Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-21

cook and eat their food in the same man
ner, and in every respect they strive earn
estly to equal and, il possible, Guido their
white comrades. All commands are given
in English, and though few of them under
stand the language, they learn the sound OF
their orders quickly and make rapid pro-
gress in drill.
Some of the companies which have only
been enlisted for three or four mouths
would make a creditable appearance at any
encampment or review. When it is con-
sidered that short time ago many of these
Indian soldiers were "blanket Indians,
that few of them ever had on a suit OF
clothes, slept under roof, ate at table,
used knife and fork, wore shoes or had
their hair cut, the transformation Is indeed
remarkable.
The habit for few years of wearing
good clothes, eating good food well cooked
by themselves, and living in clean and COM
Portable quarters, and the lesson that these
comforts are earned by their own good con-
duct, will not be entirely lost upon men OF
any race or color. They are receiving in
struction in English and in the methods of
civilized life that will help them to help
themselves when discharged. They Will De
impressed with the power of the govern
ment and the folly and futility Of disobe-
6ience of its authority.
RECORD AND PENSION DIVISION.
In my last annual report l referred to
the creation of the record and pension di-
vision of this department in July, 1859. 1t
was placed under the direction of Maj.
Ainsworth and given charge of all the hos
pital and service records of the volunteer
armies in the war, and of all business in
the department relating thereto. At that
time there were 40, 654 unadjusted and un-
answered cases on hand, all of which, TO-
gether with current business, was dis
IF 9l 1901 TOlTs'np the
paft fiscal year the division received 49,
497 cases, of which the records of the office
show that 9S per cent were disposed of and
answered within twenty-four hours OF their
receipt. There were no cases left over I'M
disposed of June 80, 1891.
The number OF cases received during the
past year was 15S, 259 in excess of the
previous year, being an increase in business
of 90 per cent. AS about two-thirds OF the
business of this division is in connection
with the pension bureau of the interior
department, take the liberty of quoting
from the report of Commissioner Raum to
the secretary of the interior September %,
1891, in which he says: ''The great improve
ment which Maj. Ainsworth has brought to
that branch of the public service enables
this bureau to receive within twenty-four
hours from the day of the calls full reports
as to the military and medical history of
claimants as shown by the records of the
war department, whereas in former years
these requests remained unanswered for
months"
In addition to the current work Of the of
fee, the clerks of the division have also
been engaged in transcribing the original
records by the card-indeX system. The
copying of the hospital records was COM
pleted in 1880, and work was then begun on
the muster rolls and military records of all
soldiers, not only in the war of the Rebel
h,,4 a. IN lnN fowl no
Florida any other Indian wars Work was
first begun on the rolls OF the New York
troops, which were the most difficult on &C
count of the large mum her of different or
CARNATIONS. 1t required eleven months to
complete them. AS this work progresses,
however, the labor of searching is dimln-
ished, and the current business of the divis-
sion can be managed by fewer clerks, leav-
ing a larger force for the permanent work
of the preservation of the records. 1t is
expected that by the first of December next
there viii remain to be Transcribed only the
rolls of the eight following states: Illinois,
Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
These records were rapidly going to de-
struction. although for generations they
will be indispensable for the transaction of
public business. have already spoken in
my previous reports of the necessity Of
their preservation and of the excellence of
the card-indeX system, not only for the ac-
complishment of that purpose, but also for
the most economical and expeditions use of
the information they contain. At the pres
ent rate of progress this work can be COM
pleted within the next year and half, or
early in 1898, at which time this depart
ment can dispense with the services of
about 600 of its present clerks, at a saving
to the government in salaries, rent, and
otherwise, of at least 81 900, 600 yearly.
,1iN al, -tnTNb hna fnIT
their work and whose efficiency has been
proved, are entitled to consideration, and
trust some provision may be made for their
transfer to other departments of the gov
ernmental service instead of making new
appointments in those departments.
CIVILIAN APPOINTMENTS.
AS result of military legislation Of the
last session, it has become necessary dur
ing the fiscal year to give effect to the act
candidates from civil life for appointment
as second lieutenants in the army. 1t has
been the purpose OF the department in
making these selections to secure
he best possible material, and
to this end the recommenda-
tons on file were carefully scutlnized
| and the instructors at the principal col
| leges at which military instruction is given
were invited to submit the names Of those
| students who, in addition to high scholar
| ship, had evinced the greatest aptitude for
| the military service. The candidates thus
| selected were subjected to a rigid examlna-
| ton as to their physical and mental qualiti-
cations, and only those who successfully
| passed were recommended for appoint
ment OF forty-one candidates who were
authorized to appear, twenty-three
| succeeded in passing most creditable exam
| nations. OF these thirteen have received
>..Sftary instruction under army officers at
| colleges. Ten were members of the Ma
| tional guard. Those first selected have
! been ordered to Fort Leavenworth for spe-
| cial military instruction, and satisfactory
| reports have been received of their apti-
| ergy with which they have entered upon
the performance Of their duties.
APPRENTICE BATTALION.
| The formation of an apprentice battalion,
to be composed of boys from sixteen to
eighteen years of age, has often been rec
| commended by prominent officers of the
army, and the question of its organization
under the present law has been considered.
| The purpose of the plan, however, would
be better accomplished by the aid of some
| legislation.
| 1t has been suggested that this battalion
be composed of superior class OF lads, one
TO be selected from each congressional dis
| trict, and that they be given good English
education and military and manual training,
| so as to fit them for either civil life or mill
tary service.
| am not prepared to give the measure
| unqualified recommendation, but 1t is IA
vored by SO many officers of ability and eX-
| perience that it is entitled to consideration.
MILITIA.