National Republican., 1883-11-02

tho settlement of the great west, which arc
the chief causes of tho great prosperity
which now blesses our land"
ADJUTANT GENERAL DRUM.
In his annual report to tho secretary
Adjt. Gen. Drum recommends that, in addi-
tion to the competitive drills among the
militia companies, competition should be had
in camps in cleanliness, in the kitchens and
messcs in discipline, and conduct on guard
and outpost duty. Such competition would
determine which arc tho bost troops, instead
of the best drilled mon simply. 1t is recom-
mcndod that, If necessary to prevent cayil
the Jaw empowering the President to detail
an officer to perform the duties of professor
of tactics and military science in military
colleges be amended so as to require
applications for tho detail of n mill.
tary professor to bo accompanied
by satisfactory proof that Mt least $50 male
pupils above the age of 10 are actually pres
ent ut the institution. The colleges and uni
versitios at which officers of the army may be
detailed should bo designated by tho gov
ornor of the state in which located, as being
most interested in the progress of the state
and its institutions, and possessing greater
means of information necessary to wisely de-
termine tho question of the selection Tho
adiutant general says he IS of opinion that
OIlCCrS SnOulu DC lOIDluuen 10 lublTuCu lU any
other branch of education except is so far as
the instruction has direct reference to mill
tary knowledge.
The adjutant general very earnestly rec
ommends that congress be asked TO enact q
law authorizing the retirement of men who
have faithfully and honoraby served for not
less than thirty-hye years, on the full pay of
tho grade held nt the time of application for
transfer to tho retired list. On the subject of
the dismissal of officials, he says Section
1929, of the revised statutes, authorizes the
President to drop from the rolls of the army
for desertion any officer who is absent from
duty three months without leave. AS officers
on the retired list, though subject to tho rules
and articles of war, are not on duty within
the meaning Of the above section, recon-
mend il be amended to include that class Of
officers, and thus provide authority for sum-
mary action in their case whenever tho
President may deem 1t necessary This
recommendation is supposed to have bear
ing on the case Of Maj. Nickerson.
The adjutant general thinks it would re-
duce tho number of desertions, largo ma
jority Of which occur during tho first eigh-
teen months of enlistment, if tho term of
service were reduced to three years, ro.enlist-
inents to be for five years, as now. The law
now grants increased pay to men re-enlisting
within thirty days after the expiration of
term of service. 70 secure TO the regiment
the services of mon identified with 1t, and
sharing In degree its fame and aspirations,
he recommends that the increased pay be
made to depend OH immediate re-onistmcDt
in the same regiment and grant the man re.
enlisting one, two, or three months furlough,
according to the number of terms he has al
ready served.
1t is also recommended that all discharges
by favor, unless long and faithful service on
the part of the man constitute controlling
element of favorable consideration, DO made
conditional on the reimbursement to the gov
ornnlent of the expense of recruiting and
transportation. or fixed sum, say 800.
in recommending that the law regulating
The settlement OF clothing accounts be
amended SO rs to require q bimonthly settle
mCnt Of clothing, he says that the charges
against dcscrtcrs for clothing ovcrdrawn
durit The two months ending June 80, 1851,
an1uui'l to SO,3i5. Assuming that each of
the 80. men who deserted during the past
year ~a. udebtod for clothing received but
unpaid IN lhGsnm Of $50 allow average under
tl'' nruaCut systrmi, the total loss from that
sOur,G t%crcdch $4,000.
\ recommendation is made that the law
liuIijii!" Huvus Of absence to clerks aud en-
Iiuyta 40 thiry ddysln each year be amended,
80 nE to make the thirty days yearly leave
cumulative, but not to exceed three months
in ;di, 81 that men entitled to the Indulgence
by u,!:-"ut daily attention to duty may be
grant. ~ two or three months leave without
btiug 1! uct to deprivation OF pay.
---En 'olHrate report to tho general of the
army tho adjutant general says tho number
of discharges from the army during tho
year ending Jhne 30, 1883, was $3.50 ;
deaths, &2i; dcsertions 3,57S; total
casualties. 9,740. The total number of
enlistments made during the year was 9,995.
out Of 1881 accepted recruits 4,S3S were ma
tive born, 3093 of foreign birth, 6,461 white,
aud 1,47O colored. The large number of men
presenting themselves for enlistment 19,T3S),
who were rejected on account Of mental or
physical disqualification, evidences that the
officers detailed on this important and deli
cate duty are fully alive to the interests in
trusted TO their care.
Every effort was made during the entire
fiscal year ending June 80, 1855 to obtain
sufficient men TO fill the army to its author
lied strength, but Notwithstanding those
efforts the total enlisted strength Of the army
on that date was only 22,S5l, or ., 140 less than
the authorized number.