appropriations, the Department has now only one clerk. To enable the head of the Department to perform his duties satisfactorily, he should at all times have before him precise information as to the state of the appropriations, and the extent of liabilities under them. He should know the sums due at every station, and on board every ship of the navy, wherever stationed, as far as practicable; and this might be gained by returns from all disbursing agents, at stated periods, so far as to form data by which the amount of liabilities might be closely approximated. He would then be enabled to issue money warrants in a manner safe and satisfactory to himself and advantageous to the Government.

To illustrate the advantages, a case of common occurrence will be cited. Suppose one of our ships to be on a foreign station, under orders to return to some port in the United States. The usual course has been, after her arrival, for the purser to make his requisition on the navy agent, for money to pay off the crew; and the agent then makes his requisition on the Department, based on the purser's requisition, for the amount. Without knowing that these requisitions are correct, they are presumed to be so, generally, and the amounts required are remitted.

Such requisitions are not, however, always correct. They have never been known to be less than the sum required; but they have sometimes, to the great loss of the Government, exceeded the amount actually required. But, independently of this consideration, an actual loss is, under the present practice, sustained, by detaining the crew on board of ship, awaiting the reception of the money to pay them off, when their services are not required, and when the whole crew are anxious to be discharged, that they may return to their friends on shore. If a vessel arrive at Boston, ten days may pass before the purser can receive money to pay off the crew.

Now, if the Secretary of the Navy knew the amount due to a ship, knowing as he does the port to which he has ordered her, and the time when she will probably arrive, he might make his remittances to the agent, so as to be paid over to the purser on the very day of the ship's arrival, if neces

sary.

Ten days' detention of a single ship of the line would greatly exceed in expense the provision necessary to enable the Secretary to gain the information so essential to the judicious and safe administation of this branch of duties. The Department is now allowed one clerk, at $1,400. Two more would be required, viz: one at $1,500 and one at $1,200; they should all be good accountants.

For the general correspondence, one clerk, at $1,600, is now allowed; another, at $1,200, would be very desirable. For applications for appointments, ole clerk is allowed, at $1,000; he has arduous, confidential duties to perform, and I would recommend that his compensation be increased to $1,400. For general records, I would suggest that two clerks, at $1,200 each, be allowed; and for copying, two clerks, one at $1,000, and one at $800. The want of additional force is sensibly felt, from the fact that the records of the Department have been for a long time greatly in arrears. The employment of extra temporary clerks, as far as the contingent fund of the office would allow, has not enabled the Department to have the records brought up. They are still in arrears, and I am not in possession of the Leans of remedying their condition.

If these recommendations should be adopted, the provision for the Department proper would then be

Which would effect an organization that would, it is confidently expected, produce the beneficial results heretofore recited, and essentially guard against the losses incident to the present condition of the Department, for want of information, which this organization would secure.

The bill provides $1,200 as compensation for a judge advocate general. Great doubts are entertained whether the services of a competent person could be procured for this sum. He ought to be a lawyer by profession, and of reputable standing; and his time would be principally occupied in attending to the important duties devolving upon him. He would also have much writing to perform, and should have the assistance of a clerk to keep the records of his office, and do the necessary copying. This subject is recommended to the consideration of the committee.

In forming a satisfactory opinion as to the organization proposed, it may be acceptable to the committee that a comparison, as to the expense and duties, should be instituted between the bureaus authorized for the War Department and those suggested for the navy. These are kindred Departments, and have duties nearly similar to perform. To draw the parallels as nearly as practicable, let the bureau of engineers be compared with the proposed bureau of construction and repairs.

The bureau of Engineers is believed to be one of the most important appendages to the Department of War. It is charged with the planning, erecting, and repairing of fortifications, and various other similar duties, with the general superintendence of the Military Academy, &c.

The construction and preparation of a ship of war to receive her armament, stores, and crew, and the repairs of ships of war, are duties equally arduous and equally responsible, and probably more extensive.

For the bureau of Engineers, the expense provided by law is believed. to be about the same as is proposed for the bureau of Construction and Repairs.

The Ordnance bureau of the War Department may be assimilated to the proposed Ordnance bureau for the Navy Department; while the expense

of the former is about $14,000, and that proposed for the navy would not exceed $8,800.

The bureau of Quartermaster General may be assimilated to the proposed bureau of Equipment. The expense of the former exceeds $13,000, that of the latter would not exceed $11,100.

The bureaus of "Commissary General of Subsistence" and "Commissary General of Purchases," which are charged with duties similar to those for the proposed bureau of "Provisions and Clothing," and have not, it is presumed, duties more various, extensive, or important, cost annually more than $16,000; while the expense of a bureau of Provisions and Clothing" for the navy would not exceed $9,200.

The bureau of Topography may be assimilated to the proposed bureau of Hydrography. The former costs, it is believed, about $7,500; the latter would not exceed that sum.

The Medical bureau of the two services would obviously have similar and probably equally extensive duties to perform. That for the army is believed to cost about $6,600; the one for the navy would cost about $6,100.

Thus it will be seen, that in no case where a comparison can be instituted between the actual expenses of the bureaus of the War Department and those proposed for the navy, for the performance of similar duties, of equal extent and equal responsibility, do the expenses proposed in the one case exceed those actually allowed in the other; and that, in most cases, the bureaus for the navy are estimated at considerably less than is allowed for those of the army. This view will, it is hoped, establish the reasonableness of the propositions submitted.

But the great purpose which the Department aims at on this occasion is the introduction of a system of vigilant, intelligent supervision over all its concerns; to guard against all impositions, in whatever form or shape they may be attempted; to check all extravagant expenditures; to secure the faithful and economical application of the means provided for the support of the navy; to establish a strict accountability for all supplies on shore or on ship board; to improve, as far as may be practicable, the energy and efficiency of the navy, and at the same time to diminish its expenses.

In these views, I rely confidently upon the cordial concurrence of your honorable committee; and, from all the information gained upon the subject, I feel a decided conviction that the important objects may be gained by the adoption of the proposed organization, upon the proposed scale; and I hazard but little in saying that, in guarding against known abuses, and establishing a rigid accountability in all branches of the service, a reduction of expenditures equal to five or six hundred thousand dollars might be made.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. HENRY A. WISE,

A. P. UPSHUR..

Chairman of the Com. on Naval Affairs, H. R.

2d Session.

War Dept.

FORTIFICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR,

TRANSMITTING

The information required by the resolution of the House of Representa tives of 9th August, 1841, respecting the number of fortifications within the United States, &c.

MARCH 31, 1842.

Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

WAR DEPARTMENT, March 26, 1842.

SIR: In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 9th of August, 1841, requiring the Secretary of War "to report to this House, at the next session of Congress, the number of fortifications within the United States, showing, in tabular form, the amounts expended during each year of the last three Congresses in the construction and repairs of each; the amount expended from and after the 4th of March last, up to the latest period prior to the report which may be practicable; the amount estimated as necessary to complete the construction or repair of those yet unfinished, and the whole expenditure of those finished; the number of guns which are to be employed at each fortification when completed; the number of workmen annually employed upon each fortification, and the amount of wages paid them by the month or year; and the number of men that will be required to man such fortifications in time of peace, and also in time of war; and that he further report the manner in which the contracts for supplies of materials to construct such fortifications are or have been made, and whether they are let to the lowest bidder, upon advertisment, or in what other mode are the supplies furnished, and the cost of the principal timber, per cubic foot, used in constructing the fortifications: and likewise the cost or price of stone, brick, and other principal materials used," I have the honor to transmit, herewith, the report of the colonel of the corps of engineers, prepared under the orders of this Department, conformably to the resolution.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. JOHN WHITE,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

J. C. SPENCER.