Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-12-05


men employed in the long and toll
some pursuit and in the final capture
of these Indians, the honor and praise
which was Justly their due. The
very
SERIOUS RIOTS
which occurred in several of the
States, in July last, rendered necessa-
ry the employment Of considerable |
portion of the army to preserve
peace and maintain order. In the
States Of West Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania aud Illinois these dis
turbances were so formidable as TO
defy the local and State authorities
and the national executive was called
upon in the mode provided by the
constitution and laws to furnish mill
tary, and I am gratified to be able to
state the troops sent in response to
these calls for aid in the suppression
of violence were able by the inf1u-
ence of their presence in the disturb
ed regions, to preserve the peace and
restore order without the use of
force. In the discharge Of this deli
cate and important duty both officers
and men acted with great presence Of
mind and courage and tor their SER
vices deserve the thanks Of the coun-
try.
TEXAS TROUBLES.
Disturbances along the Rio Grande
in Texas, to which 1 have referred,
have rendered necessary the constant
employment of military force In
that vicinity. A full report Of all
recent military operations in that
quarter have been transmitted to the
House of Representatives, in answer
to resolution of that body, and II
will not therefore be necessary to en-
ter into details. regret to say that
these lawless excursions into our ter
ritory by armed bands from the Mexi-
can side of the line for the purpose OF
robbery, have been of frequent oc-
currence, and in spite of the most
vigorous efforts of the commander of
our forces, tho Marauders have 9ener-
ally succeeded in escaping into Mcxi-
co with their plumber.
In May last gave orders for the
utmost vigilance on the part Of our
troops for the suppression of these
raids and the punishment of the gull
ty parties, as well as the e-capture of
the property stolen by them. Gen.
Ord, commanding in Texas, was di.
rected to invite the cooperation of
the Mexican authorities in an effort to
this end and assure them that 1 was
anxious to avoid giving the least Of
fence to Mexico. At the same time
he was directed to give notice of my
determination to put an end to the in
vasion OF our territory by lawless
bands intent upon the plumber Of our
peaceful citizens, even If the effectual
| punishment of the outlaws should
make the crossing of the border by
our troops in pursuit necessary. It 10
believed that this policy has had the
effect to check somewhat these depre.
dations, and that with considerable
increase of our force upon that from
tier, and the blishment of several
additional military posts along the
Rio Grande so as more efficiently to
guard that extensive border, peace
may be preserved and the lives and
property of citizens in Texas fully
protected.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
PRIOR to the first day of July last
the army was, In ACCORDANCE with
law, reduced to the maximum of 25,-
GOO enlisted men, being q reduction Of
$500 below the force previously au-
thOrized. This reduction was made
as required by law entirely from the
infantry and artillery branches of the
service without any reduction of the
cavalry. Under tho law as 1t now
stands, it is necessary that the cavalry
regiments be recruited to 100 men In
each company. for service on the
Mexican and Indian frontiers. The
necessary effect Of this legislation is
to reduce the infantry and artillery
arms of the service below the number
required for efficiency, and I concur
with the Secretary of War in recon-
including that authority be given to
recruit all companies of infantry to at
least 80 men, and all batteries of ar.
tillery to at least IS men, with power
In case OF emergency to increase the
former to l00and the latter to l25
men each. invite your special at
tention to the following recommen-
dations Of the Secretary Of War:
First, that provision be made for
supply to the army of more abund-
ant and better supply of reading
matter.
Second, that early action be taken
by congress looking to complete re-
vision and republication of the army
regulations.
Third, that section 1858 of the re-
vised statutes, limiting the number of
officers on the retired list, be repeal
ed.
Fourth, that the claims arising un-
der tho act of July 18th, 1864, for sup
plies taken for the army during the
war, be taken from the offices Of this
Quartermaster and Commlssary-G Gen.
eral and transferred to the southern
claims commission, or some other tri-
bunal having more time and better
facilities for their prompt invcstiga-
ton and decision than are possessed
by these officers.
Fifth, that Congress provide for an
annuity fund for the families Of de-
ceased soldiers, as recommended by
the Paymaster-General Of the army.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy shows that we have six squad
rons now engaged in the protection
OF our foreign commerce and other
duties pertaining to the naval service.
The condition and operations of the
department are also shown. The to-
tai expenditures for the fiscal army
year, ending June 30, 1877, were &c.
O77,974.54. There are unpaid claims
against the department chargable to
the last year, which are presented to
the consideration Of Congress. By
the report of the Secretary the esti-
mates for the fiscal year commencing
July l, 1873, are SIG, 233, 234. 40, exclu-
sive of the sum of $2,314,23l submit
ted for new building, repairs and i'm
provements at the several navy yards.
The appropriations for the present
fiscal year. commencing July l, 1877,
are SIS, 572, 032.90. The amount drawn
from the Treasury, from July to
November l, 1877 is $5,343,O37.4O Of
which their is estimated to be vet
available $l,O49, $3.50, showing the
amount of actual expenditures du-
ring the first four months OF the pres
ent fiscal year, to have been $4,3l3,-
506.1O.
THE P0sT-OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Postmaster I lem
eral contains full and clear state
ment of the operations and condition
of the Post Office Department.
The ordinary revenues of the De-
partment for the fiscal year ending
June Both, 1877, including the money
order business and from official
stamps and stamped envelopes
amounted to the sum of 1927, 53l $751;
rs. The additional sum of 81, Ola, 600
was realized from appropriations
from the general Treasury for various
purposes, making the receipts from
all sources $34.544. 245.2f The total