Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1879 — Synopsis of Report of the Secretary of War. [ARTICLE]

Synopsis of Report of the Secretary of War.

Washington, November ft The following is a synopsis of the an> nual report of Secretary-of-War McCrary: The Secretary, In referring to the ITte outbreak. takes the ground that the Government •fcouid Insist on its demands for the surrender and punishment of the Indians responsible for the Meeker massacre, and the treacherous attack upon Major Thornburgh's command. The Secretary recommends the sale and abandonment of certain military posts, and concurs in General Sherman’s recommendation that the army be fixed at 25,000 men, exclusive of those on detached service. He has reduced the Engineer’s estimates for river and haihor improvements during the next fiscal year from 114.000,000 to KUHkOtt. and he haa also made a reduction of over S3.QGOJ)OO from estimates (aggregating about $10,000*000) which were submitted for all other public works under the War Department. si:real- or militabt jnmci. “The Judge Advocate General reports, among other items of business, the receipt and review at his bureau of 1.673 records of general courts-martial, and the furnishing to the Secretary of War of 888 reports and opinions on questions of law. “ He reports the convictions for desertion as increased during the past year by twenty-four, and expresses the opinion that the two principal or most conspicuous causes of desertion In the army are: 1. Drunkness, or rather indulgence in Intoxicating liquors; fi. Oppressive or injudicious treatment of soldiers by non-commissioned officers, and especially First Sergeants of companies Invested with an excess or authority. “He also recommends that the legislation heretofore Initiated in the Senate for making gambling In the army a punishable offense be renewed, and that the bill heretofore proposed for the purpose, or some similar provision, be enacted by Congress. “In view of the standing reward offered for the apprehension of deserters,'and the duty Incumbent by law upon public officers to effect their arrest when practicable, courts-martial are usually inclined to consider, in the absence of evidence that a deserter’s whereabouts were known to the military authorities, that while absent he was not amenable to justice. Nevertheless, the controversy that is continued on this subject cannot fail to injuriously affect the discipline of the military service, by tending to extenuate in the minds of enlisted men the responsibility for this grave crimes and leading those disposed to desert to believe that by hiding for two years they may escape punishment. Nor is the question confined to deserters alone, sinoe it might equally arise in the case of a mutineer or other offender Against the articles of war, who might escape and evade arrest by secreting himself for more than two years. “As a settlement of the whole question upon a satisfactory basis, I would advise, in conformity with the views of the Judge Advocate General, that some certain term of amenability be fixed in the case of deserters. This term, however, ought not, in my opinion, to be too short, lest a hope of speedy immunity should be held out to encourage a crime already too prevalent; nor should the law to be enacted be complicated by any proviso in reference to the offenders having been within or without the territorial domain of the United States, which, as a rule, it would be wholly Impossible for the Government to ascertain or prove. QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT. “The Quartermaster General reports that the expenditures of the Quartermaster’s Department during the fiscal year have been $10,758,001.11; that $12,136.50 was transferred from the appropriation for support of the military prison to, the Commissary Department on account of subsistence of prisoners; that $198,108.36 has been covered Into the surplus fund in tbte Treasury, and that the balance to credit of Quartermaster’s Department appropriation in Treasury on 30th of June, ltfiS, was $1,218,701.15. “The expenditures of the Department have decreased. In 1874 they were $14,558,317.11; in 1878 they were $10,758,001.11.

“He recommends the enlistment of PostQuartermaster’s Sergeants, much needed to give personal care to property and supplies, and preserve knowledge of business affairs ana condition of buildings and property at posts., now lost by frequent changes of station or the lieutenants who act throughout the army as Pijst Quartermasters, and who, being attached to companies, are replaced every time a company is detached and ordered to a new post. He also recommends that these lieutenants, when their detail as A. A. Q. M. has been approved by the Secretary of "War, be allowed slu per month extra pay as compensation for responsibility amt risk of loss involved in the care of money and supplies. In these recommendations 1 fully concur. “The Department moved during the year 50,177 persons, 4.921 beasts, and 130,440 tons of supplies from the settlements to the military posts, many of which are in the far interior and at the end of long lines of communication. The cost of this transportation was <2.215,968.05. “Tne embarrassment and expenditure arising in the legislation against the land-grant railroads still continue, and the repeal or this special legislation, which would leave these Questions and claims to be settled on the principles of law and equity decided to be applicable by the Supreme Court, is again recommended by the Quartermaster General amfi •occurred in by me. “The Pacific Railroads transported 10,488 persons. 1,766 be-*-»t 3 ami 52.147.552 pounds of supplies during the year. At their regular tariff rates the value ot this service was $721,913.40. The total value of the military transportation over these roads to June 30, 1879, is $10,>2.311.U I .'. “The raiiroails who purchase*! material from the Quartermaster's Department, under executive orders of October, 1865, still owed the Unite*! States, on the Ist of July last, the sum of $1,RC,«n7.11. Of this amount the Nashville Sc Northwestern Railroad, which is insolvent. owes <908.55d.27, which .amount it is not supposed wtil ever be paid. CLAIMS UNDER ACT OF JULY 4, 1864. 1 “ In the investigation and examination for claims for compensation for Quartermaster's stores taken by the army, under the act of July 4, In:4. the sum of $132,825.52 has been expended during the year: 2,460 claims for nearly two millions of dollars have been investigated, and on these the investigating agents recommended allowance of one-fourth of a million; 3,7145 claims have been considered during the year, amounting to $3,188,658.55; I,BB7have been reported to the Treasury, with recommendation for allowances amounting to $121,568396. Under this law 40,748 claims have been filed for $30,557,014.99 ; 9,905 have been reported on favorably for allowance of $4,143,982.R5: 19,194 have been rejected, amounting to 523.2 ti. 55. “NEW MILITARY POSTS have been under construction on the Yellowstone or Milk River, near the northern boundary line, on the line of communication of the renegade Indians who fled into British America; on Lake Chelan, in Northern Washington Territory, and on the north fork of the Canadian River, in the Indian Territory; also on Bear Butte Creek, in, the Black Hills, Dakota. Other military posts were authorized by law at El Paso, Texas; at Pagosa Springs, CoL, and on the Niobrara River, in Nebraska. - . MILITARY CEMETERIES. “The military cemeteries, eighty In number, arc in good order, and improve In beauty as cultivation improves. I caused the materials of the ancient portico of the old War Department, on its demolition to make room for the new building, to be transferred to the Arlington Cemetery, where the old columns and entablature have been used In constructing two handsome and appropriate entrances to that cemetery. It Is suggested by the Quartermaster General that the cemetery affords ample space, without encroaching on the • ground occupied by the soldiers of the war, to be used as a National Government cemetery for the interment of members of Congress and officers of all services of the United States who may die at the Capital or whose friends may desire for them such a place of sepulture.

SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT. “<Thc Commissary General recommends that i the appropriation for subsistence of the army be made available from the passage of the act making it, in which recommendation I concur. “ Supplies, as a rule, are purchased from producers and manufacturers or importers nearest points of consumption, when consistent with a due regard to economy and the procurement pf stores of a proper quality. “ The enactment of a law authorizing the Commissary General to detail such officers of the Subsistence Department as may be necessary to investigate claims not already decided upon by the Cbmmiss&ry General, or which, having been decided, may be reopened on account of new evidenoe submitted, is recommended. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. “ The total number of deaths from all causes reported among the white troops was 266, or twelve per 1,000 of mean strength. Of these, I*2, or seven per 1,000 of strength, died of disease. and 101, or five per 1,000 of strength, of wounds, accidents and injuries. The proportion of deaths from all causes of cases treated was one to 142. The total number of white soldicra reported to have been discharged the serv ice on 4 Surgeon's certificate of disability’ was 677, or thirty-one per 1000 of mean strength. ‘‘The total number of deaths of colored soldiers reported, from all causes, was 28, or 14 per 1,000 of mean strength. Of these, 15, or 8 per 1.0(0 of strength, died of disease, and 18, or 6 per 1.000 of strength, of wounds, accidents and injuries. The proportion of deaths from all causes to cases treated was Ito 140. The total number of colored soldiers reported to have been discharged on ‘ surgeon’s certificate of disability* was 42, or 22 per 1,000 of mean strength. rAT DEPARTMENT. "The Paymaster General states that the Freedmen's Bureau, for payment of bounties, etc., to colored soldiers, organised in 1867, and transferred In 1873 to the Adjutant General, Is now in operation in the Pay Department, under the act of March t, 1879. REPORT OV THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. '■ "The report of the Chief of Engineers states that work upon our sea-ooast defenses has been limited, in accordance with the terms of the act of March 23,1878, to their protection, preservation and repair. For the reason that 2£JSk«IS k»ps, of light-houses, to the destructive and deteriorating effects of the sea, the amount heretofore appropriated for these objects has proved insufficient, many necessary works of repair and protection remaining" unexecuted at the close of the last flacal year for want of funds. Preservation and °°®P let J° n ot certain public works on rivers snd harbors, and the surveys and examinations connected therewith, have been prosecuted gays approved June 1(£ 1878, and the balances S.SrfSjJ?’?'®* oo " -’“‘■“■W -M----execVV?n ot all works provided for In the River and Harbor act, approved March 8. 1879, for which the plans and projects have been approved, is being proceeded with. In the case of new works unavoidable delays have in some Instances arisen from the neces?h7^ COMlder V I *. Questions occupancy of their sites. ® w ot the northern and northwestern lakes, the main trtangulation oonnect-

me Lake Brie with Lake Michigan aas oeao nearly completed. Coast charts Nos. 3, 4 and 5 o t Lake Ontario, and Nos. 1 $ and 4af Lake ■rie have been finished. UPGR or XU CHIEF or ORDNANCE. “The construction of the new buildings at Rock Island Arsenal has progressed In a satisfactory manner, and, with the aid of the new appropriations asked for, the workshops will soon be in a condition to receive their machinery and oomaaeooe manufacturing to meet the future wants of the country. “Darina the last fiscal year there were manufactured at the National Armory SUH6 Springfield rifles, and, under the law aathorhungn, 1.000 of the experimental Hotrhblar magazine rifles. The former have been produced at a much less cost than heretofore, owing to the increased number manufactured and the improvement of the plans employed; and as there is now available a larger proportion than usual for the present year. It Is confidently expected that the cost will yet be further reduced In the future. There were in store, on July L 1878, only ftOTS rifles and 5,408 carbines at the armory and arsenals, a wretchedly small number, considering the wants of the present and the calls that may be made in the future. REPORT or THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER. “The Chief Signal Officer reports that the established course of drill and instruction in mllitart signaling and telegraphy, meteorology and the Signal Bervtoe duties at stations of observation and report, together with the drills of the Signal Cores with arms, haa continued at the Beh' >ol of Instruction and Practice at Fort Whipple, Va. The apparatus needed for the study and exercise, with Instruments; for practice in the meteorological duties st stations of cfmervation; the equipment for the drill in field signaling; the drill with the field telegraph train; the construction drill for permanent telegraph lines, and the duties on signal and telegraphic statiom* is full, and has been improved by useful additions. “ The officers of the Signal Service pass the course of drill and instruction, and serve regularly at the post of Fort Whipple before betag put upon any other duty. There have been instructed during the year 122 men as assistant observers and nine for promotion to the grade of Sergeant. “ One hundred and seventy stations have been maintained during the year to fill the system of stations of observations from which reports are deemed necessary to enable proper warnings to be given of the approach and force of storms, and of other meteoric changes, for the benefit of agricultural and commercial interests. “Twenty-five stations of a second class, hitherto described as ‘Sunset Stations,’ at which a single observation is taken dally, at the time of sunset, by citixens employed for this purpose, have been continued in operation. “The issue for publication of the official deductions or forecasts had at the office of the .Chief Signal Officer, and known as the Synopsis and Indications, has continued during the Cear. There has been no failure of the do very of any report to the press during that period. The total number of the reports thus furnished at the hours of one a. m., 10:30 a. m., and 7:30 p. m., daily, has been 1,085. “ The wide diffusion given these reports may be judged from the fact that they appear daily tn almost every, newspaper in the United Btates. When the forecasts or indications thus published are examined in reference to accuracy of preannouncement of the state of the weather only (not the forestating, as is the custom, the eh&nges of the barometer, thermometer and averge wind-direction to happen), the average percentage of accuracy is found to be 90.7 per cent verified. A minute analysis of the Same forecast, and a careful comparison with the weather aud the instrumental changes above referred to, afterward occurring within the time and within the district to which each forecast has had reference, has given an average percentage of accuracy of 86.6 per cent. An nverage of 90 per cent to follow this comparison is also believed to be attainable. “By an arrangement with the Post-Office Department. 6,142 printed ‘Farmers’ Bulletins,'on which appear.daily the forecasts of this office, have been distributed and displayed in frames dally at as many different post-offices In different! cities, villages and hamlets in different States, for the use of the agricultural population throughout the United States. “A ‘Weather Case, or Farmers’ Weather Indicator,’an instrument arranged to exhibit together on a simple plan the meteorological indications of several instruments,* and in such way that they can be easily noted by any one, is in preparation for general issue.” a