New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05


on the Confederate SIDE although the effort is made 70
collect everything possible and the Bureau employs
an cNConfedcrate General. Marcus J. Wright. "a
agent for that purpose The proportions OF the WORK
now threaten 10 be somewhat larger than originally
contemplated. ON the 1st Of July. 1-'9. there had
been thirty five books published and distributed The
annual appropriation had been $4,000. aud The
average cost Of each book $1,000. Congress- by an
act approved March ., 1850. increased the appropria
ton 10 100000 for the current fiscal year, and
directed that whole work should be completed IN
five years II also provided for the reorganization OF
tie work under the direction Of the secretary OF War;
with view TO expcditng its completion
on the first day Of last July Secretary PROCTOR ap'
pointed Board under the provisions OF this act con
sstinc Of Major Davis of the Army Leslie Perry and
joseph W. Kirley. Since the reorganization OF tho
Board there have been ten books issued OF series j.
and nine more volumes are now stcreotyped The
increased appropriation is used almost entirely Tor
printing. There has only been AN addition OF four
persons To- the clerical force Of the Board. and yet IN
the last eight months ii has prepared eight indexes.
The number per year heretofore has been four
The ratio Of cost Of the preparation OF a book has
been materially diminished.
Secretary Proctor takes an active personal Interest
in this work. which, he says. he desires t. see com
peted before the participants in the great struggle
arc all dead. lie has devoted much time To the
business like organization Of the work and has IN
spired i'm those having 1t in charge zeal to prosecute
IL to an early completion. What has already been
done in the last six months iustincs the belief Of the
Secretary that the work can be completed within
four years.
ATTENTION BESTOWED UPON THE MILiTh.
The National Gnard of the country has every reason
to be pleased with the attitude Of the War Depart
mcnt In reference to It's interests II has been SAID
that secretary Proctor Is the first head of the De
partment TO bcstow officially upon the militia such
kindly words Of praise and commentator a. are found
in his first annual report. The Secretary Is firm
believer in the Importance OF the militia a. miiitny
reserve In his discussion OF coast defence, he su~-
ccsted the idea that the militia Of the scaboai States
should be trained to the permanent forilhcatonS
of the scacoast being the Inc of duty which would
be most likely 10 devolve upon them in any military
contingency Of the future. His recommendation t''i
civilian appointments to the Army should be made,
after examination. from the ranks OF mcrI'ofl""s
officers in the National Guard from graduates Of
colleges giving military instruction, has attracted
much attention. and is likely 10 be acted upon favor
ably by Congress Although it would be an incentive
to the militia, it Is no doubt equally in the Interest
of the regular army itself. The pre- dcns OF colleges
10 which military instructors are detailed had several
meetings Wa.him gOn this winter relative 10 hlHN
distraction in their Institutions. The Department
heartily coopcratcd with them. and basis OF action
alike acceptable to the Department and the colleges
was alecd upon and The same was cn'iod III
general order issued by direction oi the Sr'cI'FN'
February L.. Last monih the rcpr sent iNe' OF Inc
militia Of the different states assembled here IN con
vcntion. The DELEGATES were received with mar"i
consideration by the President mud The secretary 'i
War and AT the close Of the convention the secretary
ordered review Of the regular troops IN the cit' In
honor of the guests and himself rendered them
luncheon at tie Washington barracks.
LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS or THE RANK
AND FILE
secretary Proctor has devoted great deal OF
time TO the consideration OF questions affecting the
welfare Of the enlisted men. In practical WAY he
ha, sought out the causes Of dseontcnt on their
part and has had quick eye TO discern ihrm' Ia
hi. annual report he summed up the question 81
d,scri!on with the remark that The PIN 81 tnc
whole question j. to make the service worm serA
ing and then enough good men Will seek u ana DE
lad 10 STAY IN His action In the case 81 irNHic
Mid latcs confined at Fort smelling Minnesota. Wa
been bruially treated by his superior ohccr. vas
then court niartiacd by court oi whch Ia, ",en,rr
tn, regulations the final reviewing authority IN ,nch
cnsc- j. the Department COMMANDER. =" the s"cr'irf
had no knov ledge 81 thl, case at the time. lil' at
icntion. however having u'ci '"il'u 10 VIZ 49,
Of "a hospital steward which in IN" Judgment ~ ih'
friend, Of the steward excessive be- W. led I"
investigate the matter generally; ne WIZ" 49,
In This manner brought I" hl' attention a ~
ccrtainei Wild wa promptly released and charges
Tg d r,,had IT, f he p'ie1 re erarv has also
directed that he be kept Informed hereafter Of all
lrrcgulaiiiy or undue punishment.
Particular attention has been paid TO the matter Of
recruiting and complete circular upon ~" snbls't
has lately been issued 'o rc,rnI,lhs Queer. IN
secretary ha, asked Congress for legislation incras
ING the pay Of non commissioned piNecr. and thus
reducing the distance between them and commits ,lo"i
officer. and also making the Office one tr which
The private can aspire WIN NOR am.,o'i- iHs
prompt and vigorous action IN the VIA 'a'e. ~h,p
gives an indication 81 what NAV be- cNncc'od IN
similar cases. VIII DO much 10 The soldier from
harsh and IN considered treatment and coupled with
The active effort, Ia h, behalf in,ti"s the hope 81
marked Improvement In H. condition, III. retnrus
have already hegun to show Mo results 81 the work
in this direction. Tho dtsertons rom the army for
he last six months 1000. and Tor the corr
ton this year Of nearly per cent. A. deserf'r''
have been found TO be mostly recruits. or men ONLY
short time In the service. II Is not unreasonable
perhaps TO regard this falling on In tho number
Of desertions the rcsult Of the good wor done A.
recruiting barracks. Tn" dcscrfion' IN the last SIX
months from the recruiting barracks were l7o: TO-
the corresponding six months Of the previous year thrv
FAIR ~ TIFF MATTER or DETAILS.
There probably no part ~ the work ~ Secretary
81 War for which he receives les praise and cr
cism than the honest distribute fairly and i'm
partially detail, officers. Every officer upon De
achei service has friends who willing t. aid him
in keeping such service beyond the regular time. II Is
the exception for an officer TO give up desirable detail
without decided having previously been brought
bear by his friend, upon the Sccrctry a. have II
tended The Secretary has been firm however. upon
this point. and his action and The appointments which
have been made thus far by the Iresdct have shown 10
the active officers serving AT remote stations That they
viii have fair sIow' under the present Admin ira
ton.
\ short time the secretary was seeding an officer
tO do recruiting service. II seemed t. him that cap
tain who took good Of the mon In his company
and consequently troubled by only fow dccrtiOns.
In all likelihood the right man t. select and train
recruits. lie therefore inquired for the captain from
Whose company there had been the lowest dosertlOs
for the last five years. The captain was found IN
Dakota from whose company there had been but one
dc,ertcr In that period. The secretary promptly OF
fcred him the detail.
THE INTRODUCTION or THE CANTHEN SY,rrM.
The word "caniccn" In Itself gives but little ndica
ton Of its meaning in the sense in which II II now
being used In the army. The cantecn IS really
operative club Of the enlisted men under the patronage
Of the Department. II Is an effort to amcliorac their
condition ly contributing to their amusement in thcr