be compelled 10 dlyide Win
claim agents No system WI be perfect winch shu
fal 10 flrnsh tue claimant free OF expense 10 himself
not only the information which he may require on the
varons bureaus but TIE identical papers 10 be signed
sealed and 20. 30 that he cannot possibly err
The subject is only Of immediate and pressing
mpOr sce but Of lasting interest to tens OF thousonds
Who In giving their husbands fathers and sens, have
given their all 20 iieir country.