The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-30
Last Nights Dispatches.
ANNUAL REPoRT OF THE SECRETARY
w or wAR
ne wants more soldiers and enlarged uses
-sa of the Army.

WASHINGTON, D. G.. Nov. 29.-About
100 nominations, some of which failed of
confirmation at the last session of Congress,
but most of them recess appointments.
will be next week sent to the Senate for
lcon6rmation. The New York Custom
House nominations will probably be com.
municated to the Senate as early as Tues
day. Among other recess appointments
expected to give rise to more or less con-
troversy are those of A. s. Badger, Post !.
master at New Orleans. and ex-Goy.
Hahn, Superintendent OF the New Orleans
mint. r
The Secretary of War, in his annual re-
port, referring to the Indian disturbance
during the year, declares his opinion that
permanent peace in the Indian country
can be maintained only by an exhibition of
force sufficient to overawe the more war
| like and dangerous of the savages and
keep them in subjection The efforts to
civilize by instructiDg them should be pre-
served in, but they should be confronted
with such military force as will teach them
the futility of attemptin resistance to the
power of the United States Meantime
Congress should make such provisions as
will prevent the possibility of suffering for
lack of food among the Indians upon the
reservations, IN short. our policy should
be affair and just treatment of the Indians
and the faithful fulfiiiment of every prom
ise. and the prompt and effectual punish
ment of all acts of war oD their part. To
this end the employment of sufficient mil
Iitary force in the Indian country is nee
cessary. to act with vigor and success when
occasion requires and prevent the possibil-
ity of the defeat or massacre of small de-
ltachments of troops. by which Indian wars
have often been encouraged, The exper-
lment OF enlisting for special service In-
dian scouts has proved quite successful
The secretary recommends legislation
authorizing an increase of their number
and declaring them to be force in add
ton to the number of enlisted men author
lied for the army proper. The vigorous
policy pursued toward Mexican. n..marauders
has resulted In marked diminution of for
mer incursions from Mexico in Texas. Re
terrlng to the existing prohibition of the
use OF the army as posse comitatus, the
secretary says it is important either that
this provision be repealed or that the num-
Der OF cases in which the use of the army
shall be expressly authorized be very much
enlarged. In many portions of our western
territories and even in some portions of the
newer states. resolute desperate with a
lew followers can defy the officers of law
and any local posse that can be organized
While have been of the opinion that the
mails of the United States may be defend
ed by the use Of troops, | have been OBJ
llged to give instructions that they cannot,
| VBIf ha ~
be employed TO aid the officers of the Law
in capturing the robbers after they have
committed the crime: In doing so they
would act as posse comitatus, and this is
nowhere by law expressly authorized.
am clearly of the opinion that the presi
dent should be left free to employ the ma.
tional forces in aid of the process of feder.
al courts whenever he shall deem it neces
sary,
Reporting his action for the relief Of yel
low fever sufferers during the recent south
r ern epidemic. the secretary says | woulj
recommend to congress careful consider
alton OF the question whether such emer
gencies IN future may not be provided fo
!, by law by comforting authority to act upoy
3 the president. If it be practicable, the
3 law should be so framed as never to leav,
q acting outside of the statutes. l earnestl,
recommend the passage of an act granting
a pension to the widow of Lieut.. Benner
VINO died while in the discharge Of hi
e duty.
!, The department expenditures were NOR
II than 50, ,250,000 less during the last thar
y the preceding fiscal year. His estimate
for next year are $40,3S0,000. OF thi
$29, 600. 1886 are for the military establish
ment proper, $8,679, ,0SO tor public works
n 81 100000 for Notifications and other dc
.e fenslve works, and $5,000,000 fer arm
y operations and in river and harbor In
proponents. These estimates are muc
less than asked by the bureaus, but al
made to conform approximately to th
G. policy OF congress-. as indicated by its acts
line secretary suggests the increase {
the engineers battalion to the minimum
OF $50 enlisted men. That number
n trained soldiers is needed for the torped
re service alone. Increased appropriation
, are required for the manufacture of sma
D. arms, of which only 22,5S0 of the late
rv model are in reserve.
d The signal office reports show that
m its weather predictions 81 36-l00 per cen
TO have been verified. a weather case,
so farmers weather indicator. sn instrumel
av arranged to exhibit together, on simp
We plan, the meteorological indications Of Il
at several instruments, and in such wa
81 that they can be easily noted by any on
On is in preparation for general use. Th
re instrument is intended to be used in Co
Id nection with the farmers bulletin.
nd will enable the agricultural population al
he others to determine in advance somethil
yn as to the character of the coming veathe
le. The secretary concurs with Gen. She
mans commentator of system of con
petitive examinations to determine the S
,e- lection of appointees to the West Poi