The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-06
Ths CITY and Gas Companl

cyBOpsIS OA Suo ncp1Et VI AAo oCCEO-
TAR or War-Bank Statement
General News. 4sbis1E
NEW YORK, December,4-The re-
port of the Secretary of War is pub.
lished to-day. The Secretary indorses
a recommendation of Gen. Sherman,
that legislation be had enacting the
rules and articles of war adopted by
the Board convened in conformity
with the act of Congress of July g,
1866, aud approving the new regula
tons compiled in June. 1868. The
Secretary continues, still referring to
Gen. Sherman 5 report, that after the
consolidation, made In accordance
with the act of March 3, 1869, there
remained in November 1909 unat-
tached officers. Ali OF these have
been assigned to duty, excepting $50,
who are awaiting orders.
It seems equitable and just, should
reduction be made, that the officers
awaiting orders by their own request
and preferring that to active duty,
should have less claim for retention
than those who applied for assign
ment. OF this class there are 139
officers. Some of them, however,
had special reasons for asking to be
placed on the awaiting orders list
which the Department recognized,
and which should be regarded. 1t is
lrcertainly fair that the consequences
of a reduction of officers should fall
proportiOnately on cavalry, artillery
and infantry, aud should Congress act
in the matter, 1t IS proper that this
congregation should not be overlooked
in reference to the question of reduce
| ton. [ concur with the report In
recommending that authority be given
to relieve a greater number of officers
| for this cause than is now alleged by
| laW--seven per cent. of the officers of
the whole army. The present maxi
mum of the whole army is 81, ,234 en-
listed men. Relying on two-thirds
for actual service. the number of men
is 34,S22. BY the plan of organiza-
| ton submitted in the report, there
would be AZ, $50 men. Two-thirds for
actual service would be 29,75 men, be-
low which it would not be prudent to
go, as the necessities ofthe country and
the great extent of territory to be
protected will require every man of
that number. | recommend that the
staff corps be retained atthe standard
fixed By Act of July. 1866. and that
the clause prohibiting appointments
and promotions be repealed, In order
that vacancies may be filed, as0was
the practice prior to the passage of
the Act of March, 1869. Although
the army may be smaller than hereto
fore, experience has shown that these
officers are as necessary for smaller
as for larger force.
/ He endorses the recommendation
of the Adjutant General of the army
for the repeal of so much of section
six, of the Act of March Sd, 1869, as
prohibits further appointments or
promotions, leaving the organization
of the Adjutant Generals Depart
ment as it was fixed by section ten of
then Act of July, 1866. An increase
to the number of Inspector Generals
is recommended.
The expenses Of the Quartermas-
ter's Department during the fiscal
year ending June 13, 1859, were $21. :
96S 4S4 0S, a reduction Of $14, 800 900
below those of the preceding fiscal
year. In February, 1869, the number
of civilians hired by this department.
exceeded 10 600, which has since been
reduced to SOC.
OF the Quartermaster General, the
|
. this Office has been reduced so low by
late legislation as to seriously retard
public business, and to provide for a
settlement of accounts some increase
lin the force is necessary. A building
capable of accommodating all Bu-
reaus of the War Department, fire
: proof and secure, is much needed.
J The railway companies to whom the
military material of the Quarrermas-
ter's Department was sold, on credit,
J at the end of the war, incurred at a
} debt originally of 81, ,59l ,406 interest,
have increased this amount to SO ,000,-
: 600, about one-half of which has
: been paid, but some railways being
! in default, and showing no disposi-
] ton to meet their obligations, suit
has been lately ordered to be brought
against them. @
There have been paid for water
Transportation during the year 81 ,424,
222 90, and fer rail transportation
3 $2.253 304 30. By an arrangement be-
tween the Departments of War and
: the Interior, supplies for the Indian
service are now transported by the
| Quartermaster Department on routes
IN the Indian Territory, the actual
cost under the contracts being re
funded to the War Department out OF
: an appropriation of S2,000,000 for the
;, paciication of the Indians, granted
April 10, 1869. Although the amount
S of equipage and clothing on hand at
: the end of the war has been reduced
: By sales and issues, there still remains
j a stock valued at over $4,000, 900
q The general depots hare been reduced
d to four, and at only two of them is
s there any large collection of material
viz: Schuylkll Arsenal. on the
Delaware, and at JefeTsonville
' on the Ohio. This latter is beins
: drawn on constantly, but it sill con
; tains over fourteen million dollari
e worth of war material. The following
! will be submitted separately for th'
Il confederation ct Congress, as pre-
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