Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-11
The Secretary Of War.
wAsnrSoroS, Dec. 8.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.
The Secretary Of War states thatt actual
| expenditures OF the War DE part1nent for the
year ending June 30, 1873, including river
and harbor improvements, were S40,3S5,3Oa-
81, and the same for the last fiscal year, end
| ing June 30 1874, were S42 ,329, ,3l4Tl, show
| ing o reduction Of S3,99S, $3.50. The report
viii also contain the following recOnmenda-
ioDs: ..
Monthly additions to be allowed to the pay
| OF officers acting as Assistant Quarierrnas-
ters; renewal Of recommendations for the
purchase Of sites Of posts in Texas, IN
| accordance with the report previously
made 70 Congress-; sy.tem Of mlle.
age. and the payment Of officers and
employees travelling On duty TO be restored, In
lieu Of the actual expenses, ~ nCw allowed
under the law Uf last year, that private sol
diers be permitted to compete for the posi-
tion Of tommissary Sergeant MS well as nom
commissioned officers; the exemption Of sub
sistence 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 1900
| additional copies Of the Medical aud Surgical
| History Of The War. Attention is called tp
| the recommendation OF the Chief Of Engi-
neers for an dditional-appropriation for am
| munition for target-firing, which is recom-
mended. Much larger appropriations thab
have heretofore been made should he made
annually for the manufacture OF arms. Au
increased appropriation is desired for srming
and equipping the militia. Steps should be
taken 10 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, Watertown and Washington, are
recommended. The Springfield Armory, the
Frankfort Arsenal and q few others are
recommended 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, aud there
is no necessity for their retention.
powder depot and experimental grounds,
for testing heavy ordnance, are estimated for.
The revised statutes which were enacted
into law at the last session OF Congress in
cluded much absolute legislation, which has
been Onsiderately included, and attention
is called thereto. Desertion should I've con-
sdered felony, cognizhble by courts of Grim
inal jurisdiction; the offenders should be ar
rested by Marshals and deputies like other
criminals, but the jurisdiction should beeOD-
current with that OF the military courts. Ju-
risdiction is recommended to be conferred or
military persons charged with murder and
other felonies.
The reduction Of the army is discouragcIi
at present. A reduction of the number of
men without reduction of officers aud p0sts
is not economical. ..----s
A larger appropriation for the publication
Of official records Of the war Of the rebellion,
both of the Union and Confederate armies Is
desirable. This should become Immediately
available. The President should be author
lied to drop from the rolls Of the officers Of
the army those who Intentionally and Grim
inally duplicate their pay accounts--in other
words, present accounts for the same month
more than once and obtain payment there0R.
The provisions of the act OF May, 1874, as to
the extension of time during leave OF absence
in which full pay can be drawn should apply
to all officers stationed in the Department Of
Texas. Calling attention to the names Of
those officers who have been sent to the SEN
ate for breyet appointment for service in the
field in action with the Indians, the confirma-
tion of those brevet appointments is recon- d.
mended. The pay of Sergeants should be in
creased. An appropriation for q permanent
military prison is recommended --
Payment Of soldiers bv cheeks is dscour-
aged, and attention to the Pavmaster- Gener-
ais application tor the appointment OF add-
tional Paymasters is invited.
Appropriations for walls and lodges at eeT-
tain national cemeteries are recommended.
The recommendation is made that the bin
which passed the Hou of Representatives
authorizing the President to establish a regu-
lation for the army should he taken up and
passed by the Senate. Boys should be en-
listed as field musicians, a. formerly. When
vacancies occur in the office Of Regimental
Quartermaster and Adjutanr, no reappofnt-
ment should he made to these positions hut
the duties now performed by them should be
performed by detailed officers.
The establishment of a 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 rearms-
ment Of the navy with breech- loading rifed
cannon, which can be done Mt a very small
cost in view Of the reduced number of ships
and of guns required. The present types Of
tuI eign armed cruising ships carry four and
one half and six inches of amor, and at
present We have no guns except the IF
teen-inch in the monitors which wiH
seriously injure the ligh'est Of these armored
vessels. Substitut "a even or eight inch III
he for the eleven-Hch smooth bore, which
even our smallest shiEs carry, and few OF
item would come OF u itnout eat damage.
The Chief of Ordnanre says the recent ex-
pertinent ON the conversion of smonu-bore
to rihed cannon ,eveloped no u expected ie-
suits, aud he doe not deem IL possible o con
vert cast-iron smuoth-bore into an eff -ent
rifle by any sys EN- of ritirg.