New-York tribune., 1872-12-03
THE ARM Y.
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT or SECRE
TARY BELKNAP.
COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEARS.

ending Juno 3O 1874 t,52,DI 20; showing reductDb
OF tg73l g. The total estimate for military appropra
tions for tho fiscal year ending June %, 1874 Ia S3Oi
gs 49, Tho estimates Of the Chief Of Engineers are sub
mtod separately as presented by tnat officer, namely
FortlGcations and other works Of defense, b74sCo ;
river and harbor improvements tl12,50, public build
ings and grounds ana Washington Aqueduct Gi2,Dli
total. sl6,G3o.82L
Since NY ast report there have been turned into the
Treasury by surplusfund warrant balances Of previous
appropriations amounting in the aggregate 10 p2D-
ST. Had these balances been applicable for the use
Of the current ensuing fiscal year. the estimates coud
have reduced very materially, as In the Item OF
expenses for recruiting alone, the sum Of c)O was re-
turned the Treasury being double tho amount asked
under that head for the fiscal year An estimate
OF 900 has been submitted TO Treasury settle
ens In favor OF states for expenses incurred for enroll
Ing and subsisng troops called into the United States
service during tho late war, under the act Of July ~
1861 and 100000 for payment for horses lost or destroyed
while In the military service Of the GENERAL Government
1t has been found impossible, thu far, to reduce the
force In the Southern States east of tho Mississippi which
were engaged IN the OF the r3Oelon. About one
sixth OF the Army Is still there.
A CRIMINAL CODE NEEDED FOR THE ARMY.
The opinion il entertained that the service
would be greatly benefited and its morale increased, by
the adoption OF a code providing specific penalties for
weLdehned 0ffenses, with minimum and maximum
Limitation 10 meet first oenses and the cases Of perss
tent offenders BY the pursuit OF this plan, It Is believed
tho character OF certainty OF execution would attach TO
all sentences, adding largely TO their corrective power
and relieving the Executive from the numerous apphca
tions for cemeney that now received
The absence proper places Of confinement for the
enforcement Of sentences IL pregnant With deporsble
resus II has led through the necessity OF the case TO
the designation, by this Department, Of the different
State pententiaries military prisons and prisoners
guilty OF purely military Oenses are there eompeed 70
associate with the vest feons in the country, and sub
eced TO all the humiatng and degrading discpnes OF
those institutions.
Under the existing laws there is no warrant or pro-
vision for the by civilians Of deserters from the
army and when such arrests made In consequence
Of awards offered by the military authorities the civilian
s compelled to assume all the responsibility Of his act
and the expense and vexation which may arise from
suit As natural consequence the deserter, In mea-
sure enjoys immunity from arrest by the citizen, ana II
IA therefore recommended that legislation be had look
ng 10 the protection and defense by the United states
of persons against whom suit shall be instituted for such
arrest.
THE ACCOUNTS.
The expenditures for the service of the
ouarermasters Department during the year have been
sl25l7,931 81
The number OF cavalry aud artillery horses purchased
during the year ia estimated at 3217 mules for the
trains 2c9; the number OF horses in service is 972O Of
mules sT58.
The changes in the Uniform and dress Of the army
recommended by Board Of Officers convened IN refer
enee TO that subject were with notifications ap-
proved and the clothing s being manufactured "a
rapidly as possible. The uniform adopted is believed to
be great Improvement and wi it is hoped, give gem
eral satisfaction In the army.
The expenditures for clothing during the past year
have been s66529 g. and the Quarermasters Depart
ent has deposited in the Treasury from sales OF cloth
ing and equpage during the year. sl,s4s,S5l 40 which
sum is not available for current use.
Transportation by railroad has cost VI 100000; OF THIS
sOos57 was the Pacific railroads. wagon transpor
aton sOOOOO water transportation, s26S73 59 stage
transportation s4s975 81 and the amount paid on se-
count OF purchase OF transportation animals purchase
and repair Of army and spring wagons, aud carts har-
ness &c hire OF teamters. wharfage tolls, was ss2L
$50 g. making total of 100000 and exhausting the
appropriation
CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS.
The cost Of construction and repair Of military build
ugs has been 1886 925. Ninetyhye buildings have
been erected military posts. at cost OF s4Oo53 ana
SIS 900 has been expended upon wharges.
The Indebted Southern railroads have paid tl3si32 49,
and unsettled accounts file will probably increase this
sum about s93OOOO making in all $4,000 derived from
these accounts during the year The balance still due at
the end OF the year was A73i,4i2 49,
Under the law OF July 1864 for relief Of loyal citizens
in certain loyal Districts the has
examined and transmitted to the accounting officers for
settlement 665 claims for Quarermasters stores taken
during the war amounting as allowed to 1867 lO2 27l
Others have been rejected. amounting To Syo,lO 10
There are 1851 claims under this law stu on ME- stated
at SS57Od 30, Dut large pIVpoIoh VI tn0'0 s0 PiV"
The "a national cemeteries now contain the remains Of
az g62 persons All but i6 OF these GENE teries have
been permanently incosed are being nelOsed under
contracts now IN operation
BsIsTRNCE-MEDICAL REPoRT-PAY BILLS
ARSESALs
Subsistence supplies, valued at SS9,4S L
have been issued Indians OF the various tribes visiting
the military posts the frontier or in their respective
nations part OF which amount is returned TO the ap
propraon for the subsistence Of the army and ssues
OF subsistence stores Indians have also been made to
meet special emergencies to the amount OF NOS,S &c.
The monthly reports Of sick and wounded received
during the year represent an annual average mean
strength of 2410i white and 2,i9t coored soldiers
Among the white troops the total number Of cases OF all
kinds reported on the sick list 455; the total mum
ber OF deaths reported was 967. Among the colored
troops the total number OF cases reported was 5 the
number OF deaths from all causes reported was 81
The legislation Of Congress at It's last session mas
ton OF the rank and file OF the army. The Pay bill car
es the system OF retained pay to those Of all ranks and
no one can doubt the good effect OF such system
such of the arsenals OF the Mississippi River as
can spared should be s0ld and the proceeus appeu
20 the
and repair on the Atlantic coast and the erection OF
suitable depOts for the storage or the powder ana inter
belonging Ia the Department.
some plan for settling the long-dsputed claims Tor
royalty the that have been altered at Springfield
Armory should be devised and the attention OF Congress
4 called 10 such legislative enactments as tend TO de-
prive the Government OF the inventive ingenuity OF ls
ntcers and employees By preventing them from receiv
ing ROYALTY participating In profits derived irom IN
yentoDs made by them while In the United states
service.
ToRPEDOEs-RIyERs AND HARBoRS.
The Battalion of Engineers, in its reduced
organization numbers 35 men, but retains its marked
efficiency IN drill and discipline and furnishes the In
structon TO the cadets at the Military Academy IL
practical military engineering while at willefs Point
forms the school for the topedodeense of our harbor
and the guards and wormen for the distroutoD care
md nreservntinn OF the bridge trains and engineer