The New York herald., 1871-12-04
Annual Report OF Secretary
Belknap.
The Operations of the War De-
partment for 1871.

uuty. III ~ DeueVeu, however, tnat Tue ueCisloH
finally reached were fair impartial and for the goot
OF the service In accordance with the same act ths
number OF enlisted men was on July reduced tt
$4,000; Indifferent soldiers were discharged, the
standard OF recruits was raised with q view to i'm
proving the character OF the rank and dle and the
following table OF organization vas cstablished:-
Enlisted men OF engineers. Observation-Disclosures. 30l
Enlisted men OF ordnance. Observation-Disclosures. All
Ordnance sergeants at posts. 20t
Military Academy band. nd....................... q
o. enisied men per company for IS companies
artillery. $500
81 enlisted men per battery for batteries light
q enllsted men per company for l2o companies
cavalry 10. .0St
% enlisted men per company FOR $50 companies
Non Commissioned stan or regiments. 40 Sot
Total. &c, ,00t
The star OF general onicers was also reduced to
the simple requirements OF the army In time OF
peace, and the line officers thus relieved from de
tached duty were ordered to their regiments where
Shey could be OF more benefit to the service.
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES
fcz the fiscal year ending June 80, 1869, were
$50, ,0l2 the expenditures the year ending
June 80, 1870, were $57, ,655,675, which sum In
cludes $3.697,50O for river and harDor improve
mcnts. The expenditures tor the year ending June
Do 1871 about $40, 600 600, including for river
and narbor improvements, $3.9i59oo. Thus, dur.
ing the year 1S69-T0 the reduction In expenses In
the War Department amounted TO So, 9ss, ,Ss7 So
and, during the year lS7071, fur her reduction OF
4l7,655 ,675 40 was made For the next fiscal year
for river and harbor improvements 81, 4o7, ,5OO
Is INNATE FOR 1873.
The total estimate ior military appropriations fer
we fiscal year ending June 80 1873. Is 49, AS 472
OF this estimate the sum OF 1,l53 COZ is necessl-
lated BY the prohibition Of the use q unexpended
Jor rcappropriation OF such Sums as nave re-
verted 10 the Treasury under the fifth section OF the
act OF july IL, 1870. Tie estimate oi the Chief OF
Engineers for fortifcatons Improvement OF rivers
and harbors, pubic buildings and grounds and
Washington Aqneduct are submitted separately. as
presented by that officer, foilows:-Fortincation
and other works Of defence, So, 255 SEQ; for river
and harbor Improvements. s9,as,: 90, and for pub
duct. x4f6,704.
Up to this date, during the current fiscal year. there
has been paid into the Treasury, as realized from
the sale OF and from other sources during the
current fiscal year, $2l. 766, 4oa.
Under the act OF July q, 1861 providing for the
adjustment and payment OF the
CLAIMS OF THE SEVERAL STATES
Ur en,0g 1r ,h sunsisnG ana other expenses IN
the United States the claims were pafd out OF anv
money In tine Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
clause 0l the or July 81 1861 ana reouires the
proper department to submit estimates for these ex.
submitted estimate OF s3 O0o 900 for this purpose
That being the amount designated by the Third Au.
ment Of claims now pending in his ONCE eI ior the
next fiscal year. WV
SERVICES or THE TROOPS
The reports Of the General of the Army and OF the
division and department commanders, herewith
submitted. will convince the country that the
0mcers and men OF the army have performed the
duties devoving upon them faithfully ana we'll
though these duties, resulting from the determine.
collection OF the revenue and for tine suppression
0f armed insurrectIon, have agreeable features
Ssic Is the result o. discpane Tee records sas'e y
me department show thar 100 applications for
troops ioa various purposes and for military proiec:
which, where the necessity required il, have been
promptly responded 10.
IL Is with great embarrassment and difficulty that
fhe appropriations made at the last session OF Con-
Kress-reduced as tney were below The estimates OF
the uepartmennt-can be SO economical as 10
answer the pressing requirements OF the service.
The operations OF active warfare Arizona In con.
neeton la WITH Indian difficulties there are such as
necessarily require large expenditures, and the
not anticipated '0psseu Sy congress @ ss'ssS wne
cers N Charge of these opera perationsIoenerai @
Schoheld, commanding the Division OF the Pacific,
Department OF Arizona-have united with this
department In endeayoring 20 retain the expenses
:, lowest possible limit, aud have used the most
- ...s -NoEis in this direction, and the conduct
~ 1ous 'o has administration OF the anairs
~ Ss aensren, received my full approval
While, therefore, the L." eppropnaiions aa asked d
should & be given continued ei s.~d those abso.
tutely essential. 4M
RECOMMENDATIONS.
recommend that the extra l1eutenants now au.
thori1ed by law 10 serve reglmenial adjutants ana
Quartermasters in artillery, cavalry and infantry
regiments, as provided by sections 2 and o. the
act OF July %, 1866, be discontinued vacancies
occur those grades. This would enect an ultimate
reduction OF eighty lieutenants; would result In
yearly saving II the reduction should be completed,
Of nearly sleo,ooo and would be OF no detriment to
the service,
1t is further recommended that the grade or quar-
termaster-sergeant for The companies OF cavalry
Infantry and heavy artillery be abolished: The
Arftn nff mi IL g,An
late war were usually discharged by the first ser
geant, and ihe present strength or company is
such that return TO the old system in this respect
with regard to the grades OF enlisted men known
as company artifcer and company wagner, the
state of the service ID now such a5 10 justify tie
recommenl latlon that they, too be discontinued,
al q their duties devolved upon smaller number
OF private soldiers, detailed for extra GntJ service
and employed under direction OF The Quarrcrmaster
Department Should TINS recommendation be
adopted 1,l65 enlisted men would be oispens sed
with, at gross yearly saving OF s4l2, 74o. From
this deduct the probable cost Of extra duty men,
anu wagoners-$.2, 240-and the net saving viii be
over $24U,0O0.
BY the aci OF March o. 1863, the first six reg,.
ments OF cavalry are each allowed one veterinary
surgeon at q compensation Of S15 per month. Iiy
Me act OF July 20, 1886. the four other cavalry regi-
ments are provided with the same organization,
with the additional allowance OF one veterinary
surgeon to eacD, at compensation 0f $lO0 per
awed ia m saeb 70 81 SAY NE .To en az arc
salary OF s75 per month and the other at 500. TO
remedy this defective organization recommend
that two veterinary surgeons be authorized for
each cavalry regiment. ~ compensation or 800
per month"; ana that the provisions Of the acts above
cited be repealed.
In the general regulations OF the army OF 1885 a
plan Is presented 10y hich soldiers who are frugal
enough 10 save their pay shall have safe deposit
Tor II. The outline IA simply tbis:-Not less tnan
80 may be deposited 1T any one time with the
paymaster at pay day, when check pook VIII be
gwen the soldier In which the amonnt OF deposit
wlli be entered. These deposits cannot be drawn
un the discharge OF the soldier. They not sub.
tcct 70 forfeiture by sentence OF court martial, but
belong 70 the personal OF the soldier. voun-
Lafny conndea by him 10 the trust OF the United
States untii ne receives nsl payment discharge.
lhe pehehtS Vi lhl- piAu are various. IL prevents
the Vicious practice OF connding money 10 comnis-
stoned ofncers Tor safe Keeping, which Injuries dis
Ciplne by the inyariaDie disputes engendered, and
II avoids the numbering OF the uayroiis by constant
entry Of pay not drawn.
by the restriction contained In section !. act OF
July IL, 1870, which was interpreted 10y the Treas
ury Department 20 apply ~ these deposits, 1t be.