The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-09
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WAsHryGroN, April s, 1877.
THE FREEDMENs BUREAU-PRoGREss OF SET
THING UP THE BUSINESS OF THE DEFUNcr
INsTIruTIoN-TnE CoLoRED SOLDIERS OF THE
WAR AND THEIR CLAIMS.
The work Of settling up the affairs OF the late Freed
mems Bureau, In charge OF the Adutant General
OF tho Army, Is progressing slowly, and the ex-
pcnses OF the concern steadily decreasing, though
II cannot be stated with accuracy when tho
business Will be entirely finished. II Is now confined
strictly to payment Of claims OF colored soldiers
and sailors aud their heirs for bounty. Of pay
prizo money, &c, and could be moved forward moro
rapidly were 1t not fer the fact that many Of the
claimants whose claims unpaid reside at re-
mote or inconvenicnt points, or have changed their
places Of residence since filing their claims, and their
present locations unknown The law requires that
tho money must DO paid directly to tho claimantby
tho disbursng officer of the government, and cannot
be paid 10 attorney. In other This law
passed to protect the colored people from snarpcrs It
having been found that they often swindled by
such persons, who collected the money as attorneys
but never paid dollar Of II to the claimants Thcro
are now only four Offices for the payment Of these
claims They located at New Orleans, Memphis
Louisville and WashiDgop, d. c., the whole under
rection OF Thomas NJ Vincent. Assistant Adju-
tant General United States Army. Tho force
employed consists Of four commissioned Of
nccrs, seventeen clerks and
gers and janitors The ofhcos have been reduced
from time TO time circumstances justified, and
corresponding reductions tho clerical force have
been made During The past year three Offices
closed and twelve clerks and jnnitors dismissed
Every enprt is bong made to ascertain the where
ala ul.z-c ola.
ana tho Adutant General recently addressed circular
TO each Senator and Representative In Congress from
the Southern satos calling their attention to the fac
that all cOorcd soldiers Sailors their legal repre-
sentativcs who have received notice from tho Treas
ury Department that certificates been issued in
settlement OF their claims for pay, bounty, prize
money, &C., and who have not received tho amount
due them, now be paid promptly without furthor
expense 20 claimants his Office shall have
learned their post o1lcc address He therefore re-
quests such Senators and Representatives to notify all
claimants within their reach OF such circular and IN
conclusion says
BILE prior June 80 next for after date there may
be delay In and after lew months entire suspen.
modo by ne Conrrcs SIS GOO only hpvpg
appropriated 10 conduct the work Of paying instead
$50, 600. as estimated for by the War department
Your aid IN the matter, rs Indicated, will not only
benefit tho coored claimants, but prove
10 the public service.
Il is estimated that upon tho LIST OF July next there
will rcmoin upaid about two thousand claims which
have been allowed, aggregating $500, 900, and that
during the fiscal year ending June 80, 1878,
there will be received IRON the Second Au.
ditor approved claims amounting TO s24O 0OO making
total OF $4,000 to be paid from July 1877 to June
80, 1875 but account OF tho very small appropra.
ton carry this work during the fiscal year
payments may have to he suspended. Tho whole
amount discussed during the fiscal year ending June
30 1875, 1926 74, and for the fiscal year ending
June 80 1876, $20o677. Tho appropriation dciray
tho expenses attending the payment OF bountcs, &C.,
for the year ending Juno 80, 1876, was $75 600 or
which $50, 26S was expended. The whole number of
colored soldiers mustered during the war was
1853. 624. OF these s6,923 mustered out 20 23e
were discharged for physical disability 81 $3.50 died,
1887 deserted LOLA killed action l3l4 were
missing in action and tho others remained in service,
were discharged for various causes transferred to the
navy or other branches OF the service.
SEA COAST OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN
ARMAMENT OWING TO WANT OF AppRopRIA-
TIoNs-oUR HARBoRs DEFExcELEss AGAINST
IRoN-cLADs
Tho armament OF the sea coast Notifications with
suitable guns mas Dcen urged upon Congress by tho
Ordnance Department OF the Army Tor years past but
IL Is claimed that the appropriations have been en-.
tircly insufficient for that purpose The amount ap
propriatod tho last session for the armament OF sea
coast defences, including heavy guns and howitzers
for flank defence, carriages projectcs fnses powder
ana implements their trial and proof and all ncccs.
snry expenses incident thereto during the next fiscal
year but 100000 Experienced ordnance officers
contend that 1t should have boon ST. 600 900 TO
properly arm those defenccs Tho Ordnance Bureau
hand fty 81 0ofv
tho ten-inch Kodman smooth bores by lining them
with wrought iron tube which arc TO DO placed In
the fortGcatlons though they the proper gun
Tor that purpose 1t Is agreed that nothing smaller
than a twelve riled gun should BIO used In the
sea coast Notifications, but wc have none OF that
there every facility in Notifications for mount
ing least 900 effective guns II Is calculated that
tho cghtinch guns will penetrate eight inches or iron
a; distance OF 900 yards but there arc many iron
cIads which covered with a greater thickness OF
iron, and our eightnch guns would not do much TO
stop their progress.
II been said that have not gun In any OF our
fortifcaons OF sufficient calibrc 10 stop powerful
ironclad from coming into any OF our harbors; and
that tho only reason why are In this condition Is
shat necessary money IS not appropriated to manu-
facture guns We have officers and workmen WHO
know how do II well those Of any nation upon
the face Of tho earth several experimental guns have
boon made during the past Two or thres years. but