New-York tribune., 1870-12-06
4 reduction below the expenditures for the
wear IS5)-7O Of ....-...............-.-..

A Areluction below the expenditures for the ... |
year l559-lO f'O'''' -
One million four hundred thousand dollars Of the |
deficiency above indicated occasoned 10y the iact tat
M the estimate made by this Department for the year
ending June 80 ls7 no amounts were included LOT GER
ain purposes because OF balances OF Ola f
believed 20 be applicable TO the payment OF expenses Or
hc year which balances were rendered uh@NS
shls by the act OF July II, 1870. -,
The total estimate Of military appropriations I3r % tne
the expenditures Ot t'e previous wear OF ~ ~ oi
below the last appror ation OF S65l5O g. OI ths eSll %
necesated by the prohibition of the use OF unexpended
balances of former years. These hguies theIeioIe,
the proper financial administration OF the Department
Fine estimates OF heads Of bureaus have been careH M
OF uneXpended balances OF former appropriations
deprived the Department Of fund to be used as
In former years when in Of emergency the amounts
appropriated we're insufficient for It's purposes stu these
estimates have been reduced close calculation to the
lowest sum required by the wants Of the service and
failure appropriate the amount asked would result In
The estimates Of the Chief of Engineers for fOrtfca
tons Improvement Of rivers and harbors public build
iugs and grounds, and Washington AQueduct are sub
mitted separately, presented by that officer;
Yorsoen and other works Of defense 90 s99 200 @
Public buildings grounds and Washington Aqueuct.. l1oa49
3sOl59
OF these amounts revision has been made by me,
but they are submitted for the consideration OF congress-
and for such action as may be deemed advisable.
INFRINGEMENT.
with an army scattered over so large an extent OF
country stationed in localities remote from dense pop
uatlOn Neeuug quarters WHOSE eItClOu Is ny
the want Of those facilities offered in the more thicky
settled portions OF the country, and actually demanding
very heavy expenditures for transportation and the
other incidents OF the service II is difficult to rapidly en-
force reduction Since the date Of helast report has
been my endeayOr TO use every proper means 10 return
from the loose customs and expenditures which crept
the service during the emergencies OF our late war
to the more economical and thrifty system OF former
The transportation Of clerks by officers Of the staff de-
parments was prohibited except on special order from
erty which during the made monthly, for OBJ
yous reasons are now made quarterly thus reducing
the number OF vast army OF clerks the result OF whose
abOrs only TO cucumber the desks OF the Depart
Washington with accounts which could not be
examined. and Of which quarterly examination would
all purposes General officers were required TO
soeG 70 d1S % eeSS2 @ % t S Ins suTnTs animals
of the Quarermaster's Department. TO the number of
Gij. were sold, producing SAs1S useless depos Were
up and reduction of Loss in the number OF civil
eiuToyt5 made, thereby efecting saving in saaTie
reduction IN both the number OF employees and of draugh
annals borne without detriment TO the service
SoTk ana brooklyn rents we're being paid for building
army at the rate Of $780, per annum To lesser
this expenditure, large stOrehouse az moderate cost
has been erected on Governors Island NewYork HarbOr
i which means the storage of property can be cOncen
M trated the building and In one building IN the CITY
N of York saving IN rents the sum OF S55 ann
W ally The above few Of the plans which have beer
adopted looking toward economy and retrenchment ant
with Ag best results Further reductions % IN the nuiRe
custom pi hr service as may appear TO he necessary 10
the purpose, are In contemplation and VIII b
made from time u time.
SALE OF ARMS.
Since the commencement OF the present fiscal yea
there has realized from sales Of surplus ant
ordnance to citizens of the United States the
S5GODDOJ More than $4,000 stands OF OF obsolete
pattern unfit for have sold since the clos
of the and il the intention to continue the sae
aS opportunity offers. ,....
Recruiting for every arm Of the service has been car
rcd throughout the year. Many Of the rendezvous
closed in February, 1870, owing to the nearly
bauSiei state Of the recruiting fund. Congress- how
ever having made special appropriation of $4,000 to
dcfray expenses until the end Of the fiscal year. recruit
ing resumed under instructions issued April
BY the lst of July, ISL the army will be brought down
O. the legal standard OF 5000 enlisted men, the number
prescribed by the acuf July 15 1870, and in the
time recruiting viii be continued only ON scale rendered
Ola July 1882 the number Of officers in service was
255 increased 10y the appointment during the Of
pOst-chapans and s. graduates Of West Point, making
u all 2slO The number OF officers in service on Nov TO-
s'u ~ds 1tsl, l9 @ O 90 V N No' % ihe mum
standard prescribed hy law, was 211.
RETIRING OFFICERS.
By the act OF July lj 1870 providing for the reduction
Of the Army the extent Of the retired list was increased
authority was given to the President TO discharge at his
discretion with one years pay, officers who might apply
therefor and to transfer officers Of the line TO the list OF
supernumerarics the Secretary OF War directed
officers reported by department commanders unfit for
tue proper usoEaIge OF thelr duties; and It was also
the Isl Of January ISL should be hOnOraby mustered out
ratons for carrying out the provisions Of that act are
being made rapidly possible The Board referred TO
is now IN session. having under consideration the cases
which have been reported for it's action and reports
been received from The retiring boards, organized
Department 70 exercise discretion Judgment in the
recommendations II may make 10 the discharge of
the military record aud personal fitness Of those recon-
mendci for transfer or retention 10 avoid injustice and
by fair examination OF each 20 aid In lust and
impartial enforcement OF the law. As many Of the
officers who will. Of necessity be mustered ont by opera
ton OF law have done faithful service in the hedsome
of them in OF the Rebellion, and in the war
bu wNp not lo avrfao
well a. generous, aet IN congress, Dy legislation
early n tie coming session, TO extend until July l. 1871
the limo in which the President may at his discretion
discharge with one years pay ana allowances officers
who may apply therefor, and also TO direct that
cancrs occurring prior 20 that date IN the regiments Of
C,yay artillery, and infantry might DE filled by such
supernmeraTy officers, with due gard 10 rank and 1T
ness thOsc remaining supernumerary after July l, lS7l
10 be mustered out with one years pay IrecOmmend
1br adoption OF this 10 viii FAR toward pre-
venting the injustice which IL difficult 20 avoid and
will TO great extent, dispense with the necessity for
forcing from the service, with seeming Dgrautude many
gallant men. - -
urn The past year IS cadets Of the Military Academy
have been graduated and appointed second heuenants
I'm the army AZ have been discharged for marked def
cheney in conduct studies, have resigned, has de-
serted and have died New cadets 20 the number OF
have besn admitted and the corps at present num-
bers rs members, divided Tor PURPOSES Oh study ana
seu nc nsructOnpntO four classes, ana organized, Tor
tcred from among themselves Within the next four
years 2O0educated oncers can De supplied 10 the
neuis of any military organization upon Officers OF their
grade Gratifying reports Of the welfare ana progress
N Academy are presented DOID ny he Inspector anu
'ng Hon. are entertained that the increasing labors OF the
Corn o Engineers in connection with the internal and
f,ri g commerce Of the country and the necessity Of
Employing civil engineers will induce repeal OF the eK-
ne s and thus rest6re TO cadets incentive 70
exerton OF which they have lately been dePISed: I ~
A. ali scpIrng roads, improving the drill ground aud