New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-15
Burcnu OF Military Record.

On the 10Th Of December, 1862, eleven days be-
fore Z. ID. Morgan went out of Office as Governor
Of this State, he directed his Adjutant-General to
make an order creating the Bureau of Military
Statistics" and placed il in charge of Col. Lock
wood l.. Doty--who had oficated as his Private
Secretary during his second term, man esteemed
for his urbanity Of manners-at a compensation of
g., 100 per year. We are stating the exact truth
when We say the Bureau was organized more for
the purpose Of giving Col. Doty place, than be.
cause there was necessity for the office. We do
not mean that the position TO which he was as
signed was TO be q mere sinecure; we doubt not
there was work for him TO do, and we presume his
pay was not unreasonably high, for a clerk Col.
ID. has few superiors; but we mean to say be was
| likely TO be "out in the cold on the advent OF
Gov. Seymour and this Bureau was established TO
continue his lease of office.
/ The powers and duties Of the Bureau were pres
cribed by an act of the Legislature passed April 8,
1863 and still further defined by an act passed
March 81, 1861, when the Bureau was constituted a
distinct military Office, independent Of the Adjutant
General as well as Of all the branches Of the Gov
ment.
this subject and more is asked at tho present ses
sion Of the Legislature. The act Of 1863 provided
for the erection of Hall of Military Record, ut
cost of $l5O 900. $4,000 were to be raised by vol
untary contributions, and when collected and paid
in like sum was to be appropriated from the State
Treasury. What amount Of funds have been VOL
unfairly contributed, cannot say-slo,OOO or
/ s20 900 perhaps. The assessment made by the
/ Chief Of the Bureau will, understand, II fully
paid, produce something over 100000 making tho
building cost upward Of $500 900 instead Of slJoOoO
as the law contemplated. But the volunteer sys-
ten. il is understood does not bring in the funds
as rapidly as the Chief desires and proposition IS
now before the Legislature TO compel delinquent
towns TO hand over the amounts charged against
them.
Thus far, the several acts 10 which we have re-
ferred have ,Inanated from the same source, VIZ:
the Chief Of the Bureau. He has defined the pow
or. and duties Of his Office; enlarged and extended
them from time 70 time as he has judged eXpedi-
ent; separated his Office from that Of the Adjutant'
/ General; employed such clerical force as he has
though, proper, and paid such compensation as nc
has seen it, In fact, there does not appear TO be
any restriction upon him whatever. No one knows
precisely what bis salary is, nor what he Is paying
| his employes His annual report does not afford
anv information as to the expenses of his Bureau
though he audits all accounts presented ana
should be- able to enlighten the public touching
! the cost
II seems TO n. it is quite time the Legislature
looked into this matter and determined what there
is of it, especially as they are all the while being
asked 70 make some new law or regulation respect
ing II. What is the object of the Bureau what
good is il doing, or will it dot The law-inakes II
the duty of the head Of the Bureau ~ "to collect
and preserve in permanent form the name OF every
nerson who has volunteered or been mustered, or
who NAV hereafter volunteer or be mustered, into
the service Of the General Government from this
State since April Is, 1861, and the persoHdl history
of svcb person trLe in such serpice 80 far as the
same can be aseertained;" u "to obtain record
If the several regiments including an account OF
their organization and subsequent history" and 81
O. An account of the aid afforded by the several
towns. cities and counties of the State
Now there is in the office of the Adjutant-Gene-
raj sthe name of overy person who has volunteered
or been mustered in from this State, with all other
information cOnctIHlhb i'S """0' '""' "N' 49, -
reasonably wish 10 know. Should not that suffice
Is there any good for duplicating these facts
And what of the Hall of Military Record: for
what purpose is that wantedl The only thing OF
any interest or value, connected with the Bureau,
that il be the depository of the flags trophies and
,nementoes of the war-such was the original pur-
nose and design, as expressed in the order OF the
Adiutant General, whenit was originally established
For this purpose and this only the Bureau ought 10
he maintained. A fire-proof room has been fitted
nm where the Office is now kept, at an expense oil
g. 600 where these flags, &C., are deposited. is
there any pretense that it is too circumscribed
Will il not answer every purpose until new Capi'
70, shall be built? If so, why should towns that
hovs taxed themselves to the verge OF oppression
20 nav bounties aud other expenses incidental to
tho war now be called upon TO contribute, either
voluntarily or otherwise, to build Hall oil Military
Rscord when it can hardly be claimed that IL ID
: necessary
We ask the attention of the Legislature TO TINS
1 Rureau. We are confident that the gentlemen
. CONFUSING that body have given very little aften
t;on 10 what Col. Doty is doing. We doubt II ever
he has given his acts any particular thought III
surely cannot be so unwise as to think "a persona
, history of every volunteer from this State Woui'
he desirable or of the slightest interest to anybody
! lie cannot seriously think the R09k-2SAins an'