The New York herald., 1879-07-04
THE ARMY.

THE COST OF KEEPING OUR SMALL FoEcE-
DETAILS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1851
NEW LEGISLATION INTERESTING TO oFFIcERs-
THE REGULATIONS AND ORDERS TO BE copI-
FLED AND pUBLIsHED-A SOFT PLACE FOR
sUBALTERN.
WAsHIseToN. July 3. 1879.
The act making appropriations for the support Of
the army the current fiscal year shows that the
expense of keeping handful of regulars for the
next twelve months will be s26 797 300. increase
$685. slS 90 last years BILL set forth in the
comparative tabulated statement given below. The
army is to consist of 5000 officers ana fol.
lows2.15 159 officers the active list. 400 retired
officers, 450 signal service and 25 900 rank and
e. including Indian scouts and hospital stewards.
The average per capita expense of the army little
over s963.
LEGISLATION.
There are several items of legislation in
which officers of the army have direct personal in
terest. The rate of Communication OF quarters Is
Increased from $40 to s12 per room. but the amount
appropriated for this purpose is not
augmented. II ii were the sum required would be
$ls7 2O0 instead of $l56,OO0 An addition OF ten
cent is ordered be made to the cost OF all stores
Except tobacco) sold to officers and men, which will
materially increase the grocery bills OF married
officers who are dependent upon the commissary for
their sugar, wfskey ana otner iainiiy supplies Inc
professorships of French and Spanish at West Point
are to be merged into professorshp OF modern
languages either becomes vacant, ana
eacR raluste 1879 and 1850 is to have the option
receiving $3.50 and mileage to his home in lieu OF
q second leutenancy. The acceptance OF this com
mutation of commissions will render him ineligible
to appointment in the army, except III case or war;
until two years after graduation.
REGULATIONS TO BE PUBLISHED.
The Secretary of War is authorized and directed to
codify and publish the regulations and orders now
in force and defray the expense from the contln-
gent fund of his department. which, however, Is not
thority is given to detail officer, not above the
rank of captain for special duty with reference to
Indian education. At present First Lieutenant
Richard II. Pratt. Tenth cavalry, is on this duty ~
Hampton, Va
SOFT PLACE FOR sUBALrERN.
The examiner of State claims III the Secretarys
Office is to have while such duty the pay emolu-
nents and allowances of mounted oiicer one grade
hirher than that held by him in his regiment or
corps. This is intended to give Lieutenant Thomas
H. Bradley Twenty first infantry the pay, &c. or
captain OF cavalry. Lieutenant Bradley mas been
continuously duty in the war DePartment since
1868 He was first detailed assist the late General
Ketchum whom he succeeded on the latter's retire
lnent in 1870 and in charge of the division OF
appropriations and requisltions Dill 10 give MIN
majors pay passed one mousse last congress- Dut
failed i'll the other.
Section of last years Appropriation bill. which
ousted department commanders and their official
families from their comfortable city quarters ana
consigned them to forts and garrisons has been
pealed with the provso that when the economy of
the service requires the Secretary of War shall direct
the establishment of military headquarters at points
where suitable buildings are owned by the govern
ment.
STATEMENT APPROPRIATIONS.
The amounts appropriated by the act OF June 1s.
1875 the fiscal year. 1879 and by the act of June
in the following itemized statement Of appropria-
-