New-York tribune., 1877-11-10
proper appropriations for tho support of the military
ARMY SUBSISTENCE.


Nor ESoUGu MONEY PROVIDED FOR rr-sHA11 N-'
DIAN SUBSISTENCE DE TURNED OVER TO THE
CoMMIssARY-GENERAL
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBUYR.1
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.-The Commissary- General
of Subsistence in his report TO the Secretary OF War;
says that the amounts appropriated by Congress for
the last fiscal year were not sufficient TO allow the
purchased supplies which should have been procured
within the fiscal year for shipment to remote posts
and alon Slines of communication over which sup
plies can be much more economically purchased
prior TO June so than later period of
the year. Among such localities are the upper
Missouri Yellowstone and Big Horn, TO none OF
which can supplies be shipped with surety OF
reaching the posts by water if purchased after tue
close of the fiscal year. Lack of funds WILL there
fore, make it necessary to transport these sup
plies part of the distance by land,
and thus much to enhance the cost OF
transportation as we'll as to increase the loss In
transit by moving them in hot weather. General
Mcfeely also calls attention to the fact that since
July l. 1874, the amount appropriated for the SUD
sstence Of the army has been at least S3OOooo less
per annum than necessary to purchase the sup
niles reoured to be procured within the fiscal year.
and that as result the cost of furnishing subslst-
ence to the army has been unnecessarily increased
OF course deficiency appropriation bills have been
passed, DuJ Nueu bue ioicS HdS DC'OhO "' '"ii''"iO
the time for making purchases, and transporting
them economically has passed.
The frequency with which the War Department
has been called upon to furnish supplies for the In
dians, has convinced the COmmssaTy-General OF
Subsistence that were all the issues for the Indians
as well as for the army made by the Subsistence
Department. greater certainty of supply would be
insured, and he knows of reason why 1t could not
be done as economically rs under the present sys-
tenn Certainly, he says the War Department
should be able to purchase supplies as cheaply as
any department of the Government, while the fOrco
organized for the purchase and issue of subsistence
stores to the troops could, with little additional eX-
pense, make all the purchases and issues to Indians
Officers Of the army now inspect most or the sup
plies purchased for the Indians from which II would
appear that they considered Trustworthy as well
as competent judges of the stores purchased.
From the account of the amounts received from
sales 10 officers and enlisted men, II seems that there
purchased during the last fiscal wear 4G4S3i4
pounds of chewing tobacco and l9S0l3i pounds OF
smoking tobacco, for which was PAID $lO,9|3 20
Referring TO the eNpedientS to which the COnlllS-
sary Department has been forced to resort Tor
the subsistence of the army since the close or the
last fiscal year General Macfcely says that no dill
eesaTy supplies and AT most points, the prices
have not been IN excess OF cash prices thau the
usual rates of interest upon the cash value OF te
stores for the time which would probably elapse ne
tween the date OF purchase Oh the stores
and the date Of payment. In some places
however, where there was but little competltioh,
excessive prices appear TO have been dcmdllued as
IN portions of Montana where supplies were required
for General Towards command. These stores nave
not been paid for aud the question OF price VIII DE
thoroughly investigated, and the amounts only
which may appear just 10 the seller ana ~ lno
Government will be allowed.