Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-04

should not be dOne. His official dallesI
during the past year have required his en-
tire time; and the compensation Is not ad-
equate to his support. 49,
PAY AGENTS
Of the pay agents appointed last winter,
H. L. Williams was appointed Paymaster
in the army, and resigned July 23d; Hem
~ W. Owen resigned June l9ih and W.
I. Galbreath July 10th. To FIJI these va
aancies, William NJ. Farrsr was appointed
on the 3sth of July, William Wallace on
the 5th Of August, and N B. Walker on
the 18th of August. Moses X. Bradley
was elected Comptroller Of the Treasury
in October, but sLill retains his position
as psy agent. These officers have all been
prompt and faithful in the discharge of
their duties They have collected and re-
turned very large amount of money,
without any defslcstion or loss The sys.
tenn works well, and is of great advantage
to our soldiers and people. In addition to
their labors in the field, the pay agents
have rendered 3 large amount of valuable
service in hospitals among sick and wound
ed men, Their time has been fully en-
ployed, and with good results.
EXTRAORDINARY CONTINGENT FUND.
A report of the receipts and ezpendi-
lures of the Extraordinary Contingent
Fund will be found in the appendix. You
will please appoint committee to exam
inc and pass upon the vouchers. The ex-
penditures during the fiscal year amount
to s67, ,22s Is; Of which SI9'960 OIL was
expended by my predecessor between the
10Th of November and the Ilth of January.
and embraced in his report; and S48, ,26s q
have lem expended by me since the IIth Of
January and upto the 18th of November,
1864. There remains an unexp ended bal
snce of $I06,3I2 Is.
This fund having been relieved, by spe-
cisl appropriations last winter, of a number
of the burthens before imposing upon it,
the expenditures since that time have been
mainly for the benefit of our sick and
wounded soldiers in hospital and field
Our regime nts have bean visited by special
agents as frequently as it is practicable to
do SO; our corps Of military agents has
been kept full, and supplied as freely as
possible with sanitary stores; and our pay
agents, when notrequired in the field, have
been distributed among hospitals to aid in
the care Of our sick and wounded men.
The services Of every man connected with
this work deserves honorable mention.
The military agents are especially worthy
of eommendstion. They have been atten-
tive, faithful, laborious and selfsRcrifciug
to a remarkable extent. They have devot-
ed 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 the people
of the State should inowthe obligations we
are under to them. In this connection,
also, desire to acknowledge the services
of the Ohio Relief Association of Washing
ton City. In all the battles of Virginia,
some of its members hVve constantly been
in the field, and lsboring, in con junction
with the Ohio agency, for the care and re-
lief of our men. The associations is eompos-
ed of citizens of Ohio connected with the
public departments. Il. has been of great
service. and our people owe it large debt
of gratitude.
forwarding TO the agencies the sanitary
stores contributed by cur people, as well as
those purchased from the contingent fund,
was committed to the Quartermaster- Gen
ersl, who has 1sbored with great earnest
ness and zeal in the discharge of this duty.
He presents you q statement of his opera
tions in special report %
In connection with the report of the
fund, l have caused to be prepared and pre-
sent you a condensed account of the opera-
tions of the agencies in the way of supplies
to the men, and the reports to me Of the
agents who have visited them. The distri-
button of supFAies by the agents has been
very prompt and satisfactory. No single
package believe, has been lost or mis-
carried; while in all cases of immediate
and pressing need, Ohio agents have been
promptly st the place Of suffering; and, in
most cases, the first to arrive. Our people,
through the aid societies, have contributed
very literally Of supplies, and they have
all been advantageously appropriated.
While desire to be fairly understood
SIS not impesching, or desiring to impair
the value of either of the associations Ia
boring for the relief of our soldiers, 1 still
adhere to the opinion expressed to. you last
winter, that more real good can be accom-
plished, at less expense, through the Stste
snd our aid societies, than in any
other way. While extending our own op-
1 have carefully watched those of
our sister State Of Indiana; and | have
found that her system merits the strongest
1t is simple in its chaTac-
ter. A central society at the Capital,
under the imemdiate care of the Governor.
receives all the contributions from the va
rious sid 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 pur.
chase of articles not contributed, and paws
the transportation. There is no expensive
about it,-no waste and no
It has been objected to, as
being local and selfish in its character; but
this is not the fact. While the first care of
The sgenta is for Indiana men, no Ohio
soldier in want or distress has ever, to my
knowledge, appealed to an Indians agency,
without having his wants relieved. The
Indiana agents have frequently divided
their stores with the agents of Ohio; and
We have always tried to reciproeate the
kindness.
There are many benefits attending this
system, which should not be disregarded.
1st. It is decidedly them most economical
way Of aggregating and distributing the
of the people, and expending
.he means appropriated By the State for
this purpose.
I'd, 1t renders certain the distribution
Of all supplies to the objects and purposes
for which they are intended. There is
hardly possibility for misspproprlation.
There Is no machinery about it to be kebt
fabricated, and no class of middle men to
levy toll upon it.
3D. By proper care aud management it
IS made more prompt and energetic than
any other mode; and, by being more sys-
semstic, will be more general and appro-
pirate in its relief.
4th. It fosters and grstiaes the State
pride of our soldiers It comes nearer to
.he feeling of HOME. An Ohio soldier re-
CARDS an Ohio Agency as a place he has
rl9At to enter, and expect welcome. If