National Republican., 1883-12-03
The SECRETARY OF WAR.
Condition Of the United States Military Estab-
lishment the Past Year.
General Review Of the War Bureau
Operations and Financial Exhibits.
Additional Legislation on tho Subject Of Bonds fol
Disbursing Officers Recommended.
Tho Mississippi improvements and the
Coast Dcfcnses Require Attention.

Ihe pith OF the report OF the secretary Oh
war for the last fiscal year is given below:
The expenditures by requisition under tho
direction of the war department during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1883, were as
follows
Salaries. contingent expenses, and
DOstage.. S2,l1b,UOO III
Military establishment-army and
military academy 27,S3O,916 10
Public works, including river aud -
hagbor imp ovements .....s........ 15669, ,S31 II
Miscellaneous objects. 4lOi,136 10
Total. 1921. .055 42
and the sum of 81 1868, ,151.30 was credited
under the act of March 3, 1879, go statutes,
420), to the subsidized Pacific railways, for
transportation services rendered the war de-
partment during the fiscal year 1888 and
prior years.
The appropriations for the fiscal year 1884
are as follows:
Salaries, contingent expenses, and
postage. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S224S,121 &C
Military establlsbment-army and
military academy. 2yol,5oI %
Misceilaneous Hrii objects, including sig.
nal serVlce.. 2oll,Vlo W
Total 81 .76e. .952 O3
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1885, as revised by me, are as fol-
lows:
Salaries. contingent expenses, and
estimate of the superintendent of
building s2a22,o7s SO
military academy. .....,............. 27l36,152 Al
Public works, including river and
.harbor Improvements; .....;:....,.. 10000 81
Miscellaneous objects, including sig
nal SerVlce.s. e.s........-............... 32I692b az
Total. A 1856, ,2O6 rs
The secretary asks for fifty eight additional
clerks and three laborers and recommends
an increase of compensation to certain other
clerks. A large reduction has been made in
purchasing stationery by making contracts
with the lowest bidder The distribution of
the official records of the rebellion has been
attended with much additional labor, the
librarian having received 10000 Volumes
and mailed over 10000. The estimates for
the army and military academy are based on
the actual needs of the services. The appro-
priations for the signal service for year end
ing juno 80, 1883, were insufficient, and esti-
mates will be submitted, to supply the def
cheney.
The report of the general of the army has
special interest, it being the last annual re-
port that Gen. Sherman will make. At his
own request he has been relieved from the
command of the army, preparatory to his re-
tirement from active service under the act Of
1882. He has therefore thought it best to re-
frain from making any new recommendations
cessor in the command of the army, Lieut..
.Gen. Sheridan. He renews a former recon-
mendation that a new organization be adopted
for the regiments of infantry SO that each
shall be composed of twelve companies, max
ing three battalions Of four compapnnies each,
each company having 100 men; and that in
time of peace two of these battalions shall be
maintained on perfect war footing, while
the other battalion may be mere skeleton,
with its complement of officers, and be used
as q nucleus for recruits The great advan-
tage Of this change is the one of being able to
put large and effective force in the field
upon short notice, by merely enlisting a sutfi-
cient number of additional private soldiers,
the officers and organization being always
ready to receive them.
During the past year an additional COM
pany in each OF the regiments of artillery has
been mounted and equipped as alight battery.
so that there are now in service ten light
batteries, stationed in different parts of the
United States.
The secretary then reviews the military
operations of the army among the Indians
for the past year, and says that all is now
peace. The schools for officers at Fortress
Monroe and Fort LeavenwOrth are in excel
lent condition. The desertions last year were
nearly $500. The secretary recommends in
crease of pay to privates OF SIG per month, and
commissioned officers in proportion.
The secretary discusses the military acad-
emy, where the general tone and discipline of
the corps of cadets are very good. The total
number of cadets present Sept. /, 1883, was
3l1.
In the adjutant generals office the officers
authorized by law to act as instructors in tac-
tics and military science at colleges
during the past year have been so en-
ployed. and the college authorities and
students show continuing interest. The
secretary joins in the recommendation of the
adjutant general that enlisted men who have
served faithfully for thirty five years be re-
tired with full pay. Tho old soldiers home
cannot provide for all the cases. He renews
his recommendation of last year for legisla-
tion to permit officers at remote posts to em-
ploy enlisted men for domestic purposes
w&re servants cannot be obtained. He also
recommends the restoration of the per dieui
allowance to officers serving away from their
stations on courts martial and military boards.
He calls attention to the recommendation OF
the adjutant general that bimonthly settle
ment of enlisted mems clothing account be
made. The records of the adjutant general
are now in the new war department, where
they are safe from fire.
The soldiers home is working satisfac-
torily under the act of March 3, 1883, increas-
ing the commissioners to.seven, and prescrib-
ing new regulations for the management. He
recommends an appropriation of $4,000 for
the purchase of a small piece of ground now
used as national cemetery. The total re-
ceipts of the home during the year
exceeded the expenditures by $3,477,S7.
The military prison at Fort Leavenworth is
in good condition, and the secretary recon-
mends that the officer in charge be given the
local rank and pay of colonel. The Judge
advocate general reports the number of trials
by court martial for last year as 1856.
The operations of the quartermaster gem
erals office are discussed at some length.
That officer recommends extra pay to officers
of the line who act as assistant quartermas-
ters aud also the enlistment of sergeants TO
aid these officers in their duties. Ninety new
buildings. to cost S147, ,1dS, have been author
ized, and repairs made costing S452 $50. Steps
have been taken to erect the Hot Springs
hospital. The Jefferson barracks, near st.
Louis, should be repaired aud reconstructed.
The transportation expenses last year were
$2,li9,05l.l9. Special attention is invited to
the subject of the railroads indebted to the
United States for material sold them in 1865
and 1866.
There were on hand on June so, 1888,
16,400 animals, of which 1871 were cavalry
and artillery horses; the remainder, S.603,
were quartermasters' draft and pack animals,
as follows 625 horses, 1850 mules, and 25
oxen. Becoming satisfied that this number
was too large, the secretary ordered reduc-
tion by general order Aug. l. 1868. This
reduction, nearly all the horses and 1900
mules, will greatly diminish expenses.
Claims amounting to nearly 50, 900, 900 were
received during the year. and action was
taken on 4993, aggregating about $500, 900.
The number of national cemetries under the