The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-05
BelLxnap's REPORT.
Our Contracted War Department
Present Status Of the Army
Its Operations During
the Past Year.

partment may be realized, a statement of the mill
tary force OF the nation is necessary in the COM
mencement OF this repert. The latest returns sub.
mitted I'm the report OF the General OF the Army
show the regular army TO be composed of 24S3
officers and 34,sTO enlisted men. sl,i7s OF whom
compose the ten regiments OF cavalry, the five reg-
ments OF artillery and the twenty-five regiments OF
infantry, the remaining 1902 being engineer troops
recruiting detachments, and others not enumerated
among troops OF the line. These men are stationed
in fortytwo States and Territories, at 2O3 organized
military posts.
\ hThe Establishment OF new posts as settlements ad-
vance is constantly rendered necessary, and the
pense OF providing temporary shelter in incement
regions OF the country is unayoidably great
EXPENSES.
There was appropriated for the military service
for the fiscal ear ending June 30, 1S7O s3753s. $685.
and for the same purpose for the year ending June
30, 1871, $780, 249, S97. The deficiency will be ST. 65S
900; total, s82 9O2, ,84s97 reduction below the ex-
pendtures for the years 1S6e-10 OF s4,636, 5031l
100000 OF the deficiency above Indicated is occa
stoned 10y the fact that in the estimate made by this
debt for the year ending June 80 1911, no amounts
were included for certain purposes because of
balances OF old appropriation, believed to be app-
cable TO the payment of expenses for the current
year, which balances were rendered unavailable by
the act OF July 49, 1870.
the year ending June 30, 1872, is s2s 1888 99sa re-
ducton below the expenditures OF the previous year
of 90 BIS $50 81 and below the last appropriation OF
$500 5e97. OF this estimate for the next fiscal year
the sum OF 062 Ts5 also necessitated by the pro-
hbiton of the OF unexpended balances of former
years These figures, therefore, clearly and
plainly the amounts demanded j6r the proper fnan-
The estimates Of heads Of bureaus have
been carefully scptinized, and Notwithstanding
the prohibition OF the use OF unexpended
balances of former appropriations has deprived the
department OF any fund TO be used, as In former
years when IN cases OF emergency the amounts ap-
propriated were insufficient for Its purposes still
these estimates have been reduced on close calcula-
tion to the lowest sum required by the wants Of the
service, and failure to appropriate the amount
asked would result in great embarrassment to the
The estimates of the Chief Engineer for fortiaca-
tions, Improvement of rivers and harbors, public
buildings and grounds, and washington Aqueduct,
are submitted separately as presented by that off,
nd tbar worla of defansa "a 600 ooo
River and harbor improvements. ......... S,S42,450
Public buildings and grounds and Wash
ngt0n Aqueduct., t.,....-....,.........,.. l,lOS,4Ss
Total. .....................s s13 $50, ,l3s
me, but they are submitted for the consideration OF
Congress and for such action as may bs deemed ad-
visable. With an army scattered over so large
extent Of country, stationed in localities remote
from dense population, needing quarters whose
OF food in the more thckly settled portions OF the
country, and actually demanding very heavy expen-
ditures for transportation and the other incidents
Of the service, it Is difficult 10 rapidly enforce re-
duction
endeavor to use every proper means to return from
the loose customs and expenditures, which crept
into the service during the emergencies OF our late
war, to the more economical aud thrifty system OF
former years.
RECRUITING.
Recruiting for every arm OF the service mas been
carried throughout the year. Many OF the rendez-
closedin February 1870, owing the nearly
however. having made a special appropriation Of
$4,000 to deray the expenses until the end OF the
tions Issued on April 30 BY the 1st OF July 1911,
the army will be brought down to the legal standard
the acs OF July IS, is7O, and in the meantime
recruiting will be continued only scale rendered
necessary by casualties.
THE OFFICERS.
ON July /, 1869, the number OF officers in service
was 2T4I, Increased by the appointment during the
year Of six post chapains and os graduates Of West
in service on November 10, 1870, was 24Sl, reduc
tion OF Ss9 On November 30 the number of super
numerary officers, OF those In excess Of the stan
dard prescribed by law, was 2ll.
by the act OF July IS, 1870, providing for the re-
ducton OF the army, the extent OF the retired list
was increased. Authority was given to the Presi-
dent TO discharge at his discretion, with one years
pay, ofcers who might apply therefor, and to trans
Ter ofcers OF the line TO the list OF supernumerares
The Secretary OF War was directed TO constitute q
board for examination of cases OF officers reported
by department commanders as unit for the proper
discharge OF their duties, and II was also enacted
lst OF January, 1871, should be honOraby mustered
out OF the service with one years pay a2d allow
Preparations for carrying cut the provisions OF
that act are being made as rapidly as possible. The
board referred TO is now In session, having under
consideration the cases which have been reported
for It's action and reports have been received from
the retiring boards organized under the act. IL will
be the endeavor OF the department 10 exercise dis
erection aud Judgment In the recommendations il
and by the exercise Of due regard for the military
record and personal ntness OF those recommended
by fair examination OF each case to aid in jus
and impartial enforcement OF the law.
AS maDV OF the officers who will OF necessity b'
mustered out by operation OF law have done faithful
service in the held, some OF them In the war OF thu
Rebellion ana some in the war with Mexico, sub
NIT whether Il would not be wise as weIl as gene
act in Congress. by legislation early In th,
the time IN which the President ma
at his discretion discharge, with one years pay an
allowances, officers who may apply therefor, an
also to direct tnat vacancies occurring prior tina
date in the regiments OF cavalry artillery, and IN
fantry, might be filled by such supernumerary ON
eers. with due regard TO RANK and htness those re
naming supernumerary after July l,lsil, TO be mus
tered out with one years pay.
recommend the adoption OF thus course. lt WI
go far towards preventing the injustice which II
dificult 70 avoid, and Will, 10 great extent dis
vice, with seeming ingratitude many gallant mel
DEBTS OF RAILWAY COMPANIES.
But little progress has been made by the railwa
companies in settling the debts contracted Dy tnef
at the close OF the war by the purchase OF the mate
rial OF the military railroads. The total debt remain
s6,9l2 lO69T, principally owing from Sonthwester
companies: and their payments during the yea
announced TO the sum OF s365, ,Ss04h But owing
the amount OF interest the entire reduction wa
has been sought by some Of the roads, while suit
have in some cases been instituted against thos
defaulting
THE NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
The recor Is of the department show the burial,
the National and other cemeteries, OF S55,OO0 pc
sons. In addition to those buried In the seyent.
three national cemeteries, there are very many so
diers inferred 10 private cemeteries near hosplla
for carrying out the law which requires the Gem
teries to be properly enclosed.
Under the act OF Congress close and useful llspe
tioDs have been thoroughly made by neld onicer
changes aud improvements carried out. They q
being decorated, in ACCORDANCE with a law OF u