. Doc 153 STATEMENT OF MEN, HORSES, ETC., HIRED IN WASHINGTON. THE LETTER FROM SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING A statement of men, horses, &c., hired in Washington. APRIL 3, 1876.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 29, 1876. The Secretary of War has the honor to transmit to the House of Rep▪ resentatives, for the information of the Committee on Military Affairs, in response to inquiries from the chairman of said committee, statements prepared by Maj. William Myers, depot quartermaster in this city, viz: A.-Statement of forage and straw issued to officers by Maj. William Myers, depot quartermaster at Washington, D. C., and delivered to livery stables each month from March, 1874, to February, 1876, inclusive. B. Statement of the number of horses and mules for which Major Myers issued forage during the year 1875. C.-Statement of men employed by Maj. William Myers, depot quartermaster, Washington, D. C., their duties, and the amount of salary paid each during the year 1875. In answer to the first inquiry, viz, "What amount of Government forage has been issued for the private horses of W. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, within the past three years, and upon whose requisition?" Major Myers reports that no forage has been issued to the prirate horses of W. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, during the past three years, nor for any other period, but that forage has from time to time been issued for the use of animals in the service of the War Department, and that he found the practice in operation when he took charge of the depot in 1870, and had been the custom for years. In connection with statement A herewith, Major Myers reports that it is not known to him which of the officers, if any, do not own the animals for which they made requisitions for forage. ALPHONSO TAFT, |