New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-01

vidug for tho compensation Of officers o. the army
distinct enuncation its meaning by Congress- Is de-
srable deemed necsssaI on the 18th day Of Feb
ruary, 1879 10 issue the following order IN conneeion
with this subject which will continue as the rule unless
further legislation is had: ,,., -
quarters OF officers servants, is hereby prohibited uhu
more specific legislation shall sanction H."
INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS.
During the past year the ve OF the
army have been exclusively subject TO the orders Of the
Secretary Of War and the General OF the Army and have
made careful and thorough inspections OF the South the
Departments OF Texas of the Missouri OF the Gulf OF
Arizona. Of Dakota. and of the Columbia, excepting
and the Columbia, thorough examination was made Into
the condition OF the personnel aud material OF me army
depOts within the limits Of those departments with the
Tsoned by is regiments Of infantry II companies Of art
lery aud eight regiments of cavalry Besdestthis other
minor inspections and Investigations have, from time to
time been made by the officers of corps involving
voumnous reports winch nave been made without any
nations have been made by the Inspectors General OF
the accounts Of all Officers who 6aye MADE @
funds received and expended by Them with the balances
vered by Official statements received from Treasury
Department and repositories and under TINS system
hardly possible that defacaton fraud on the part
Of discussing officers Of this Department can escape
timely detection; 49,, -. -, ...,.,
TO the headquarters Of the various military divisions
and they. well several officers VINO have been ten
ments acting Assistant tors-Genera have been
actively and usefuy engaged in the duties pertaining
THE ACCOUNTS OF THE oUARTERNAsrERs DEPARTMENT.
Since the close of the war, the Quartermsster's De-
partment, much time and labor have been besto wed
upon the examination and settlement Of the accounts OF
officers for disbursements made during the Rebellion
and since Most OF these accounts have been
adjusted OF discussing officers OF that
Department examined promptly az received;
Within the past years have caused the forms and
methods of business in this Department to be simph-
ned to the advantage of the service ana the rehei oil
officers.
Much difficulty is experienced in keeping the
| expenses OF the Quartermasters Department
! within the amounts appropriated ny Congress,
and apparent during the past fiscal year that
the appropriation for barracks and quarters would not
admit OF any expenditure from that appropriation be-
yond the payment OF rent OF Offices and hire OF quarters
spring TO entirely arrest any WORK upon me repair ana
| construction OF barracks and quarters. Notwlth-
| which Involved much inconvenience TO the troops
! crowded into buildings much in need OF re-
exposed 10 the nclemency OF the weather the. liabilities
have TO small amount exceeded the sum ~ G
gres difficulties OF keeping accounts and OF
Of the act approved July 1870 The act in its opera
iOn requires every discussing officer 10 keep separate
and distinct of accounts under every head OF appro-
priation and TO keep balance OF money on hand TO
meet the demands under each head thereby compelling
officers keep TO their credit az repositories much larger
| balances than heretofore. A remedy for tins
make Tine sPprop TBde2 ono nor be sas
single appropriation, requiring, as now, that the
be submitted in detail No benefit can arise IN practice
from the system Of keeping separate heads Of appropra
|
occasions foT error and mistakes and is burden upon
the officer VINO is required to dshurse the public money
system are uy set forth in the report OF the Committee
| on Expenditures the War Department, made TO Con-
AS many Heutenants Of the line are often required
| TO assume the labors and responsibilities OF acting
! an allowance of $40 per month be made by law
officers 50 detailed as moderate 10 mem
for the well the labor III disburslng public
money aud keeping and distributing stores
DELINQUENT RAILROADS.
OF the fifty rar Dads which at the close of the
under Executive orders, purchased from this Depart
ment railroad material TO the appraised value Of over
s5OOOOO thirty of them have paid their debts in full
The remaining twenty st in debt to the amount
of se5s92I OF, The total amount collected from these
sales, with interest and expenses has thus far been
S5,Il6605 IS. recommend the passage OF law which
these delinquent railroads. The bonds OF the roads
earnings in liquidation Of their debts. but they
Or s 10 sEs TO ne 6Se
the funds to this Department. "
wear for the prosecution the work the artcsiau
well at Fort ID. A. Russell. Since then considerable
reached a depth Of zoos feet. The work has for
hundreds OF feet been carried through stratum Of
there good to hope that when the clay
is pierced the water will De reached, and strong now
ing well deyeoped IRON the TO n1 9 anS
Dakota which series OF flowing wells would nave upon
the development Of their material interests recommend
that appropriation be made TO continue the present
HEADsroyEs TOR GRAVES.
Under the provisions OF the Appropriation act APP
proved March g. 1873 advertisement made for bids
TO provide head-stones for the of the deceased
soldiers in the national cemeteries. Eighty bids were
received and opened in public by the Quartorpaster-
General on the 9th of September. The advertisement
called for bids for furnishing headsOnes OF gray granite
and white marble of specified quality, as these materi-
ais Judgment best fulfilled the requirements OF the
law respect deceney durability, aud cheapness.
careful OF the bids resulted IN an award
etery FredercksbuIgb, Va For ali the other national
lowest bidders for white marble headstones. The re-
spoDsbty Of tho bondsnen Of these contractors re-
1uired to be the United states District
Judge by the collector OF internal revenue Of the
district In which they reside.
small slab four inches thick has been prescribed for
the known. aud block six inches square for the UNI
known dead Tie former viii number about $4,000 and
the about 600 Particular care has been taken
TO have these beadtOnes permanent when erected
The entire cost OF the slabs and blocks under the CON
tracts awarded, should they be entered into by the
successful bidders will amount TO s77ooi5 4s Should,
however any OF the parties 70 whom awards nave pee.
made fail to enter into the contracts prescribed none OF
the contracts VIII 9e e1eenled u1esS rI1 wo6 Mo q,
100000, the limit prescribed by the law.
| VARIOUS APPROPRIATIONS.
The appropriation 100000 made BY Congress in the
act approved March g. 1879 for the erection OF depot
at San Antonio Texas has not been expended nor have
auy decided steps looking TO the erection OF the build
ings contemplated been taken personal visit TO San
! Antonio last SPRING, aud consultation Win the
| lieutenant General Of the army and other re-
sponsibe officers having satisfied me that no necessity
exists for the expenditure Of the money and that The
small force that will hereafter be required at that place
could economically be provided Tor by rented or leased
buildings, recommend that the sum appropriated be
used for purchase OF such sites OF posts In
Texas be found to be actually needed Tor military
| purposes.
The report OF the Commissary General shows that the
OF the armyratOn for the has been IL
cents and 1890 showing trfDg increase in cost over
! that Of the previous year.
Iii recommended that act he passed authorizing
the issue oftobaoco 10 enlisted men OF the army as
component part OF the army ration, near as may be
| IN amount to that authorized to be sold 10 thema
Under the act approved March g. 1873, TO provide for
the better care and protection OF subsistence supplies
there been appointed l49icommssary sergeants,
who have been assigned TO military posts. A consider