Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-12-11
Report of the Secretary of War.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.
The Secretary of War states that the actual
expenditures of the War Department for the
year ending June 80, 1878, including river
and harbor improvements, were S463&5, 3oo;-
81, and the same for the last fiscal year, end
ing June 80, 1874, were S42 326, BAH, show
ing reduction of So, 990, 90350. The report
will also contain the following recommended
tons:
Monthly additions to be allowed to the
pay of officers acting as Assistant Quarter
masters; q renewal of recommendations for
the purchase of sites of posts in Texas, in
accordance with the report previously made
to Congress; system of mileage, and
the payment of officers and employees
travelling on duty to be restored, in lieu
of the actual expenses, as now allowed I'M
der the law of last year; that private SOL
diers be permitted to compete for the posi-
ton of Commissary Sergeant as well as non
commissioned officers; the exemption of sub
sstence stores from the operation OF the law
requiring the proceeds of sales of public prop
erty to be covered into the Treasury as mis-
celaneous at the expiration of each fiscal
year; the law to be SO changed that appropria-
tions for subsistence stores can be made avail
able prior to the commencement of the fiscal
year for which they are appropriated; that
provision be made for the publication of 5000
additional copies of the Medical and Surgical
History of the War. Attention is called to
neers for an additional appropriation for
ammunition for target firing, which is recon-
mended. Much larger appropriations than
have heretofore been made should be made
annually for the manufacture of arms. An
increased appropriation is desired for arming
and equipping the militia. Steps should be
taken to relieve the various States from the in
debtedness for arms charged to them during
the rebellion. Sales of various arsenals, such
as those at Allegheny, Columbus, Detroit,
Pikesville, WATERFOWL and Washington, are
recommended. The Springfield Armory, the
Frankfort Arsenal and a few others are recon-
mended to be retained. The proceeds of
those sold should be applied to the erection
of one grand arsenal for manufacturing pur-
poses, to be established near New York. The
proceeds of the sales of those named would
be amply sufficient for that purpose, and
there is no necessity for their retention.
A powder depot and experimental
grounds for testing heavy ordnance are esti-
mated for.
The revised statutes which were enacted
into law at the last session of Congress in
cluded much absolute legislation, which has
been inconsiderately included, and attention
is called thereto. Desertion should be con-
sdered felony, cognizable by courts of Grim
inal jurisdiction; the offenders should be ar
rested by Marshals and deputies, like other
criminals, but the jurisdiction should be con-
current with that of the military courts. Ju-
risdiction is recommended to be conferred on
military persons charged with murder and
other felonies.
The reduction of the army is discouraged
at present A reduction of the number of
men without reduction of officers and posts
| is not economical.
| A larger appropriation for the publication
| of the official records of the war of the re-
bellion, both of the Union and Confederate
armies is desirable. This should become i'm
! L. ol,1
be authorized to drop from the rolls of the
officers of the army those who Intentionally
and criminally duplicate their pay-accounts-
in other words, present accounts for the same
month more than once and obtain payment
thereon. .....
The provisions of the act of May, 1874, as
to the extension of time during leave of alb
sence in which full paycan be drawn should
apply to all officers stationed in the De-
partment of Texas. Calling attention to the
names of those officers who have been sent
to the Senate for brevet appointment for
service in the field in action with the In
dams, the confirmation of those brevet APP
pointments is recommended. The pay of
Sergeants should be increased An appro-
priation for a permanent military prison is
recommended
Payment of soldiers by checks is discour
aged, and attention to the Paymaster- Gener-
als application for the appointment of addi-
tional Paymasters is invited.
Appropriations for walls and lodges at GER
tain national cemeteries are recommended.
The recommendation is made that the bill
which passed the House of Representatives
authorizing the President to establish regu-
lation for the army should be taken up and
passed by the Senate. Boys should be enlist
ed as field musicians. as formerly. When va
cancies occur in the Office of Regimental
Quartermaster and Adjutant, no reappoint
ment should be made to these positions, but
the duties now performed by them should be
performed by detailed officers.
The establishment of professorship of
rhetoric and English literature at West Point
is recommended.
THE ORDNANCE BUREAU.
The Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, in his
annual report recommends the rearmament
of the navy with breech-loading rihed cannon
which can be done at very small cost in
view of the reduced number of ships and of
guns required. The present types of foreign
armed cruising ships carry four and one
half and six inches of armor, and at pres
ent we have no guns except the ff-
teen-inch in the monitors which will
seriously injure the lightest of these armored
vessels. Substitute a seven or eight inch
rifle for the eleven-inch smooth bore, which
even our smallest ships carry, and few of
| them would come off without great damage.
| The Chief of Ordnance says the recent eX-
pertinent on the conversion of smooth bore
to rifle cannon developed no unexpected re-
suits, and he does not deem it possible to con-
vert cast-iron smooth-bore into an efficient
rifle by amy system of rifiing.