The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-01-11

doubts of the Federal auditors as to the
legality Of the charge. Many Of the items
originated in tho very beginning ofthe war,
when the routine of the army regulations
could not possibly be complied with. Con
tracts with r,vate parties for suhsisie zee
OF troops had in several instances leen lost,
and copies were required before settlement
could be m de Other vouchers were in.
complete or venting, and the notices of
tho suspension of the accounts by tho U. S
departments woro too brief or vague 10
afford much assistance in correcting the
errors. Meanwhile dcaths, removals from
the State, and other casualties, were com.
plicatiug the difficulty Of procuring new
vouchers and diminishing the chances of
final settlement, or at best the State was
losing the inte est upon the large sums due.
My own military experieuco assured me
that little progress would he mado in The
settlement of this business, unless it could
be personally attended to by an expert in
the business of the Quartermastet aud
Gommssary's Departments. An examina.
ton Of the claims and the causes OF suspen.
sion had been begun by General Day, the
Quartermster.Ge G General of the State, but no
appropriations for the salary of that Office
had bcen made al your adjournment, and the
appropriations for the other offices would
not justify the employment of q competent
person for this purpose. In this embarrass
ment the difficulty was solved BY gencr.
ous offer on the part of Geteral Day, to
continue his labors without salary until It
could be determined whether such service
could hasten the collection of tho class of
claims specially belonging to his depart.
ment The Sesult has justified my hope,
and OF the claims peculiarly belonging to
the QGnrtermastor's Department, about
two-,hirds amounting to Sl8T 900 33 have
been satisfactorily corrected and settled
with the U. 5, Treasury, and the amount
credited TO the State on its direct tax, while
the other third is in such state of forward
ness as to give reasonable confidence in the
earlypayment of oil that can, in any manner,
be allowed under existing laws. | may
properly say that | know these claims
could not have beet collected this year but
for the course abnvo iudcatc,l, and whore
the ultimate collection depends upon pro
curing vouchers or testimony from great
numbers Of persons, time viii rapidly
diminish the prohab lties of any settlement
As the United States allows no interest,
that item alone upon the amduut above re-
ported as collected this year, would pay
tho salary of n competent Officer for more
than five years.
Thele Of the Quar- ras or G Genera
contains clear aud tulI statement OF hs
action IN regard to these collections, as well
as of the other business of his Office not
transferred by law to other departments
Notwithstanding the fact that General Day
has performed lis labor without charge
for his services, would respectfully re-
commend that reasonable compensation be
allowed him, r,-.
us , r REDUCTION uF MILITARY OFFICES.
The close of the war has made it proper
to reduce the military Offices of the Suite
TO the smallest uumOer possible, aud |
heartily accord with the general policy on
that subject adopted at your last session.
1t was not to be expected, however, that
the reduction from 80 extended aud compli.
Gated system as wo had had for several
years, to the modest limits of n peace es.
tab,ishment could be made without some
difficulties arising which could only become
apparent after the change was made.
Down to tho year III the fixed custom
in this State had been for ,he Governor,
as commander-n.chief to appoint officers
to all the staff positions usually filled in
time Of war, 30 that in any emergency he
might be able to call upon assistants whose
duties were distinctly known aud assigned,
and be able to do whatever might be neces.
sary for the safety of the State or the con.
troll of its militia, without tho delay Of
securing competent officers after the eGil
gency had arisen. That the happy contn-
uance ofpeace should reduce these posi-
tions to nominal and honorary ones was q
blessing to the State, but would not Justify
their abolition. Tire Adjutant General and
tine Qnartermaster.G General were usually
residents of The State capital and were paid
for suoh portion OF their time as was dc.
voted to the actual performance of duty
and the other officers received no pay what
over. TO have paid one officer for his
whole time, and put upon him all the duties
of the active staff, would, in my Judgment
have been preferable, and toward this point
| should prefer to reduce The paid staff az
rapidly as the interests of the State will
permit Such understand 70 be also the
spirit of the legislation of last winter.
COLLECTION OF MILITARY CLAIMS, 4c.
In my opinion, the collection of military
claims, whether of the State or of soldiers,
can be most properly conducted through the
staff departments, and as the work in the
principal Offices decreases, | would advise
the concentration Of this labor in them, dis
pensing first with the new Offices created
since the beginning OF the war, and then as
rapidly Rs possible with all others that may
bo unnecessary. II the work Of the State
Bureau of Soldiers Claims is to be continued,
i would advise its consolidation with the
Quartermaster Generals office, Ii the Wash
ington agency is to be continued, would
advise that its head be made Assistant Quar-.
termaster Gel era, and that the deplrtme I
be charged with The duty Of fastening the
correction of vouchers and settlement Of
all claims against the United States grow.
ing out Of the military expenditures of the
State. AS this work is accomplished or
diminished, still further concentration into
the Office OF the Adjutant General can be
made or, il the State continues practically
without an organic I'd militia, all paid staff
officers except military storekeeper at the
arsenal, might be dispensed with. Before
this is done, however, the files and records
Of those offices which will some day be
looked upon as precious material for the
history OF the State during the great,re-
belllon, should be most carefully arranged
and pat beyond,the reach OF accident or
piiering.
SURGEON GENERALS REpoaT.
Among other subjects worthy of ,atten.
tiOn which the Surgeon General has EN-
bodied in his report, the necessity of pro.
viding for the prompt and efficient use Of
sanitary precautions III regard TO the AZ.
ialic cholera, is one which ! commend TO
yonr consideration aud action. The ad-
United danger of renewal of the ravages
Of this epidemic during the coming year,
makes it proper to provide for the enforce,
mept Of those regulations IN regard to The
cleaEliness of cities and ioMna snlea of nm