The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-12-02
LAMONT HAS HIS SAY.
The Report of the Secretary OF War
for the Past Year.

The Report of the Secretary of War
for the Past Year.
Washington, November 2.-Tho report
OF Daniel S. Lamont, secretary OF war,
opens with "a suggestive tabular statemeht
of insufficient congressional appropriations
The actual expenditures for the last hscal
year were So, SS7, Co., while tho estimates OF
ths department for tho next fiscal year run
up To sol, $40 600, thus indicating propADu-
ity of a much larger deficiency than vas
experienced this year. Regarding the lat
ter occurrence. Secretary Lamont says:
"a considerable reduction by congress- or
tho estimate or the pay department., which
failed to take into consideration various
contingencies and tho enactment of extra
ordinary legislation, increasing temporarily
the demands upon the pay appropriation
without making adequate provision thers-
for, lett the paymaster general without
sufficient funds To meet the army pay ron
Tor the last month OF the year. The stu
etlon threatened much hardship among
officers and men. who usually rely upon
their monthly salaries TO pay concurrent
expenses. 1t was averted. however, ~ an
unofficial arrangement under when mo
necessary amount was advanced 2" meet
these accounts in full and the assignments
Of the same are held by the National City
bank. of New York, the secretary CT war
having assumed the personal responsibility
Of guaranteeing their payment. a cehcien-
cy appropriation OF $4,000, or so much as
may be necessary to eNtinguish the debt Is
recommended"
Tho fun strength Of the enlisted men in
the army is stated ri 25,1 the secretary
claims credit for having during the past
two years steadily pursued the policy Of
restoring officers TO their commands and
reducing. wherever possible, The nurnber
of those on detached duty. officers as
signed 10 duty at Washington and at de-
parmcut headquarters have been reduced
from G. 10 %. au1 the officers on recruiting
service nave been reduced from IS to 81.
Those assigned rs military instructors
of the national guard OF the states and ut
military schools have been increased from
Sc TO Is. and those acting as Indian agents
frcm to To-"
Tie considers that the most essential need
Of the army today Is The adoption OF The
three lattaiion" formation as recommend
ed in his report of 1S9i lie says:
THE proposition outlined coutemplates an
increase lin the number OF line officers in
volvlns an increase Of salaries of about
100000. This increase of expenditures
should lie met and more than overcome
by reductions Gin the expenditures for the
stan The present chiefs of bureaus in the
stan Of the army are capable and efficient
men. They are IN every way worthy Of
the responsible places they occupy and
jealous iu the faithful performance Of duty.
The wisdom. however. of continuing the
present system Of selection may Wen be
questioned. There is nothing in the nature
Of the duties Of some of the staff corps
that should forbid tho presumption that
competent officers could be found for these
duties in the line or IN other branches of
the STAFF Ia the case of the engineer, ord
nance and medical departments whose
duties are largely technical, no change from
existing methods Of filing vacancies in the
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