New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-03
mn ~ pEPARTMENT.

|
ro,.t .............s l4 85G,2OO 10
| THE PAY DEPARTMENT..
| The Paymaster-GencTal," says Secretary Lincoln,
recommends the repeal OF the law which forbds pay
men OF mileage TO officers for much OF their travel as
is over grant roads concur with him In this recon-
| mendaton The provision in question applies only TO
officers OF the Army Mileage Is given to an officer not
only to pay the mere cost OF transportation by ran or
otherwise but to cover that expense and his other neces
sarv travelling expenses other travelling expenses are
us "a much Immigrant roads rs over other roads
and It Is therefore, recommended that the provision
either be repealed that landgrant roads trans
portatOn given and In addition reduced rate OF milo
| age 20 cover incidental expenses.
Attention also Invited the need Of legislation
the subject Of paymasters' bonds paymaser is re-
oured to give new bond at least every four years. but
Il understood that the accounting officers OF the Treas
pry hold that each bond all the transactions OF an
officer uuder his current commission and 1t ia repre-
scented that for this officers experience difficulty In
attaining sureties upon their bonds. with the
PaymasterGener In his opinion that the liability OF
surety should have some definite limit, and that the
remedy which has enacted IN the matter OF bonds OF
collectors OF internal revenue and OF postmasters
| should be extended 10 paymasters.
discussing officer OF the Army Il permanently separ-
ated from his home and In the othis official life
enters unon his duties at many stations where he Ia
entire stranger 10 all but his brother officers Tho diff
Guilty I'm procuring satisfactory suroties upon official
bonds and indeed the difficulty OF procuring them at ALL
under such circumstances, Ia apparent II would he of
reat advantage 20 such officers they permitted
Inv Law 10 furnish as security the obligation OF APP
provcd guarantee company organized for the purpose Of
Indemnfyiug employers in this manner. At small cost
70 themselves officers would be saved much repeated
barrassment and confidently believe that the security
| 70 the Government would be much increased"
| sEA-COAsT DEFENCEs.
Our sea-coast" Mr. Lincoln continues, with its great
cities and important harbors defoncooss to-day against
the attack of modern iroucad and t Il humatng even
"a IMAGINE the modification. loss OF lfe property and
prcstge to which would be subjected should Nar
come suddenly upon u.s. the history Of nations shows,
may happen at any time For many years no appropha
lions have been made FOR continuing the construction Of
our forts sud the barbcte batteries designed for the
country's defence are incomplete ana rapidly going TO
ruin. II appears to be not only matter OF prudence but
| OF absolute necessity that these works.
long delayed, shall al once be commenced ana pushed
"Aitenton 1. invited 10 the necessity FOR electrical
rooms and cable galleries for The most Important Of our
-ea-coast works However well developed our torpedo
system may be- II will be- comparatively useless 40 long "a
our instruments FOR nrnc submarine mines
Meeting cables are unprotected the enerny- artillery
should certainly be further delay IN constructing
| sary adjuhcts 10 the system Of torpedo defence"
TIE oEpNANCE DEPARTMENT
| "Great attention has been given by TIE Ordnance
Bureau TO carry into effect the appropriation made In the
act approved March g. $50. Tor making converting and
testing rifed cannon number Of contracts have been
made which arc in process Of execution. II had first TO
be considered whether not gun steel In suitable masses
and ~ the requisite quality could be procured In this
this point very null circular letter 81 which copy
given IN the ree mn mlg steS U,Gn'nGg,
the United States The replies received showed that
the plant the experience IN this country cannot
produce steel fOrgngs for tubes and Jackets
large a gun having NIL S-inch cabro Those
tbcrciorc been contracted for In England Smaller steel
forguVs have been undertaken In Philadelphia and the
in quality 10 the best European manufactures"
Increased attendance At and nteestn the post schools
is reported. At three Of the military poss the officers
and enlisted men have themselves hired Teachers at
compensation Of $50 per month
ile Secretary recommends that the attention Of Con
grcs be invited 70 the subject OF giving substantial
z"tiohs in every state and IN the District OF Columbia
nv liberal appropriations 10 supply the necessary ams
| equipments tents, ammunition, and othor ordnance
| stores &" With small standing Army, our main de-
pendcnce for public defence must be on our militia aad
which would encourage their organization. aud their
efficiency in drill and discipline, seems apparent"
TIE ARCTIC COLONY
! In reviewing the work Of the Signal Service Bureau
Mr. Lincoln refers at considerable length to the Lady
Franklin Bay Arctic Colony under the command OF Lieu
tenant Greedy and the failure Of the Proeu relief cxpc
dItion. at win be necessary" he says, that carly
provision be made to Gt another expedition for the
relief Of Lieutenant Greedy and his party Their exact
| lecture They have had with them at Lady Franklin
& SUPPLY aPrey sur Gc TO eI s Sbe and Other
summers and there would be no reasonable apprehension
for their safety n known that they had remained
and at Lady Franklin Bay. 1t Il possible how.
ever, that nasmuch the relief expedition Of the year
1882 did not succeed In connecting with Lieutenant
Greedy, he In OF preafranged plans
summer OF this year left Lady Franklin Bay to come
southwark 20 the entrance OF Smiths Sound and that M.
lying upon finding there abundant supply the neces
sares OF life neglected burden himself In the south
ward journey with greater quantity OF provisions and
clothing than would he necessary 10 support party
| on the journey. Even IN this his condition
| would be by no means desperate, for at
this point and further north there supplies IL they
should prove not sufficient To support him his party
until vessel reach MIN I'm 1884 II Is thought that II
would De impossible for him To retrace steps and
reach the supplies left at Lady Franklin Bay although
Journey would be disheartening and difficult
even If his party should be in good condition."
memorandum added TO the report states that the Sec
retaes Of War and the Navy have decided that
practicable 10 send another expedition nOrthwaTd this
year. and gives in detail the Tor the decision and
the grounds for hoping that the Greedy party safe
| and will be rescued next year.
The nal report OF General Sherman ard reports from
the Military Academy, Adiutant-Genera Soldiers Home
Bureau Military Justice, Quartenasters Medical and
other departments, reviewed In order. Their sub
stance has already been made public.
| GENERAL DUMONT'S REPORT