Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-04

attention. a #s &',% III
The annual examination of the Treasury
was made in July last, by T. z. Handy,
Esq, of Cleveland, and his report is pre-
sented in the appendix.
q ta}r lREPoRTs OF STAFF. s-sgs f4,
Transmit with this communication the
annual reports of the Adjutant- General,
Quartermaster-Genera and Surgeon-Gen-
eral. These officers have all discharged
their official duties with promptitude and
fidelity. l earnestly urge an increase of
their compensation; and especially that, in
this particular, the Surgeon-General be put
upon the same footing us the two otherOffi-
GERS. There is no good reason why this
should rot be done. His official duties,
during the past year, have required his en-
tire time; and the compensation is not ade-
quate to his support. .
PAY AGENTS..
OF the pay agents appointed last winter,
IL. i. Williams was appointed Paymaster
in the army, and resigned July 23d; Henry
w. Owen resigned June 10Th; and w. Il.
Galbreath July 10Th. To fill these vacan-
eies, William nj. Farrar was appointed on
the 28th of July, William Wallace on the
9TH of August, and N. b. Walker on the
elected Comptroller of the Treasury in Oc-
tober, but still retains his position as pay
agent. These officers have all been prompt
and faithful in the discharge of their duties.
They have collected and returned very
large amount of money, without any defal-
cation or loss. The system works we'll and
is of great advantage to our soldiers and
people. In addition to their labors i'm the
field. the pay agents have rendered large
amount of valuable service in hospitals
among sick and wounded men. Their time
has been fully employed, and with good re-
suits. 1..
EXTRAORDINARY CONTINGENT FUND.
A report the receipts and expenditures
of the Extraordinary Contingent Fund will
be found in the appendix. You will please
appoint committee to examine AMI pass
upon the vouchers. The expenditures dur
ing the fiscal year amount to $67,22S 2S; of
which, S19,9G0 Oh was expended bymy pre-
decessOr between the 10th of November and
1lth of January. and embraced in his re-
port; and $lS,2 26S y has been expended by
me since the 1lth of January and up to the
10Th of November, 1861. There remains an
uneXpended balance of $10G,3l2 Is.
This fund having been relieved, by spec
ial appropriations last winter, of number
of the burthens before imposed upon it, the
expenditures since that time have been
mainly for the benefit and relief of our sick
and wounded soldiers in hospital and field
Our regiments have been visited by special
agents as frequently as 1t was practicable
TO do so; our corps of military agents has
been kept full, aud supplied as freely as
possible with sanitary stores; and our pay
agents, when not required in the field, have
been distributed among hospitals to aid in
the care of sick and wounded men. Tho
services of every man connected with this
work deserve honorable mention. The mil
mendatiOn. They have been attentive,
faithful, laborious and self-sacrifcing to
remarkable extent. They have devoted
themselves, with wonderful energy, to the
onerous duties imposed upon them. Our
soldiers do not require to be told of their
usefulness, but it is proper thepeople of the
State should know the obligations we are
under to them, In this connection, also, |
desire to acknowledge the services of the
Ohio Relief Association of Washington
City. In all the battles of Virginia, some
OF its members have constantly been in the
field, and laboring, in conjunction with the
Ohio agency, for the. care and relief of our
men. The association isleomposed of citi-
zens of Ohio connected with public depart
ments. 1t has been of great service, and
our people owe to ita large debt of graft
tude. A''f
The detail of procuring, receiving and
forwarding to the agencies the sanitary
stores contributedby our people, as well as
those purchased from the contingent fund,
was committed to the Quartermaster-Gen
eral, who has labored with great earnestness
q nd zaal in tha die 10 tnn nf this Intu UIa.
presents you statement of his operations in
a special report. gkes nmf1ssaB
In connection with the report Of the fund,
L have caused to be prepared and present
you a condensed account of the operations
of the agencies in the way of supplies to
the men, and the reports to me of the agents
who have visited them. The distribution of
supplies by the agents has been very
prompt and satisfactory. No single pack
age, believe, has been lost or miscarried;
while in all cases of immediate and press
ing need, Ohio agents have been promptly
at the place of suffering; and, in most cases,
the first to arrive. Our people, through aid
societies, have contributed very literally of
supplies, and they have all been advantage
opsly Appropriated.
While L desire to be fairly understood as
not impeacning, or desiring to impair the
value of either of the associations laboring
for the relief of our soldiers, still adhere
to the opinion expressed to you last winter,
that more real good can be accomplished, at
less expense, through the State agencies, and
our aid societies, than in any other way
While extending our ownoperations, have
carefully watched those of our sister State
Of Indiana; and have found that her sys-'
tenn merits the strongest commentator. 1t
is ssinlple intts character. A entrafsocietyat
the Capital, under the Immediate care of the
Governor, receives all the contributions from
the various aid societies within the State.
These are classified and distributed to the
several State agents, according to the wants
In their respective departments, who in turn
distribute them among the men. The State
provides fund that aids in the purchase of
articles not contributed, and pays the trans
portation.a There is noexpensive machine
~ about it,--no waste, and no extrava-
gance. 1t has been objected to, as being To-
;al and selfish In its character; but this Is
not the fact. While the first care of the
agents is for Indiana men, no Ohio soldierin
want or distress has ever, to my knowledge,
to an, Indiana agency, without
having his wants relieved. The Indiana
lgents have frequently divided their stores
with the agents ofOhiu; and we have al
ways tried to reciprocate the kindness.
There are many benefits attending this
system, which should lnotsbe disregarded:
list. TITS decidedly the most economical
way. of saggregating and distributing the
contributions OF our people, and eXpending
5he means appropriated by the State for this
I'd. 1t renders certain the distribution of
Ill supplies to the objects and purposes for
which they are intended. There Is hardly