The New York herald., 1878-10-30
WASHINGTON.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, Oct 20. 1879.
ANNUAL REPORT or TIE JUDGE ADVOCATE
oENERAL-REcoMMENDA MADE.
The snnuai report OF Brigadsr General W. N. Dunn.
Judge Advocate General OF the Army. TO the Secretary
Of War. h succiuct and Interesting paper. In de-
failing the business Of military justice n states that
since the last report thsrc Dsen received and
reviewed at the bureau sos Of the general
courts martial, this number being less than that OF
the previous year. the numbsr si convictions oi
soldiers for dsssrslon and Of onaesrs for serious
offences being also less On the other hand, the
number furnished tl03o) OF oricial reports ana
opinions In questions OF law referred by tho Sscrs-
ary OF War 70 tho Judge Advocate General tho law
officer OF tho War Department ts over two hundred
greater than in tho year preceding. Attention in-
viisd 10 the recommendations OF Generals Sherman
and Hancock that line of promotion be established
In the corps Of Judge Advocates in the othsrstan
corps. The hope is expressed that the reduction OF
the clerical force Of the bureau made at the last ses-
sion Of Congress viii not be continued. 'g
The report concludes with tour specific recommend.
stious:- At ef fst ee #yf ~
Nrss-Tnst the bill introduced by Senator Maxey.
liking the period OF limitation for the prosecution or
all military Offenders. including dsssrters. may be
recommended BY the Secretary for hnxl enactment,
and that meanwhile the construction OF tho present
article Of war on the subject, maintained BY
Devens, be announced to the army the existing law
TINS construction, II seems has bcsn resisted by
officers OF the army whose view that there not an
should not be any Limitation In cases 81 dessrtion the
yudgc Advocate General holds 10 be untonabis and
variance with the human spirit OF modern iegsla.
ton which generally fixes Limitation OF prosecution
for all offences except murder.
In the same con nsetion the Judge Advocate Cen
erai suGges.s4a proclamation be issued By sns Prss
who originally abssntsd themselves PERIODS
OF than five ysars prior 70 January l879 thus
justly relieving this class from the dread and danger
according the Attorney General the Judge Ad-
vocats General they are NO longer smsnabls to she
military jurisdiction. 4st94ss &aa
Secosd-That the bill reported At the last session
by the senate Commttsso on Military Affairs making
gambling offence punishable by the military. u
10 bv the naval c0dc be favored BY Secretary
Of War and It's passage by Congress urged
1Nird-rhat defoot in the 104th article OF rela-
removed By legislation, a. intended BY tho Military
Committee OF the Senate at the last session.
Fourth-That the 72d article OF war be amended by
striking out the word 'generar' 90 that department
convene general courts martial, the limiting the
authority generals when such officers few
numDer being ieund embarrassing 10 the duo admin
H.rat,en OF military Justice
THE GENERAL LAND oFTICE--ANRuAL REPORT
or THE COMMISSIONER.
]. A. williamson, Com miassener of the General
Land once has completed hts annual report to tho
Secretary OF tho Interior II shows that during the
fiscal year ended June 80 s,osel7s acres OF pubic
lands disposed o. and ,041, oil
veyea In addition the TAI 7A8 acres previously
surveyed. The total number Of acres OF public de-
main still unsurvsyed something ooo, 600 900
acrss The disposals were mainly as tollows:--