[ No. 8. ]

REPORT of the Special Committee appointed to inquire into the Military expenditures of the State during the last year.

To the Attorney General of the State of Michigan:

The Special Committee appointed under the resolution of the Senate, on the seventeenth day of January, A. D. 1862, to whom was referred the duty to investigate and inquire into the military expenditures of the State, during the last year, with powers to send for persons and papers, also to sit during the recess, and make their report to you, have had the same under consideration, and would respectfully report the result of their labors agreeable to said resolution.

The view the committee have taken of the matter referred to them, the subject involved not only an enquiry as to the amount expended in the military operations of the State, the manner and method of its expenditure, but more particularly the administration of this branch of the public service, whether it has been conducted with that prudence and economy the people had a right to expect and demand from their servants, in a de

partment rendered suddenly so important and expensive by the emergency in which the State, in common with the nation, has been placed, to resist treason and its abettors in open armed rebellion against the government.

The range of this inquiry, in the opinion of the committee, became the more necessary, as the investigation ordered by the Senate was induced, if not originated, from a feverish excitement of the public mind, to an extent that seemed to demand particular investigation; whether this branch of the public service had been conducted with that economy and fidelity its magnitude and importance required, or on the other hand whether incapacity, fraud and peculation had marked the course of these public servants, that should justly subject them to censure?

Justice, therefore, not only to the State but also to the officers having charge of this branch of the public service, seemed to demand a thorough and extensive investigation by the committee, that should place within their scrutiny all the facts and expenditures connected with these departments.

In carrying out this plan of investigation, much more time has been consumed than the committee had hoped and expected would be necessary, and more than the Senate could have originally anticipated, limiting, as they did by their resolution, the compensation of the committee to twenty days. In the performance of these duties, they have necessarily consumed over double the time limited therein, being determined to perform the duties in a manner its importance seemed to demand, and as contemplated by the Senate in ordering the same.

In the discharge of these duties, and in pursuance of the foregoing plan, the committee have made a careful and detailed examination of all claims and accounts paid or allowed for military expenditures, incurred in the raising, equipping, and bringing into service the military force of the State, authorized and required in the suppression of the present rebellion, which at that time threatened the overthrow of our government, and herewith exhibit a detailed statement of the same, showing the

different branches of the service in which these expenditures have been incurred, and to whom the money has been paid, thereby placing before the public a correct record of the disbursements, giving them an opportunity for examining for themselves.

If errors should appear in any of the claims which have been paid for recruiting expenses, which forms an important item in connection with these expenditures, incurred in every part of the State, your committee have, as far as possible, given the names of the parties receiving the same, and their respective companies and regiments, that they may individually, be held responsible, for any overcharge or fraud which may have eluded the vigilance of the Board in auditing the same, the certificate of the proper officers being the only evidence to them of its correctness, but in many instances large deductions have been made.

For the purpose of investigating the fidelity of the officers and agents engaged in the administration of the military departments of the State, the committee have had before them witnesses, whose examination, on oath, they herewith submit. This roceeding has considerably protracted the labors of the committee, but it was, in their opinion, necessary for two reasons, and in accordance with the resolution:

First. To satisfy the public demand for the truth in the matter;

Second. To either exonerate the officers and agents engaged in this branch of the public service, from charges or imputations of fraud and collusion, in the awards of contracts and furnishing supplies, or incapacity and infidelity in the discharge of the duties assigned them, as alleged, or to establish the same, and expose to the public those who have been dishonest and unfaithful to their trust.

In the opinion of the committee the result has fully justified the wisdom of the measure, and the consumption of the extra time and labor required for its accomplishment. On the subject of the capacity and fidelity of the officers and agents en

gaged in this branch of the public service, this examination has fully established the opinion of the committee, as they think it will that of an intelligent public, when they shall have examined the testimony and other matter herewith submitted.

The entire military force raised by this State, the expense of which forms the subject of inquiry under the resolution of the Senate authorizing this committee, consists of eleven regiments of infantry, the Coldwater light artillery, and one company of Berdan's sharp-shooters. The two latter companies, the State, in the first instance, furnished for the sharp-shooters their arms, and for the artillery their horses, at an aggregate expense of fifteen thousand three hundred and twenty-eight dollars, ($15,328.) In addition to this expense is that also of the camp of instruction, all of which would make the military operations of the State equivalent to twelve regiments of infantry.

The exact amount this force has cost the State cannot be determined, as there still remains in the hands of the Quartermaster some claims which have not yet been audited by the Board; but from a careful examination and estimate of all outstanding accounts pertaining to these expenditures, furnished this committee, it is confidently believed, will not exceed fifteen thousand dollars, ($15,000.). This, added to the tables herewith submitted, will make the total expenditure by the State for recruiting, transportation, subsistence, clothing, pay and every other expense connected in any way with the military department of the State, the sum of six hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and sixty-five dollars and fifty-five cents, ($609,965 55,) or fifty thousand eight hundred and thirty dollars and forty-six cents ($50,830 46) to each regiment.

A large proportion of the expenditures embraced in this amount have been paid in the bonds of the State at their par value, while their market value for a long time, owing to the general unsettled state of financial matters at that time, did not exceed eighty-five (85) cents on the dollar. Could this have been otherwise, and all payments made in money, a very

large saving to the State from the above amount would have been the result.

The committee have every reason to believe, and think they can state upon the best authority, that no troops have gone into the field better clothed and equipped than the soldiers of our State, and with that economy which will compare favorably with any State in the Union. Michigan has a just right to be proud of her soldiers, both in appearance and noble bearing in duty, whenever and wherever their services have been demanded.

In the prosecution of their inquiries the committee have been led to some extent, and as far as circumstances would permit, to institute a comparison of the relative cost of the troops of Michigan and those of other States. To this end they have corresponded with the quarter-master departments of several adjoining States, but from none of them have they been able to obtain that accurate information they could have desired. The only comparison, therefore, which the committee can institute relates to Wisconsin, which is furnished the committee as approximating to an average of eighty thousand dollars a regiment. Other Western States, estimating from incomplete tables furnished, embracing only a portion of the consequent expenditures, will nearly equal this amount; while the average cost of the same in Michigan is only fifty thousand eight hundred and thirty dollars and forty six cents, ($50,830 46,) showing a direct saving to this State, in the raising of her troops, of the sum of twenty-nine thousand one hundred and sixty-nine dollars and fifty-four cents ($29,169 54) to each regiment, or a total of three hundred and fifty thousand and thirty-four dollars and forty-eight cents ($350,34 48) on the entire force of the State, which, in the opinion of the committee, shows, to some extent, the interests of the people have been well guarded by : those entrusted with the performance of the duties of this branch of the public service.

In the progress of their examination, the committee have met with but one thing that, in their opinion, is of sufficient impor