If a careful revision cannot be made at this session. a commission such as was lately approved by the Suate and is now reconmended by the Secretary of the Treasury would doubtless lighten the labors of Congress whenever this subject shall be brumghlit to its consideration. The accompanying report of the Secretary of War will make known to you the operations of that Department for the past year. lIe suggests teasures for promoting she efficiency of the Army without adding to the number of its officers. and recommends the legislation necessary to inerease the number of enlisted men to 30.000. the maximnu allowed by law. This lie deems necessary to maintain quietude on our evershifting frontier. to lreserve peace and suppress disorder and marauding in new settlemuents. to protect settlers and their property against Indians and Indians against the ettcroacbments of intruders. and to enable peaceable immigrants to establish homes in the most remote parts of our country. The Army is now necessarily scattered over such a vast extent of territory that whenever at outbreak occurs reeinthrcements must le hurried front inany quarters. over great distances. and always at heavy cost for transportation of men. horses. wagons. and supplies. I concur in the reconmendations of the Secretary for increasing the Army to the strength of "30.000 enlisted mca.
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