National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-07
Showing a reduction Of.
Showing a reduction Of.

Showing a rcdu ctiOa of.......... 59S7,7sj 80
The total estimates for the War De
partmenJ for all purposes for the
sso,ISO,929 50
800 W 49,, , 5a.I44, 499 90
Showing reduction in favor Of those
for the ensuing year of,............ 7,O31.s24 50
The estimates for the military estab-
lishment fer the hscal year ending
June 50, 49, are. So 4sS, 980 sc
The appropriations for the current
fscaf year Were.................... 25,5S2 392 90
Excess Of next years estimates over
This years APPROPRIATIONS. $a,9O0,577 so
RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY,
In the act making appropriations for the sup
port Of the army, approved June I6; 1874 SiOJ go
was allowed for recruiting purposes, and it was
provided that mo money appropriated by this
act shall be paid for recruiting the army beyond
the number Of twenty-five thousand enlisted men,
including Indian scouts" This prohibition fell
IN an unfortunate time and manner The de-
mands for the service of United States troOps
have been increased, and have been imDcratfye
Tor indian and other service, ever since the ad-
lournment oil Congress; and serious consequences
might easily have attended the manifest
want OF any considerable force. There was no
margin for emergencies, such rs have arisen in
connection with Indian affairs and the troubles
in the South. 1 was opposed to the reduction at
the time it was made, and have since had no rea-
u.
duced appropriations for army purposes have
been too heavily taxed by the necessity of move
ment Of troops; for, when obliged to be scattered
at points on sudden emergencies they have been
moved from other points where their presence
was needed and had to be returned at the earliest
possible moment.
The reduction proposed and insisted upon by
congress would, when IL was accomplished, save
alone the pay, subsistence and clothing of 5000
men; but this amount cannot all be considered as
having been saved, for when troops were needed
at points where the force was found, in cOnse-
quence OF the reduction, to be too Tsmal for real
service, ether troops from other points were re-
quircd TO be transported at an expense almost
large enough to equal in amount the saving from
the sources named.
The loss by discharge and other casualties has
laIlen most heavily upon companies stationed in
The disturbed districts, where effective strength
Is most needed. 1t may not be true economy to
limit the President so strictly to fixed numbers
Of enlisted men in the army. 1t may be better to
empower him, in his sound discretion, to increase
any companies to one hundred enlisted men
ordinarily, then the maximum would not ex-
cees ElLty-nTc or seventy: and when a sudden
necessity arises attachments Of recruits would be
rapidly sent forward 10 the commands needing
reinfOrcCmcntE.
Effective strength would thus be readily OBJ
tanned, without Increased expense on account of
quarters OF Of additional commissioned officers,
Ss when organized companies have TO be moved.
~ YOU'D be easy 70 mGiptatn in o depot limited
number Of Well-dfilled recruits, who would be
effective the moment they joined their c0nlpanieS,
ana ibis would UDviate very RuHy Of the objee-
lions existing to our present system,
RcaecJic1 as +" sA sT'1o'-t necessary IN he an
PrOPriated for the ensuing fiscal year satisfes ne
tlaL tnC appropriation LOT clothlng pay and sub
1stence should be made fer the army upon a
prevent any deficiency, and should Observation-Disclosures
70 that extent DC made, whatever surplus might
remain on hand would be, under existing laws,
turned INTO the Treasury.
QUARTERNIsTEn's DEPARTMENT.
BY the strictest economy amounting almost
10 pTivation and the cutting of Of some Of the
2llbEgnCaE which We "a f,y
Law and regulation, the expenditures for the
GC2rtermaEtCr's department have been Kept
within the appropriations.
There are about five thousand buildings under
charge Of the FuaTtCTmastcr's department te be
Kept in repair 10 be renewed As thag ltAlv OF Is
- replaced by others in new positions when
abandoned in the course Of military movements.
As long as the army IS in many lOcaiitie badly
sheltered, living in huts and adobe buildings
sadly in need OF repair, the roofs leaking and the
walls open to the Indictment weather, must re-
peat what have So often insisted upon, that the
appropriation for barracks and quarters is en-
tircly inadequate TO the necessities of the service
and the health and comfort Of our troops.
A leading subject connected with the economy
OF the administration Of this department is the
date upon which the fiscal year begins. The
fiscal year now commences on the first day Of
July, a. provided by the act approved August
The Secretary argues against the continuance
Of this and suggests the passage Of an act to fix
the frst day Of Nay as the beginning of the fiscal
year would relieve the Department from the en-
baTrassmCnts which in this connection it now eX-
periences: would afford ample time for the per-
lection OFthe appropriation bills in Congress, and
give tho service the advantage Of 4 full and IN
interrupted season OF work.
IND GRANT RAILROADS.
In general the railroad transportation for tho
army has been satisfactorily performed. but com.
plants arise as to the conduct Of some Of the
Immigrant roads. Congress at its last session
forbade any payment to be made to such roads
for the transportation Of property troops or of
officers Of the army on duty. Previously these
.Hz had hon ion gF h. %
transportation, and Us consequence Of the re
cent law some Of them have very largely in
STea sed their rates Of sportatiOa for Govern
Blent freight; others decline to make any col
leCJiEnS on az count OF connecting roads which
arc not land-gTant. while those not land-grant
decline TO collect for those which are: others
while not declining to transport Government
freight. refuse TO load it on their cars virtually
leaving the QuaTtCrmasteT without means Of ship
preference over Government freight. thereby de-
laying the shipments Of the supplies for the
army.
that while it saves to the Treasury direct dis.
bursemcnt Of public funds, it Indirectly in pres
ent shipments, is tie reverse Of economical, and
will add to the burden Of claims which these
roads will eventually press the Government to
pay. i kindred annoyance lies in the operation
OF the same act in connection with the tranSporta-
tion Of officers when travelling on duty. The act
fOTbids any payment to such road in this class Of
cases; and officers must lind quarteTmaster,
IRON which to obtain certificate Of transpOrta-
ton, and are compelled TO go through an inspec-
tion Gs to their identity by the railroad cOnduc-
tor. Much complaint also exists as to the inc
quality Of the allowance for actual travelling
expenses only, as there are many expenses incl
dent and necessary to a journey that cannot DC
reimbursed. Long experience had demonstrated
the wisdom and economy Of the old laws and reg
ulatiOns upon this subject, which allowed tho
0ihccr the choice OF mileage or actual travelling
expenses; and ! recommend that that choice be
restored by legislative enactment
DEXTER SOUTHERN ROADS.
Oh June 90, 1873, there remained due and IN
paid on account Of principal, interest aud ex-
peuses Of indebted railroads in the south and
Southwest, - 65S, I24.O7. During the fiscal wear
interest has accrued and expenses have Keen in
CURED on these accounts to the amount of sos
47gT7. Payments in cash and in transportation
and postal earnings have been collected to the
amount Of SIG ,7gO.gl. Under the act Of March 3,
ISL, compromise has been made with certain
roads whose debt was q, COS, 1000. These CON-
promises were made as provided in the law,
under the advice Of counsel Of the United states
in the suits pending against the roads to recover
the sums due by them. The sum TO be paid at
the Office Of the Assistant Treasurer Of the Uni
ted States in New York ultimately is 81, 2e5, 600.
The total collections on account Of ii csc sales
have Jesn. from the origin OF the account g. DO,
423-Sl. Thrty-fOur roads have paid Of their debt
in full: sixteen still remain indebted to the Uni-
ted States.
MILITARY TELEGRAPHs.
The line OF military telegraph from San Diego,
tal, to Prescott and Tucson Arizona provided
for BY the act OF 1878, which appropriated, upon
an estimate Of this Departmet, so 3ll-sO for its
construction, was built by labor OF troops, using
me means Of transportation OF the quartermas-
tiers department. The line was completed and
IN operation on the I'd Of December, 1873. The
line Is hvc hundred and forty miles long, and cost
$45,0OJ. The balance Of the appropriation remains
uhe3penGec. As a surplus Of wire remained IN
1sed On the completion Of the line it was used TO
e1Lehd inc telegraph 20 Camp Verde. The aver
4Ee cosI o. operation and maintenance has been
SO per month. The average revenue from prI-
Tate messages STjT per month. As the line viii
heTeaiteT De operated BY the signal corps, the
cost o. hrlng civilian operators viii be saved The
cost Of the line has aIreadv been more FaDid in
ne saving Of expense and loss IL the pursuit OF
EaT2ges VIC nave broken out from the reserya-
mitted 70 order and organize the movements OF