Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-06

these were their private property; and have placed
them beyond the reach of the government. Con-
duet of this character, brought in several instan-
ces to the notice of the present Secretary of the
Treasury, naturally awakened his suspicion, and
resulted in the disclosure, that at four ports,
namely Oswego, Toledo, Sandusky and Milwau-
kie, the treasury had by false entries, been de-
frauded within the four years next March, 1893,
of the sum of one hundred and ninety eight
thousand dollars.
The great difficulty with which the detection of
these frauds has been attended, in consequence
of the abstraction of books and papers by the re-
firing officers, and the facility with which similar
frauds in the public service may be perpetrated,
render the necessity of new legal enactments, in
the respects above referred to, quite obvious For
other material notifications of the revenue laws
which seem to me desirable, l refer you to the re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury That re-
port and the tables which accompany it, furnish
ample proofs of the solid foundation on which
the financial security of the country rests, and
of the salutary influence of the independent
treasury system upon commerce and all none
tary operations.
The experience of the last year furnishes addi-
tional reasons, regret to say, of painful char
acter, for the recommendation heretofore made,
to provide for increasing the military force en-
ployed in the territory Inhabited by the Indians.
The settlers on the frontier have suffered much
from the incursions of predatory bands, and large
parties of emigrants to our Pacific possessions
renee of such scenes cali only be prevented by
teaching these wild tribes the power of, and their
responsibility to, the United States. From the
garrsons of our frontier posts, it is only possible
to detach troops in small bodies and though
these have on all occasions displayed gallantry
and a stern devotion to duty which on a larger
field would have commanded universal admiration,
they usually suffered severely in these conflicts
with superior numbers, and have sometimes been
entirely sacrificed.
II i IL r. AZ !
employed on this service, and is known to be
wholly nadeqate to the protection which would
be afforded. The public mind of the country
has been recently shocked by savage atrocities
committed upon defencelelCss emigrants and
border settlements, and hardly less by the unne-
cessary destruction Of valuable lives, where in
adequate detachments of troops hsve undertaken
to furnish the needed aid Without increase of
the military force, these scenes will be repeated,
it is to be feared larger scale, and with
more disastrous circumstances. Congress, am
sure, will perceive that the planest duties and
responsibilities of government involved in this
question, and doubt not that prompt action
may be confidently anticipated when dllay must
be attended by such fearful hazards
The bill of the last session, providing for an in
crease of pay of the rank and file of the army has
had beneficial results, not only in facilitating en-
listmentS but in obvious improvement in the class
of men who enter the service. l regret that the
corresponding consideration was OF bestowed on
the officers, who, in view of their character and
services, and the expense to which they are neces
sarily subject, receive at present what is, in my
judgment, inadequate compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered by
tne Army, and its ineStimable importance as the
nucleus around which the volunteer forces of the
nation can promptly gather i'll the hour of dam
ger, sufficiently attest the wisdom of maintain
ing a military peace establishment; but the the
DRY of our system and the wise practice under it,
require that any proposed augmentation, in time
of peace, be only commensurate with our extend
ed limits and frontier relations, While scrupu-
lousy adhering to this principle, | find, III exist
ing cumstanceS, necessity for increase of our
military force, and it is believed that four new
regiments, two of infantry and two of mounted
men, will be sufficient to meet the present ext
gency. If it were necessary, carefully to weigh
the cost in a case of such urgency, it would be
shown that the additional expense would be COM
paratively light.
With the increase of the numerical force of the
army should, 1 think, be combined certain mea-
sures of reform in its organic arrangement and
administration. The present organization is the
result of partial legislation often directed to spe
cial objects and interests; ard the laws regulat-
ing rank and command, having been adopted
many years ago from the British code, are not al
ways applicable to our service 1t is not surpris-
ing, therefore, that the system should be deficient
in the symmetry and simplicity essential to the
harmonious working of its several parts, and re-
quire careful revision.
The present organization, by maintaining large staff
corps departments, separates mary officers from that
close connection with troops and those active duties in the
field, which deemed requisite qualify them for the
varied responsibilities of high command Were the duties
of the army staff mainly discharged by officers detached
from their regiments is believed that the special
would be equally well performed and the discipline and
instructi of the army be improved. While due regard
to the security of the rights of officers and to the nice
sense of honor which should be cultivated among them
would seem to exact compliance with the established rule
in pn h.r2l tr bn
doubted that The range oprOmoOn by selection, which is
now practically confined the grade Of general officers
might be somewhat extended, with benefit to the public
service. Observance Of the rule of seniority sometimes
leads especially in time of peace, to the promotion Of Off
GERS who aft meritorous and distinguished
vice may have been rendered by age nrmity ucapa
BILE of performing active duty and whose advancement
therefore, would nd to impair the efficiency of the army
Suitable provision for this class of officers by the creation
of retired list would remedy the evil without woundng
the just pride of men Who by past services, have esb
lished claim to high consideration.
In again commencing this to the favorable
consideration of Congress- would suggest hat the pow
placing Off GERS the retired list be limited
year The rac al operation of the would thus
be tested and it, tho lapse years. houd be
occasion to the provision, it can be reproduced with
any improvements which experience may Indicate The
present organization of the artillery into regiments is Ii
abb obvious objections The service of artillery is
that batteries organiza ion of batteries into
corps of artillery would be consistent with the
ture of their duties. large part of the troops
called artillery are, and have been duty infantry;
the distinction between the TWO arms Dang NOMINAL
tbs nominal artillery in service is entirely dispropor
tomato the whole force and greater than the of
the country demand. l therefore commend the 1scon~
I'll uance of distinction, which has foundation in eli
Their the the character Of the service expect
ed to be performed.
In connection with the proposition for the increase of
the army have presented these suggestions with
gard certain of REFORM the complement of
SYSTEM which would produce the happiest results from
given expenditure and which hope may attract the
early attention and be deemed worthy of the approval of
Congress-
The Recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy
ing reference ample provisions for the discipline
and general improvement in the character of seamen
for the Reorganization and gradual increase Of the navy
deem emneny worthy of your favorable consideration.
The principles, which have controlled policy in fea-
0n to the permanent military force, by and land
und, consistent with the theory of system, and
sho Id by be disregarded.
But, limiting the force to the objects particularly
forth in the preceding part of this message should
overlook the present magnitude and prospective extension
of our commercial marine, fail to give due weight
the fact that besides the two thousand miles of Atlantic
seaboard, have Pacific coast, stretching from
Mexico to the British possessions in the north eemng
with wealth enterprise and demanding the
presence of ships of The augmentation of the navy
has kept pace with the duties properly and prOtaby
assigned in time of peace and it is inadequate for the
large field of It's operations, not merely in the present. but
still in the progressively increasing eXgencies of the
wealth and commerce of the United States cordially
apl of the proposed apprentice system for
ona vessels recommended by the Secretary OF the Navy
The occurrence, during the last few MONTHS of marine
disasters of the tragic NATURE involving great loss
human life has produced intense emotions Of sympathy
and throughout the country. 1t may well be
doubted whether all these caamOus events wholly
attributable to the necessary inevitable dangers of the
The merchants mariners. and sip-builders Of the
United States, il is true, unsurpassed in arreachng
enterprise Skill intelligence and courage, by any others
in the world But, with the increasing amount of
commercial tonnage in the aggregate and the larger size
and improved equipment OF the ships constructed
deficiency in the supply of reliable begins to be
NAV he