The New York herald., 1870-12-10
reduction below the expenditures for

A reduction below the expenditures for
One man four hundred thousand dollars o. shs
deficiency above indicated Is occasoncl By the fact
that IN tbe estimate made hy tins department. for the
year ending June 80, 1871, no amounts were In
cluded Tor certain iurpo es, because OF baances
OF old appropriations beeyea to he applicableto tne
payment OF expenses Tor the current year. which
balances were rendered unavailable oy he acc or
July IL. 1870.
The total estimate Of military appropriations for
the year ending June -, 49, IS $50 3S3 9S, eauc
tion below tie eXlcndures of The previous year or
S3ols, go aud below the last appropriation
$500, $50. or ns estimats for the next fiscal year
the OF 81 0G1 rs is also necessated by the pro-
hlbll0n OF the use OF uneXpenied balances Of for
mer years. These figures there ore present clearly
and plainly the amounts demanded for the pro cr
financial administration oil The department. The
estimates OF heads OF bureaus have been carefully
scruGnZeu ana Notwithstanding !he prohibition OF
the use OF uaeNpendei balances If former appropr.
ations has deprived the department o! any fund to
be used, as IN former years, when cases enler-
gency the amounts appropriated wee Insufficient
for its purposes, stlll N re estimates have been re.
duce on cl ,se calculation 10 the lowest sum re.
quired by the wants of the seryce and failure to
appropriate tn. amount asked would result IN great
embarrassment 20 the publlc INTEREST.
The estimates OF the CHIEF ot Engineers for fortt-
hcaions, improvement or rivers ana hay5"rs PUB.
lie bui dings and grousds, and Washington Aqie-
quot, are submitted separately as presented by that
0liGer:-
Foruacatous ana other works OF defence. ssoe9 20,
River and harbor improvements. S.SA2,450
Public buildI ps and grounds ant wash
ngtch Alue4lct.- .-..................... l,lOo, 1So
Total. sic, $50. i3o
or these amounts no revision has been made by
me- but they submitted Tor the consideration OF
Congress ana lor sucl acton as may &c deemed ad
visab:e.
of country, stationed in iocilities note from q
dense ptpuation need ng quarters whose erection
4 retarded by the want o those facil ties offered IN
the more thlckS S2itied pottions or the count y,
ard actually demanding very heavy expenditures
for transp spgrLltoI and tae otier inc.deDts OF the
service, IL Is dncult 10 rapidly enforce reduction.
Slnce the date TIL last report II has been NV en-
deayor 10 us3 every proper mems 10 return from
the loose oins ana cSpenu ures winch crepJ
into the service during the emergencies or our lIte
war I'd the more ecoho.nch and thrifty system OF
former years.
The transportation or clerks by officers or The stan
depar nlents was proalblted, except special order
from the department, cunlbrous and lengthy retuns
OF properly. which during the war were made
monthly for obvious reasons. are now made quar-
tery, thus reducing the number OF q vast army OF
clerks, the result OF whose labors was only TO
cumber the desks Of the department at Washington
with accounts wnich could not be examined and or
which quarterly examination would answer AL
purposes. General olcers were requires to Limit
the number OF tne,r inspection tours, and were
stricted to the selection OF one officer to accompany
them, instead OF an entire staT. Surplus drangnt
animals OF the QLattci masters Department TO the
number or 6,345 wclc sod producing AS i3l; use
less depots were broken IN and reduction Of 10e5
In the number Of cIvi! emploges was made, thereby
enestmg saving IN salaries of STA 6l2 per annum.
Experience SHOWS tnaL a further reduction ~ bo
the numbe" OF employes anu Of draughr animals can
be borne without detrment 10 the service, AMI Will
consequently he made. In the cines OF New York
and Brooklyn rens We're beins paid for buildings or
army uses al the rate OF S5j5J0 Ter annGm. TO les
sen this expenditure large storehsuse. at mode
rate cost, has been erectc1 Oh 6ovefnOf's Island,
New York harDor, by whi h means the storage Of
property can he concentrated IN the Lev build.
Ing and In enc building IN the city or
New York-a saving in rents or the sum
OF S3i,5oo annually. The above are few OF the
plans which have been adopted looking toward
economy and retrencnmeut, and with The best re-
suits. Further reductions III the number Of build
ings rented at high rates and changes IN existing
customs OF the service as may appear 10 be neceS-
sary for the purpose III contemplation,
and viii be made from time to time.
fhn InnP r. nj
year there mas been realized iron sales OF surplus
arms and ordnance 20 cirl ems CT the United States
the sum oil S5,G00G00 More than l3l0, 000 stands OF
arms o. obsolete pattern ana unit Tor issue, have
been sold since The close o the war and 1t is t!c III
tenilon TO continue the sales rs opportunity offers
Recurring for every OF the service has been
carried on throughout the wear. Many Of the iendel
yous were closed IN February, 10. owing to the
nearly eXhaus ed state The recruiting fund Con-
gress, however, having made a SPECIAL approp Ia
ton OF $4,000 TO det ay expenses until the end Of
the fiscal year. recruiting was resumed under in
siructlOns lssucl on April 81. BY ble lst OF July,
1871, the army will be brought down TO the legal
standard OF 900 enlisted men-the number pre-
scrbed by the act OF July l5 l,10-and III lhe
tlae recruiting VIII be continued only on scale
On July l. 1869, the numDer or officers in service
was 2, TAO, increased the appoln, ment during the
year OF SIX post cnap ans ald hitSelght graduates
OF West 10 mt. maNlng IN al 2,sl0 lne number Of
officers In service Oh November 10, 1870 2,4SI,
reuLcton Of 32o. on November 30 the number OF
supeinumerary officers or OF those In excess OF the
standard prescribed D. law was I'll.
BY tae act Of July 49, $780, prosialng for the redhc-
VI me eAlcJI Dl TIC TebTcu llsb WAS
increased, a thority Was given 70 the President TO
discharge al his discretion with one years pay, OH
GERS w ifgnt apply therefor and 10 trans er Oll
CrS OF the Line To tie list of supcrnumerarIe3 the
Secretary OF Wal was directed tu stl IL board
Tor tnc exaninaton OF the OF Officers reported
by departme mt commanders as unit for The proper
discharge OF their duties, and II was also enacted
that all supernimcrary officers rema ming after the
LIST OF January, lSTl should be honofaDiy mustered
out o the service, WITH one years. pay anl allow
anccs Preparations Tor carrying out the provisions
OF that act are being made Ms rapidly as possible.
Tne board referred 10 s now III session, aving
under consideration tse cases which have been re-
ported tor It's action and reports nave been received
from the retiring boalas. organized under the act.
1t VIII be the e .deavor ol the Department 10 eXcr-
else discretion and Judgment IN the recommends
uOns u may make as 10 the discharge or supernu-
merares, and by the exercise " due regard Tor the
military record dnd personal fitness ol those reccm-
mended for transfer or rce tlOH to avoid INJUSTICE,
ahu py iair examination VI cach case to ala IN q
just anu impartial enforcement. OF the law.
as many OF the officers who Will, OF necessity be
mus,eleu oub Dy operation OF law have uorc faithful
selvCe III Tue Eeld-some OF them IN the war oil the
rcnellion, alu some IN the war with Mexce-l sub
lui' Whcuicr ~ Wnuu not be wise as well a. gen.
Srous uct III congress, by lVcislatlon early In the
coming session To extend until july lsIl le tlme
In Whioh tne Preside may, at his discreJ on, dis
cnat9e, WIN one year pay and allowances officers
Wao may Apply Lherciof aud also TO direct that va
cancies occurring prior 10 that date in The regiments