The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-04
Rock Island, Illinois, Friday, December T. 1874

been made should be made annually fo
the manufacture of arms. An increase
appropriation is desired for arming an
equiping militia. Steps to be taken to re
lieve various states from their indebted
ness for arms charged TO them during tn
rebellion. Sales of various arsenals, sucl
as the Allegheny, Columbus, Detroit Pike
vile, Watertown and Washington are re
commended. The Springfield armory
Frankfort arsenal and few others are re
commended to be retained, the proceeds Q
those sold to be applied to the erection o
of one grand arsenal for manufacturing
purposes,t to be established near New York
The proceeds of the sales of those name,
would be amply sufficient for that purpos
and there is no necessity for their retention
A powder depot and experimental ground
for testing heavy ordnance is recommend
ed; desertion to be considered felony cog
nizable by courts Of criminal jurisdiction
offenders to be arrested by Marshals ant
deputies like other criminals, but jurisdic
tion to be concurrent with that of military
courts; jurisdiction is recommended to be
conferred on military tribunals over militia
ry persons charged with murder and other
| teonics. The reduction of the army dis
couraged at present. A reduction of the
number of men without a reduction of off
sers and posts is not economical
A larger appropriation for the
publication of official records of the war
of rebellion, both of the Union and Confed
crate armies, is desirable, This should
become Immediately available. The Pres
ident to be authorized to drop from the
rolls of off nf tha thDSa wbn
tentionally and criminally duplicate their
pay accounts, in other words, present ac-
counts for the same month pore than once
and obtain payment thereon The proyi
sions Of the act of May 1874, as to the ex
tension of time during leave OF absence
in which full pay can be drawn, to apply
to all officers stationed in the department.
of Texas. Calling attentl N to the names
of those officers who have been sent to the
senate for brevet appointment for service
ip the field in actions with the Indians, the
confirmation of those breyet appointments
is recommended. The pay of sergcants to
to be decreased. An appropriation for a
permanent military prison is recommended
The payment of soldiers by checks is dis
couraged and attention to the Paymaster
Generals application for the appointment
of additional paymasters invited. Appro,
priations for walls and lodges at certain ma
tional cemeteries is recommended. \ rec
is made that the bill which |
passed the House Of Representatives au-
the President to establish regula-
lions for the army be taken up and passed |
by the senate. Boys to be enlisted as field
musicians as formerly. When vacancies
,ccur in the office of Regimental Quarter
master and Adjutant no reappointment
shall be made to these positions, but the
luties now performed by them to be per-
ormed by detailed officers The establish
nent of protessorship of rhetoric and
English literature at West Point is recon-
nended.
The Attorney Generals annual report
hows that there were judgments during
he fiscal year in civil suits in favor of the
United States of $2,02l ,724 amount ac.
ually realized, 1867, ,l92. OF criminal
,ases, 6,0lS were terminated, including
1923 convictions, of which I02 out of 966
we're under the enforcement act. Total
uts to which the United States was not
'arty l9, 1874, of which 400 terminated,
he judgments being to the amount of $l0,-
0S, ,624 expenses of marshals, commits
toner's, etc. for the year, So, 669, ,730, or
1861, ,l3o less than the previous year.
AMOUNT awarded by the court of claims,
y, AIS ,SO4, against total claims of 81 ,O54,- .
,6G.
The Attorney. General recommends that
,Jnited States district courts be given au-
horlty TO issue subrcnas dirooti,.es ,b., at
pndance of witnesses before the court Of
laims, and that the latter be given power
o punish for contempt any failure to obey.
hat heads Of departments be given au-
hority for use in court of rebel records in
possession of the government that the
oice force of the District of Columbia be
increased; that all district attorneys and
narshas De paid by salary only, fees being
boished; that penitentiary be erected
D the District Of Columbia for the confine.
nent of convicts. instead of that at Al
any that uniform mode be provided
or the selection of Jurors for U3ited States
ourts. and the enactment OF a law regula- ,
ing fees and costs of clerks, marshals and
ttorneys of United States courts.
The Chief Of the Bureau of, Ordnance,
n his annual report, recommends, the re-
rmament of the navy with breech loading
flied cannon, which can be done at very
mall COST in view of the reduced number
# ships and of guns required. The pre-
ent types Of foreign armed cruising ships
AIRY four and half to six inches Of ar
nor, and at present we have no guns. ex-
cpt the fifteen inch in the monitors, which
will seriously injure the highest of these ar
nOred vessels. Substitute seven or
light inch rife for the eleven inch smooth
,orc, which even our smallest ships carry,
nd few OF them would come of without
,reat damage, The Chief Of Ordnance
ays the recent experiments in conversion
# smooth bore 10 rifle cannon developed
10 beneficial results, and he does not deeui
t possible to converts cast iron smooth
'ore into an efficient rife by any system
f rifling.
WILKsBARRE, Dec. 3.-M. w. Laftus,
Iayor of Scraton, was to day arrested for
lleged purjury. Tho Mayor waived OK
and gave bail for his appearance
t the January term of the Criminal Court
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. IA Tribune spe
ial says last night the calaboose at Pontiac,
H. was burned, aud Frank aud Samuel
Downing, who were confined in it for dis
rderly conduct, were burned to death.
hey were sons of an old and respected
itiZen.
= AIrrS prcs A WEsr Cashier |