The New York herald., 1876-02-28
War Department ErtravaEanee.

tary OF war; Mr. Belknap appears 10 nave
framed these upon the theory that we are in
danger of being attacked by somebody or of
having to attack somebody, and that we
must, therefore, keep up a formidable force.
1t may be taken for granted however thatw
are not going to war. To use Western
on his coat-there's no fight"
Under these circumstances the Secretary
will no doubt agree with us that one of the
first items in his estimates-that headed sex
penses of recruiting be entirely struck
out. This will save S107, 800 at q stroke and
be the means of saving several millions dur
ing the year; for to strike out this is to cut
off at its fountain-head the cost Of maintain
ing 5.396 soldiers, whom Mr.. Belknap pro-
poses to recruit during the year.
AS we are not going to war it is hardly
worth while to spend $12,50O for the pur-
chase of field electric telegraphs, signal
equipments" &c. Half of the sum would
be abundant.
Nextwe come to an item-"Travel, pay and
| commutation of subsistence to discharged
soldiers, $5OO,000." Now, under recruit
ing" we found that about five thousand
men were to be enlisted by the Secretary of
War to keep up the force. Hence about the
same number would die or be discharged
during the year We advise the committee
to ask Mr.. Belknap why he needs half q
million to settle with these men. They are
all counted in the estimates of pay in those
of subsistence, in that for army transporta-
ton, and here, behold, they are up again for
half million extra. There seems to be no
excuse for this appropriation, and it should
be struck out.
The subsistence" head foots up in Mr..
Belknaps estimates this year 81, 570 900,
against 50, 4s4, $50 last year. Supposing the
recruiting at once and absolutely stopped,
as it ought to be, with no other reduction of
the army than would result from this, at
least one-ffth, or about half million, could
be safely knocked off under this head.
So far we have shown that without making
an immediate and forced reduction of the
army, to which, perhaps, some Western and
Southwestern members of Congress might
object, it is still possible TO save, from Mr..
Belknap's estimates, as far as we have got,
these SUMS
Sdres
Abolish recruiting service ice............ $l07. 800
Buy fewer field electric telegraphs ....... 6,250
Pay discharged soldiers out of the regular APP
preparations, where they are estimated Tor. 100000
Saving In subsistence by natural decrease OF
army....... ............''.......... ooV,oVV
Total saving so far.... .slll4l'O
But this is only beginning, ieabite, so
to speak, and if we have stopped just here to
summarize it is because the next item in
Mr. Belknaps estimates is so monstrous that
it needs to be looked ut separately. 1t is
headed "Quartermaster's Department, and
it contains these items:-
Regular supplies. $4,oUOOOO
incidental expenses. i'oooO0o
Army transportation 4,50O,OO0
Barracks and quarters. l,9OO,OOO
Total .. Sl2, 500, 900
Besides these others:-
Horses for cavalry and artillery ...... $400 900
Construction and repair OF hospitals. 100 900
Clothing and equipage. 100000
National cemeteries. ZoO,OOO
Contingencies. Observation-Disclosures. 100000
Total. g., $50, 600
Concerning these last we shall say nothing
here though we imagine that if Mr.. Randall
has good business man at his elbow he can
reduce somewhat the items of ''clothing and
cquipage" and ''horses," especially as, by
stopping the recruiting service, he will cause
gradual diminution of the army during the
year. We should say he could safely knock
off fifth from each of these But when he
comes to the first named items, which foot
up twelve and a half millions, we trust he
will stop and consider. The Secretary's
estimates show that he has under pay, Off
GERS and men, in all capacities 2S 648 per-
sons, including the General and Lieutenant
General of the Army. To lodge these, move
them about excluding the expenses of
officers when travelling under orders" for
which Mr.. Belknap asks separate sum of
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars-to
provide them with stationery, forage for
horses, fuel and cooking stoves, quarters,
storage, and to send them their arms and
equipments, Mr.. Belknap asks twelve and a
half millions, or over four hundred and thirty
dollars head for every officer and man in
the service; besides fifty thousand dollars
extra duty pay to enlisted men," which we
/ discover under n separate head. Is it wrong
to call this ''monstrous" bill Of EXPENSE
! Is it extravagant to say that one of the
great express companies would undertake to
do it for half the money? We advise the
committee to scrutinize this bill with jealous
care Why nearly two millions for "bar-
racks and quarters" 2" Last year Mr.. Belknap
was content with q million and half Why
half million more this year than last for
army transportation? ?" Why three hundred
thousand dollars more than last year for
'.incidentals ?" Why three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars more for regular sup
plies?" If Mr.. Randall should knock off