New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-31

cers under the direction of the heads OF the various
departments, 10 discover where NoVefhihch' oA
penditures can be cut down. Each oncer, =" 10
feared will devote his attention pfihcipahy u
demonstrating by argument that there can"o' p''-
sibly be q reduction in his bureau WITHOUT se,,o"'
detriment to the public service. Inc |oihhh'.oo
even think that they will have 10 put the hi'io
resolutely to the estimates, as Nit. dawes ieoon'-
mended in his speech, without much regard 10 'no
protests of the officials that they cannot get aons
with less money than they have asked Ior pcs,uo
the heavy reductions in the estimates for puolc
buildings and Notifications, which are ABOUT the
same as agreed upon n thorough overhaulng OF the
Civil Service il talked of, especially OF the treasury
Department and the custom houses where 1t is De-
lieyed, q large force Of supernumerarles, holding
comfortable sinecures, will be discovered
In the search for branches of the public service
which can best be submitted to the "parlng down
process the Marine Corps will be certain to attract
attention. The usefulness Of this feature OF inc
naval establishment has often been questlOheu III
Congress, but the members who have relations ana
friends in snug positions in the corps have always
defended it 80 vigorously that the debate has here
tofore invariably terminated with the voting Of the
customary appropriations. This year the corps viii
not be likely to get oil SO easily number of men-
""'''N'-
antiquated expensive and practically useless insi-
tuition. The Marine Corps remnant
of the old system of wooden ships fight
ino with guns Of small caliber and at
short range. During an engagement, while the hos
tile ships lay close together, blazing away al each
other with their carrOnades" and long toms" the
marines were stationed IN the tops with their mus
kets, to pick off the enemys gunners. Nowadays,
a man with musket is Of no more use IN sea hght
than boy with pop-gun. In the Old tiInes' inc
marines also performed the duty of keeping the
sailors in subsection. large portion OF the latter
were impressed into the service by preSs-gangs anu
were so brutally treated that it was necessary 10
have body of soldiers on board ship to keep them
from mutinying Now, there is no more need OF
sending soldiers to sea to make the sailors obey OF
ders. than there would be in having sailors In tho
army to enforce obedience among the troops.
The marines are in short body of sea-soidle )
which the adoption of iron-clads and heavy guns
long range, and the improvement In the persona
of the naval service, have rendered supernumerarl
Their chief duty now consists in standing guard
the nayy-yards, for which sailors would be just :
valuable. The corps consists OF one Drigadier-geF
era one colonel two tcoonels, one retire
lieutenant colonel. four majors, two retired MAJORS
ono adiutant. one paymaster. one quartermaster,
ouartermaster, 20 captains. four retired captains
30 frstlieutenants 30 second-lieutenants. two re-
tired second -lieutenants. and S2 non-commissioued
officers 11s musicians, and 1000 priyates The esti-
mates submitted for appropriations for the support
of the corps for the next fiscal year amount to
81 OOO Included In this is $500 for forage for
the staff and field officers horses The reading OF
this item in the Appropriation bill every year never
fails to give some witty member OF the House an
opportunity 10 raise laugh about the horse ma
rnes but after the merrmentls over the absurd APP
preparation is always made. The brigadier-generals
coonels and majors entitled to all theperqusites
of officers of like grade in the army, and among them
| is forage for horses; Congress has to vote the
money. The higher offices are positions created
solely that there might be promotion In the corps
There are never as many as 200 marines assembled
at one place and of course there is no proper COM
mand for a general colonel, or even major. 1t IS
alleged that fully onehan the other officers have
merely nominal duty to'perform. and that their
chief labors consist in attending receptions and
leading the German" at parties. Ii is also charged
that the corps is refuge for the sons OF persons OF
| influence who fail to pass the examination required
| for admission to the military or naval academy.