The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-12-15

attention is generally and wisely attracte
to the solution of the problems they presen
It is not doubted that congress VIII tax
them up in the broadcast spirit Of .iiberailt
and respond to the public demand by pra'
| ticable legislation upon the subject.
- - THE ARMY.
The report Of the secretary OF war show
during the year, and has rendered very in
portant service, in depressing hostilities il
| the Indian country and preseryIngpeace AM
protecting life and property IN the interior
as well as along tie Mexican border
| long and arduous campaign has been prose
cuted with final complete success
against a portion of the Nez Perez
tribe of Indians. A full account OF thu
campaign will be found in the report of thu
general of the army. 1t will be seen that II
its course several battles were lost, in which
number of gallant officers and men los
their lives. join with the secretary of wal
and the general of the army in awarding tt
the officers and men employed in the lone
and tedious pursuit and in the final capture
of these Indians, the honor and praise
which is so justly their due.
The very
SERIOUS RIOTS
which occurred in several of the states in
July last rendered necessary the employ
ment of considerable portion of the army
to preserve peace and maintain order in the
states of West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl-
vania and Illinois. These disturbances were
so formidable as to defy the local
aud state authorities and the national execu-
tive was called upon in the mode provided
by the constitution and laws to furnish mill
tary, and ! am gratifed to be able to state
that the troops sent in response to these
calls for aid in the suppression of domestic
violence were able, by the influence of
their presence in the disturbed regions to
preserve the peace and restore order, with
out the use of force. In the discharge of this
delicate and important duty both officers
and men acted with great prudence and
courage, and for their services deserve the
thanks of their country.
BORDER TROUBLES.
Disturbances along the Rio Grande, in
Texas, to which / have already referred,
have rendered necessary the constant EN-
ty. A full report of all recent military
operations in hat quarter has been trans
mitted to the house of representatives in
answer to resolution of that body, and it
will not therefore be necessary to enter into
details. regret to say that these lawless
excursions into our territory by armed bands
from the Mexican side of the line for the
purpose of robbery. have been of frequent
occurrence, and in spite of the most vigorous
efforts of the commander of our forces, the
have generally succeeded in es-
Gaping into Mexico with their plumber. In
my last, gave orders for the exer-
the part of our troops for the
suppression of these raids and the
punishment of the guilty parties as well as
the recapture of property stolen by them
General Ord, commanding in Texas. we
directed to invite the cooperation of the
Mexican authorities in efforts to this end,
and assure them that / was anxious
to avoid giving the least offense
to Mexico. At the same time
he was directed TO give notice of my deter
mination to put an end to the invasion of
our territory by lawless bands, intent on the
plumber of our peaceful citizens, even if the
eaectual punishment of the outlaws should
make the crossing of the border by our
troops In their pursuit necessary.
1t is believed that this policy has had the
effect to check somewhat these depredations
and that, with considerable increase of
our force upon that frontier and the estab-
lishment of several additional military posts
along the Rio Grande, so as more effectually
to guard that extensive border, peace may
be preserved and the lives and property of
cltIZeHS III IeAas Iully protected.
sff THE REDUCED ARMY.
Prior to the first day of July last the
army was, in accordance with law, reduced
to the maximum of $4,000 enlisted men, be-
ing reduction of 1900 below the force
previously authorized. The reduction was
made as required by law, entirely from the
infantry and artillery branches of the SER
vice, without any reduction of the
cavalry, Under the law as it now
stands it is necessary that the cavalry regi-
ments be recruited to one hundred men in
each company, for service on the Mexican
and Indian frontiers. The necessary effect
of this legislation is to reduce the in ntry
and artillery arms of the service. below
the number regarded for efficiency, and
| concur with the secretary of war in
recommending that authority be given to
recruit all companies of infantry to at least
fifty men and all batteries of artillery to at
least seventy-fve men with power, in case of
emergency, to increase the former to 100 and
the latter to 125 men each.
/ invite your attention to the following
of the secretarylof war:
First-That provision be made for sup
plying to the army a more abundant and
better supply of reading matter.
Second-That early action be taken by con-
gress, looking to complete revision and re-
publication of the army regulations.
Third-That section l 1858 of the revised
statutes, limiting the number of officers on
the retired list be repealed.
To-wit, that the claims arising under the
act of July A. 1864, for supplies taken by the
army during the war, be taken from the
offices of the quartermaster and commissary
generals, and transferred to
the southern claims commission, or
some other tribunal having more time
and better facilities for their prompt inves-
tigation and decision than are possessed by
these officers.
Fifth-That congress provide for a an
nuity fund for the families of deceased sol
diers, as recommended by the paynaster-
general of the army.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy
shows that we have six sguadrons now en-
gagged in the protection of our foreign COM
merce and other duties pertaining to the