Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-12-04
coNPLIMENTEn.

One Of the first objects 20 which the General ad
dressed himself on entering the War Office on Lhe
18th OF August last was the reduction of expendi
lures to which end army officers were required e
dispense with various indulgencies which they had
been enjoying at the expense of the Government
The bureau Of rebel archieves and the bureau fol
the exchange Of prisoners were turned over 10 the
adjutant generals Office, by which large number
OF clerks and several officers were dispensed with
The sale Of large quantities Of surplus stores re-
heved the Government Of considerable expense for
guarding and storage, saving the rent Of numerous
storehouses and salaries of a considerable number
of employees. great reduction has also been eff
iected In the expense of maintaining troops along
the routes OF travel across the Plains Although
thls IS stall heavy the aggregate strength Of the ar
my is shown TO be about hfty-siz thousand
IL is recommended that the term of enlistments
be changed from three TO five years; and change
is recommended in the system Of court martial and
punishments. The volunteer force has been re-
duced TO about 200 commissioned officers who are
retained by special acts for service in the Freed
mems Bureau.
In the Office Of the Quartermaster General. over
1000 accounts have been examined during the
year. They amount to more than $500, GOO 600 and
there remains TO be examined accounts amounting
20 nearly 100000 more.
The report embraces some facts in relation 10
cemeteries for the interments Of Union soldiers of
which there are three hundred and eight including
eighty-one known as national cemeteries About
quarter Of a million nterments have been made
IN these cemeteries and there remain some seventy
odd thousand 10 be inferred The total cost Of these
cemeteries, when completed viii be about three
million and a half
The Indebtedness Of Southern railroads 10 the
United States on the Both Of June last, little
less than six million dollars, reduction of about
sixty thousand dollars since the last report
In the Office Of the Paymaster General there has
been received and recorded four hundred thou
sand bounty claims, under the act Of July Is, 1866
ALI a. Of vvhic soft nd M
expenditure of something over nine million dollars.
The report of the chief engineer will recon-
mend that surveys for river aud harbor improve
ments should be continued, especially upon the
1t viii appear nom the ordnance report that the
arms and other ordnance stores which had aeeumu-
lated at the Southern arsenas have been removed,
and are now in charge Of tho ordnance department.
An appropriation is recommended for the estab
hshment Of an arsenal between the Missouri river
and the Rocky Mountains, for the storage Of arms
FOR the use Of troops serving on the Plains.
Some twenty-three thousand Springfield muskets
have been converted during the year into breach
leaders, aud the troops serving on the Plains have
been armed with them. These arms have proved
very effective weapons in the campaign against The
Indians.
The board Of visitors TO tho West Point Military
academy speaks favoraby of the condition Of the
institution and IFS usefulness. Sixty-three cadets
graduated in june and were commissioned IN the
army. 1t is recommended that the number of ca
diets be increased.
The estimate Of military appropriations required
for the fiscal year ending the 30th of June next
is about S71,OO0,0o0. This estimate is based upon
the expenditures for the current year, and II Is
thought il may exceed the actual requirements of
the service in the establishment of peace with the
Indians II affected il will result in great reduc
ton Of expenditures Over thirteen millions OF the
present estimate is 10 cover a deficiency IN last
years appropriations
As the regular army is now about four times as
large as before the war it is thought that tho num-
Der of cadets now admitted 70 the Military Academy
is insufficient 20 supply il with officers, and Il Is
therefore recommended that tho present number,
which is limited 10 one for each representative and
delegate in Congress and ten at large be increased
by sddiag three moro at large and considering a
vacancy as existing in each Congressional district
when its cadet enters the second class.
The continuance for another year of the addi-
ional pay allowed 30 officers by the last Congress
is recommended.
In relation 20 the military districts Of the South
General Grant says that their commanders are IN
their civil capacity entirely independent OF the
General of the army or the Secretary of War; ex-
cent in the matter of removal of civil officers, but
that they have exhibited willingness TO acquiesce
in any posvelv ex pressed wish from either OF the
officers placed over them 10y the Constitution or the
acts Of Congress. So far was compatible with
the proper execution Of the laws the several COM
manders are complimented for tho faithful eXecu-
ton of their difficult trust.
The reports Of Generals Schofeld, Candy, and
Pope have already been published That Of Cen
Ord represents that the whites generally are op-
posed TO the reconstruction acts and that the extern
sion of suffrage 20 the negroes has increased the
feeling of hostility TO them and TO Northern men,
and General Ord thinks that larger military force
than that now employed viii be necessary to pre-
serve order and protect the freedmen in their rights
Reports have not yet been received from Generals
Sickles Sheridan and Mower.