New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-01-15


partment of the Regular Army, (and which ii
without casualty Or change snce.) there were il
the service 400 additional paymasters contingen
appointments under the law of July, 1888. After
ward, up to March 3, thirty eight others were ap
pointed and confirmed
| Making total OF. .,,......... ag
| p, Accounted as follows:
Commissions declined 7
Appointments cancelled q
DIED pF d..
Killed by guerlas ''..-.''.',.. ;
Died while prisoners of
"uSefeo ou'-
Total casualties. 23
Remaining in service III
This reduction may still continue following with
| even pace, as their services can be spared and
! thelr accounts be rendered, the pregresss of the
reduction of the army.
| The sudden disbandment of our volunteer hosts
beside their final payment on the ordinary forms
OF mIster-out rolls and other discharge papers, has
| mutation OF referred claims" transmitted fol-
adjustment and payment These have arisen from
various causes, but chiefly from the inability OF
the officers charged with the execution of the
muster-out papers, to reach a complete history az
topay clothing, bounty, ETC., of large numbers Of
enlisted men, so as to enable final settlement at
the time Of discharge. To all SUCH certificates Of
discharge are furnished upon which are indorsed
the fact of non-payment; and the holders are di.
rected to forward the same, as the basis of their
| claim, to the Paymaster General for adjustment
| Such magnitude has this demand attained that il
mas been found necessary to organize a special
| division Of paymasters as an attachment to this
bureau, to take exclusive cOgnzance of this class
| of claims.
TIE Division of Referred Claims" is now
composed of Chief Supervising Paymaster of
much intelligence, Judgment and experience. with
twelve other paymasters, also competent officers
OF experience, and corps of sixty-four active
clerks. The peculiar labors of this division could
not be near SO well performed under any other
| organization, having, as this does, enlightened
paymasters to supervise every branch of the work,
| each being responsible for his own.
Every claim sent to this division requires for its
elucdation careful and laborious search through
all the previous rolls on file in this and the Second
Auditors offices, besides constant references to
the Adjutant Generals Office to trace out through
the past records all the facts touching tile case
there may be stated with accuracy the balance due
| the claimant. This done, vouchers in form, cover
ing chat balance, are filed out and transmitted to
the claimant for his signature, which, returned to
the paymaster, the latter RENTS a check for the
amount. From this it will be seen how tedious is
the work of this division, what careful industry il
demands and how inevitable are the delays com
planned of by impatient claimants.
The clerical force of this Bureau is without ma
terial change since the date of my last annual re-
port For months past, in anticipation of an early
permanent reduction of that force, l have re-
Trained from recommending new appointments to
and other casualties.
This course, l ap prehend, may continue without
injury or material Inconvenience to the public ser
vice. Such, however, is the sudden accumulation
of the business of the Bureau, by reason of the
present influx for examination of rolls and Other
classes of vouchers resulting from the recent and
continued large payments to disbanded troops al
ready adverted TO- that but very slight reduction
cable for some months to come.
need hardly urge the unqualified conviction
that the compensation allowed by the governmen,
to this indispensable class of the public agents is
quite inadequate, in view of the present exorb
tant cost of the necessaries of life. The clerks OF
this Bureau, as body, are highly meritorious and
deserving public servants None, am sure, bet.
ter than they, have, by faithful industry, earned
my duty, therefore, respectfully but urgently to
recommend a reasonable increase of the rates OF
compensation now by law fixed for clerks EN-.
ploy ed in this Bureau. Especially is this demand
ed by every consideration of the public interest of
enlightened public economy, for the clerks of the
higher grades, and for the chief clerk. feel sure
1have only to present this subject to your atten.
ton to insure your influence in the furtherance OF
consnmmation SO proper.
In another paper communicated to you, dated
the llth instant have had the honor to submit fol
your consideration plan for the better organiza
ton, and permanent increase, of the pay depart
ment of the army, to which / respectfully invite
your attention in connection with this report.
| The entire of the regular army and of the vol
unteer forces of every description retained in ser
vice, and not embraced in orders for muster out
of payment, to the end of the last fiscal year (to
| lst of July last) Many organizations have been
paid to the latter date of September l.
| All discharged troops have been paid in full
and all being discharged, or under orders for dis
charge, are provided for, and will be paid as fast
as they arrive at their respective places of rendez
Yous
Paymasters are held in readiness to make an
other payment to the troops who shall be con
tinued in service, whenever the needu funds fol
| that purpose may be available.
In conclusion beg to present to your attention
the following remarkable summary statement O
the results of this Department during the past fou
years of war:
The total of money disbnrsed by the Department
from July !, 1861, to the present date, is
thousand twent, nine millions two hundred ~ u,o ~,
and thirty nine thousand dollars 81 G29 29 0
Total defalcatons in the Department for same
period sqpp9s,ng that that nothing is made from
half will be collected from these sources,... S5ilO0
Total expenses for disbursement including pay
an, alc 51lces to paymasters and their clerks.
epy ad 5 esf Ste @ tsf Of
four years and four months-a large average Cox
Add lealoatons and expenses .,,.....,., s6s7o,6V
Thus it is seen that the total of every character
Of expense to the government arising from the
disbursement of the pay to the armies during the
period stated is less than SeUer-tetS Of one pc,
cent. of the sum dsbursed
Surely this is a cost most wonderfully cheap fol
| the execution Of duties important and re
sponsible. 1t is much questioned if there is another
instance on cord of public disbursement Sc
cheaply performed.
| Respectfully submitted.
B. " BRICE, Paymaster General
| AFFECTING 1NC1DENT-During the ceremonies
| attending the Inauguration on Wednesday last
after the conclusion of Gov Maryns address, til,
band of the 7th Regulars, which was in attend
ance, played Hail Columbia" in admirable style
and when Gov. Walker had completed his nau
gural, they struck up Dixie" which electrified
the audience and called forth repeated cheers
All felt its inspiring strains. Many among thos,
who had imperiled their lives in defense of caus