Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-01-05

that claims to the amount of $136,0 .1S wer,
presented, of which the Board passed upor
$8S, 1918, leaving $47,S52.45 undisposed of
The aggregate sum allowed, being $38,.
746.70, should be provided for by appro-
priation.
In addition to the several claims presented,
and not investigated for want of time
claims to large amount, growing out OF
the Morgan raid and other causes-are cer-
tain to be presented to you for liquidation,
unless relief in some other shape shall be
provided for the several claimants. For full
particulars in relation to this new class of
claims, refer you to documents herewith,
marked number 4. 1t will be seen from
these papers, that the estimated amount of
pay proper, for the militia who responded
to my proclamation, is about $3.50, ,0O0-that
the damages committed by the enemy is
estimated at $495, 200, and that the losses and
damages occasioned by our own troops are
$l52OOO. The pay proper, to the militia, is
provided for by appropriation made at the
last session.; and the sum of about. 100000
has already been audited and paid. 1t will
further be observed, by reference to docu-
ment No. 4, that this payment was made
upon the recommendation of the Secretary
of War, and Is considered by him simply as
an advance by the State to the General Gov
ernment. The subsistence of our militia,
called out in said service, was at once as
Sumed by the General Government and
much, if not all of ii, has already been paid.
| The transportation of the troops was also
directly assumed by the General Govern
ment. No provision, however, has been
made for the adjustment and liquidation of
the several claims for damages occasioned
by the enemy, or incident to the movement
of our own troops. Prompt measures were
taken by me, through the several Military
Committees of the counties interested, to
ascertain and have reported to me, these
several claims; and a bureau was inaugu-
rated, at the head of which placed Henry
$. Rabbit, Esq, highly competent person,
for the purpose of arranging and preserving
the evidence of the same. To adjust and
determine, with any degree of accuracy and
safety to the State, the amount of these
several claims, it is necessary that a special
commission be created for that purpose. l
therefore recommend that you adopt the
necessary legislation to create and regulate
this commission; giving it full authority in
the premises, and directing it to report to
! you at future session of the Legislature.
/ The reports of the several Military Com
! mittees, made to me, should be referred to
| this Commission. ...
| must not omit to inform you how great
/ ly the people of the State are indebted to
the several county Military Committees ap-
F., pointed by me. They have ever cheerfully
responded to the numerous calls made upon
them, with degree of alacrity and gener-
osity unbounded; without their efficient
aid, the best interests of the State would at
times have materially suffered. / shall ever
. feel grateful to these gentlemen for their
kindness to me, personally as well as offici-
ally.
That everything of interest, relating to
the gallant men who have been or may be
engaged in the military service of our coun-
try, may be collected and perpetuated, 1
, recommend for that purpose the establish
ment of bureau, to be known as the Blu
reau of Military Statistics. These statistes
should contain the name, age and place of
residence of every officer and private who
was in any way engaged in the service; the
date Of his enlistment; the Company and
Regiment to which he belonged; the term
of service; the time and reason for his dis
charge; whether killed or wounded in bat
tie; and the time and place of death and
burial of those who may die in service
This duty can well be performed by the
Surgeon-General of the State; and, as much
of the information will have to be gathered
from the records of the several hospitals,
can, perhaps, better be performed by him
than by any other officer. Should this duty
be thrown upon him, however, the salary
attached to that office should be materially
increased, as faithful discharge of the duty
would command all of his time.
| submit, herewith, communications from
Secretary Hoffman, giving in detail the
items of expenditure from the Civil and
Military Contingent Funds, from the 18th
day of December, A. ID. 1862, date of last
years report, to the 18th day of December,
A. ID. 1868. 1t will be seen that from the
Civil Fund there has been expended S920.66,
and from the Military Fund $69,9Sl.3S. Il
ask for the appointment at an early day, of
committee of your body, to examine these
expenditures. Large as the expenditures,
doubt not it will meet your approval, and
Iurgently recommend thatyou place at the
disposal of my successor like liberal con-
tingent fund, that he may be able to meet
all contingencies likely to arise. Our gal
liant boys in the field, and in hospitals, and
en- route for their respective homes, must
have the fostering care of the State Gov
ernment. In this connection, allow me to
recommend that you keep upon your stat
ute book the several laws now in force pro-
viding for the appointment of pay agents,
and the agencies for the care of soldiers
The amount received by the several pay
uRttIS lIUU1 SUlultIo III llCIu uCpOo-
tied in the State Treasury for distribution
to their families for the past year, is $961,-
S24.S1, at a cost to the State of 50, 1880, and
without any cost to the soldiers or their
friends. also recommend that the levy,
for the support of the families of soldiers,
be increased from one mill to two. mills on
the dollar; and that the act for distributing
the same be so amended as to include the
families of colored soldiers who have vol
unteered since the passage Of the law. The
number of families in the State requiring
relief will vary but little from thirty thou
sand; the levy recommended will give to-
each about $6G this, with the assistance
voluntarily rendered by the generous in
every neighborhood, it is hoped will make
every family comfortable, and thus stimu-
late the patriotic soldier to duty.
The sum appropriated for suitable resting
places at Cincinnati and Columbus, for our
soldiers who may fall in the service of our
country, to-wit: $1,000 for the former, and
$500 for the latter, have been expended
Beautiful and, eligible grounds, at Spring
Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, and Green
Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, have been Sc
lected. The remains of 56S brave boys have
already been deposited in the Cemetery at
Cincinnati, and 81 at Columbus. Without
this express authority, Joined the Execu-
tives of other States in securing suitable
|resting place for our noble dead who fell at
Gettysburg in the great battle of July last.
The sacred ground thus secured was duly