Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-12-14
REPORT or TIE SECRETARY
or WAR.
Its Receipts and expendi-
turcs--recOmmenda-
ton to tran sfer the
Indian Bureau
to the War
Office.

The report Of the Secretary OF War is
written in a plain, direct, business like
manner. worthy Of tho distinguished
soldier Who holds the office. From it we
learn That the strength Of the army on |
the 30th Of September. 1868. was as ,0Sl,
which, by the is. Of January, 1869, will
DO red iced, by the expiration Of service, to
about 40 600. In November, 1867, orders |
we're Issued to reduce oil regiments Of
infantry and artillery, Except light
batterie.) to 80 men per company, and
recruiting for those arms has been
discontinued. There 10 but one volunteer
eff ,er left in the army. A regiment Of
volunteer Kansas cavalry has been
employed for the Indian war, but the
service is not expected to exceed elk
months. The Secretary recommends that
the reduction Of the army during the
ensuing year be made gradually, by
ordinary casualties, by discharge Of
incompetent and unworthy officers. and by
consolidation OF regiments, and by tine
disbandment Of the four regiments Of the
veteran reserve corps. The term Of
enlistment. he suggests, should be
increased to FIVE yeers as a measure OF
economy and efficiency.
The Secretary speaks highly Ct the
successful labors Of the nos regarded
indispensable inspecting officers Of the
army. The bureau OF military justice 10
deficient in the number Of dvocates, and
no provision Of law exists fer their
appointment. There has been much
progress made iu instruction In military
telsgrsphy and signalling, and the study
has been added to the courses At West Point
and At the naval academy.
The expenditures for the quartsrmastsr' .
department, during the year ending June
3oth, 1868, including claims for stores
tskcn f,r tho use Of the army during the
war, were $36.50s,3sl. elaine for
property taken during the war have been
allowed to the amount Of 4500,8l3
rejected, $2,664, 430, and are still PENDING
to the amount Of e6,90s,6s1.
Atan expense Of 81. zoe. 900 the remains
Of 3i6,233 soldiers have been collected in
tho nat'onsl cemeteries. and Of these
l75 TAG have been identified.
The proposed military depot st Jefferson
Vile has been broken up, and the 81 90, 00(
appropriated for . warehouse at that point
I has been returned to the treasury.
} The Southern railroads yet owe ~
027, G95 material sold them after I'll,
war.
The Secretary asks an appropriation .
coo, 900 for a stock farm to supply horse
J fer the cavalry.
, The Secretary calls attention TO the fac
that control Of many appropriations for tn
War Department, is vested in certain treas
ury oilicsis, who make large payment
cont afy to The advice and opinion Of III,
, War Department
The ave age cost Of tho army ration
during the year has been about twenty
three cents. Tobacco to the monthly value
o! $50 900 has been furnished the troop!
ct cost.
Subsistence to tho value OF $3.50 900 hat
been supplied to the purpose of the freed
mems bureau, tnd 10 the value Of $370 ,00l
or the support ofthe Indians. A large sun
OF last years appropriatiers remain unex-
, pended. The deaths in the army durinl
the year were ! ,G2l 452 Of these wer,
from fever, and 2zs from cholera; ia wsr,
discharged for disability.
The expenses Of the medical department
during the year were 1912 100.
The expenditures Of the pay department
for the year ending June 50. 1868, we're ii
| iolsO"S VI tbu uina ~ ,OVc,soO
for tho military academy, tl69,l 1879, and I,
volunteers, $i2, 696, 444. The disbursement
Tor reconstruction purposes have been 81,
POI. 4l5, leaving . balance Of $4G9, 626
which, il is expected, will cover oil futur
expenses. The total disbursements unde
the bounty act reach the sum Of &37, 7Gs,
, IA, which, with the claims allowed at tn,
treasury, amount to go, 900, 900. The sec
rotary recommends that tho 4th Of Marcel
be fixed IS the date beyond which n,
claims will be received. The secretary ask,
authority to sell the arscnals At Rome, N
y. and Nergennes, VI and the lands al
ldarper's Ferry, and to establish an srsena
at Omaha.
The expenditures Tor the Fieedmen's bu
rc,u during the year were s., 971 ,0i5 $50,
600 persons have received medical treat.
ment, and an average Of 10000 hav'
received daily rations. The number o
pupils attending the schools is lOi, 0O0.-
Arrangements are making to trapsfer tn,
( hospitals, schools, &C., to the local author
tiles. under certain legal protsction.
, The actual current expenses Of the wa,
department for the year were SOS, 143, O94
to which 50, 96l ,l06 old war debts are to b.
added. making an aggregate Of SIS, ,5ol
The appropriations for the present yea
are $35, i40, 55., which the secretary es,i
, mates will fall short OF the required sun
by 1870, 600.
The secretary embodics in his report ab
{ stracts Of the reports Of tho several depart.
mont commanders, the material parts 0
which have already been published in full
The secretary advises the transfer Of III,
Indian bureau to the war department.. II,
also communicates the corrsspo ndsnce be
tween the government and the civil an,
military authorities in oil the reconstructed
States-all Of which has been made public
PrOcloBn a1loA by tho Executive