Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-03
Report of the Secretary of War.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF sECRE.
TARY BELKNAP.

IMPORTANT RRC0MMENDATIoES OF SECRE.
TARY BELKSAP.
The Secretary of War states that his report
will contain the following recommendations:
1st. Monthly addition to be allowed to pay of
officers detailed as acting assistant quarter
masters.
%. Renewal of recommendations for the pur-
chase ef sites of posts in Texas, in accordance
with reports previously made to Congress.
Sd. The system OF mileage and payment of
officers and employees, travelling on duty, 10 be
restored, in lieu of actual expenses, as now
allowed, under the law OF last session.
4th. That private soldiers be permitted 10
compete tor the petition of commissarv SER
| geants, as well as nOn-COmmissiOned officers.
5tb. The exemption OF sUbsistsn , stores from
the operation of the law requiring the proceeds
OF sales OF public property to be Covered into
| the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, a. the
expiration OF each fscal year.
9Th The law to be SO changed that the appro-
pria',0n for subsistence stores can be male
| available prior - the commencement OF the 6s-
Cal ear for which appropriated.
7Et. That PROVISION be made for the publics-
| ton of 1900 additional copies of the Medical
| ard Surgical History OF the War.
h Attention called to the recommendation
OF the chief CT eng ineers that an additional 9p-
| preparation Tor COLLECTION Of torpedo materials
be uade
| 9tb. Increased appropriation for ammunition
fer target bTDg recommended.
10th. Much larger appropriation than has
heretofore been made should be made annually
tor the manufacture of arInE.
| lith. An Increased appropriation desired for
aiming and equiPping the militia;
1 I'm. oi6pS 10 De 1BkcD 10 Gell6N6 F8riOuS
| states ,TOr indebtedness Tor arms charged TO
| them during the rebellion.
18th. The ssle OF ysliOus arsenals, such as
| Allegheny, Columbus, Detroit, PikesTiile,
| WateIyliet, Watertovn, and Washington, rec
| Ommtnded. Springfield srmOry, Frankferd
arsenal, and few otht rs, recommended to be
retained The proceeds of those sold to be
applied TO the erection one grand arsenal, for
manufacturing pGTpUsCS, to be established near
New York. The proceeds OF the sales of those
pose, and there is no necessity fer their reten
ton.
I4th. Powder der OF and experimental grounds
iOr testing heavy ordnance estimated TOR.
18th. The revised statutes, enacted into law
at the last session of Congress, included much
obsolete legislation, VIII Ch has been incoBsid-
eTately included. Attention called thereto.
l6ih. DeseEtion 10 be constituted felony, cog
| niZable by courts of criminal Jurisdiction; the
offenders to be arrested bv marshall and depu-
ties, like other criminals, but jurisdiction TO be
concurrent with that O. military courts.
| l1'h. JJri dictiOn recommended to be con-
terrC On military tribunals, over military per-
| Crs charged with murder CT other felOrdes
lStb. Reduction OF a. my discouraged at pres
5nt. reduction OF the number of men with
ont reduction of Off cers and posts, not eco
nOmical.
1911. Larger appropriation for publication of
Official records OF the war OF the r. elliOn-bOth
of tie Union and con moderate armleE-desir-
able. Tbs should bee me I'M mediately avail
able.
10th. The President 70 be authorize ed = drop
tJoU the rolls OF Cti GERS OF the army those who
Intentionally and crimina!ly du plicaUe their paw
accounts: in other WORDS, present accounts Tor
the slme month mOre than once, and obtain
pawn ent thereon.
2lst. Provisions Of act of Nav, 1874 as to the
exfer sion Of time dUrir leave of absence, in
which fun pay can be drawn, Il apply to AL Of
hCeTs stationed IN the Department OF Texas
22d. Calling attention to the names of those
officers which have beer sent TO the Senate for
bIevet appointments for services in the field in
action with Indisus. The confirmation of these
brevet appointments recommended.
2}d. The pay of sergeant3 II be increased.
2hh. Appropriation Tor permanent military
pr. on re CON meDded.
25th. Payment of Eoldiers by checks discour-
aged. Attention to the Paymlster Generals
application for the appointment OF additional
z5ti. Appropriations for walls and lodges at
certain national cemeteries recommended.
27th. Recommendation made that the bill
which pfssed the House of Representatives aa-
thOTizng tie Preside Mt 70 establish regulations
:ortbe army be taken up aDi pass / by the
Senate.
9th. Boys to be enlisted as field musicians,
"S merly.
19.b. When vacancies occur in the Office of
Tegimenfal qDartermP ster and "diutsnt no re-
ap{ ointment - be made to tie positions: but
the duties Iow done by them, TO be performed
by detailed officers.
GGti. The es' Ibli0bment OF q profes- orship of
rhetoric and English Literature, at West Point,
commend q.
The rerol shows that the actual expenditures
of the Wsr department for the year ending
June 80, 1873, including river and harbOr i'm
pToyemenfs, were $40 325 GOS.2I; the same for
fhe L t fiscal year, ending june 80, 1874 si2,-
520,1l4'1j showing reduc, on OF S3,9JS, ,J9j.JO.
SUPERVISING ARCHITECT NULLRTT's AN
EUAL REPoRT-TBe Eight Hour Lqlg-Rscont-
msndofiOn to ReJuiId the East Front Of the TreGsB-
ry.-The annual report OF the supervising archi-
tect Of the Treasury, BIr. Aullett, embraces a
resume the operations upon and the cOndi-
tion of the public buildings under his charge.
HI calls attention to the fact that the public
0uilo'ugs are in better condition than ever
before, and that the buildings now in progress
Of erection are OF so sub .tantial and permanent
a chsTacSer that they will require, after com
pletiOn, very small expenditures 10 keep them
III proper condition.
Mr.. MulIett quotes fro N his last annual report
in relation o the eight hour law and again re-
cOmmends its repeal as the only means OF pIac-
,ng employees on pObIc and private works on
an equal footing.
Recommendations are renewed for an appro-
pIIatI0n for rebuilding the east front OF the
Treasury. The building is at present so OYER
crowded that building Jf more than twice the
SIZE would be required 10 accommodate in a
proper manner those now employed therein.
Rooms that were originally desl gned for the
cCmmOdatlon OF 1Our persons are in N any in-
stances occupied by IL re than twentyfv
This particularly tie case in the part occupied
by the female clerks Of the Registers and
TreasuIeTs offices, in many portions Of which
the occupants are so thoroughly packed tnat
they have allotted to them for the performance
OF their duties lit lie more superficial and CuJic
space than the g0veTBmC Mt considers necess lry
tor the transportation OF emigrGHt ami com
peis steamship comp 1nle- 10 provide. 1t s nader
such circumstances idle 20 talk of pr0viIsng
adequate ventilation, and it is equally idle tU
expect persons 10 perform their duties IA a
proper manner. Provision must be male for
the preservation OF the hles of the department
WEST Po1NT.-The annual report OF the
Board of Visitors of the Military Acadsmy
made to the Secretary Of War has Just been
made public. IL says, among other tn ngs. the
discipline Of the academy is austere, but tree
Erom passion, steadily and carefully CO. sidered.
1t is administered By the superintendent and
coIomandant with justice and benevOlence, and
with anxious sOllcitude TOR the interests of the
cadets 1t is believed that the discipline OF the
academy has never been higher than il is to-
day, and that the corps of cadets has never
reached greater state Of efficiency. The bar
barOus custom OF haZing has been suppressed
by the strong hand of authority, and the visitors
confidently hope no future relaxation of disci-
pline in this direction will tolerate its revival
The public buildings are generally in good con-
dition and well preserved, but the board recon-
mend an appropriation for the erection of a new