The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-11-26
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY or
WAR.

The animal report Of Secretary Of War Ram
sey gives general review of the various subor-
dinate reports, calls attention to their several
recommendations and details at length the OPP
eiations of the department during the year.
Upon the subject OF expenditures, apprurais-
tons, and estimates, the Secretary says: - The
expenditures for all affairs under the control Of
this department for the fiscal year ending June
50. 1889, were $50, 1924, 773. Congress appro-
priated for the service the current fiscal year
$41. 993, $50. The estimates for the service of
the fiscal year ending June 3d. 1882, are 49,
627,t65. The estimates i'll detail were original
" submitted to me for $62, 429, TO- but, on re-
| vision OF the same, omissions or reductions
were made as follows: In the civil es-
tabllshment, $13, 5e5; military establish
ment, $z50,003; public works, $18,5l4, 129;
and IN the miscellaneous class, S25, COO making
tbs total of reYlsory reductions $1S,S02 7I4
The same increase in the amounts of estimates
for the year 1882 over the amounts appropri-
ated for the year 1851 appears in the evil es-
tabnshmenty the military establishment and
the miscellaneous. For the public work have
reduced the estimates to accord with what /
understand to be the amount required for the
absolute necessities of the service In order to
prevent waste of properly and damage to
commercial interests beyond such necessities 1T
Is submitted. The wisdom of Congress may
perceive that, as valuable improvements sur
round the really of the Government, and as
| tue commerce of the country advances III
growth and prosperity, 80 should appropria-
TONS to cover expenses be apporuoned.
The Mississippi River Commission. onerat-
ing IN accordance with an act approved June
70, 1873, submitted report winch was duly
transmitted to Congress last March, and was
published by order of the House OF Represent
atlves. The report exhibited for the first time
estimator OF the appropriation required Tor
works of improvement therein described,
amounting to %, ll3,000, and it awaited further
consideration when the session closed. The
COMMISSION has communicated to me its desire
to renew those estimates, and this communica-
uon vii be transmitted to Congress as q matter
OF special Importance, not included, however,
III the annual estimates and expenditures for
the service of the department"
In regard to the South pass of the Mississippi
river, the Secretary says: "The permanency of
this important work seems to be assured from
the fact that there has been no failure what
ever IN the maintenance of the maximum
channel during the SIX months ending August
last. This improvement has opened through
sands and shoals broad, deep highway to tie
ocean, and is one upon the permanent success
OF which congratulations may be exchanged
among people abroad ami at home, ana es-
pecially among the communities OF the Missis-
slppl valley, whose commercial exchanges float
III an unobstructei channel safely 10 and from
the sea.
Secretary Ramsey concurs in the recomnen
datIon OF Gen. Sherman that Congress be asked
to give 10000 enlisted men specifically to the
troops OF the line OF the army, and favors the
abandonment OF many small posts and the con-
centration OF larger forces at strategic points
The absence OF a large number OF officers from
then regiments is alluded to- and action is rec
ommended looking to the relief Of the service
III this respect.
Secretary ramsey indorses the recommends
ton OF the Adjutant General in relation to
placing uniformed state militia upon the same
footing IN respect to its rules and forms as the
regular forces, ana calls attention to the ne
ccsslty OF providing by legislation for the Or
gamzatlon, arnung and discipline OF the mi
litia.
The affairs Of the Leavenworth military
PRISON, the Secretary says, have been capaby
administered during the year. He suggests.
however. that, III order to be entirely success
ful and TO Carry out as far as possible the orig
lnal design OF making tho institution self-sus-
tanning, one important measure of legislation
Is necessary, Which Is the authority OF Congress
to apply the earnings Of the prison to its main
tenance.
The secretary says: ''From personal in
spoction OF many of the fortiications referred
to by the Chlof Of Engineers, l am able to
emphasize his recommendations and beg to
state that their incompetent and defenseiess
condition Is discreditable 10 the country. judy
ing from tue history OF all other nations and
the experience of our own, the United States
will, not outstanding our traditional pacific
policy, find Itself sooner or later at war with a
maritime power. When that war comes it will
come suddenly. There will be no time after its
declaration to construct defenses, either fixed
or floating. 0lher nations have been for
some years and are now constructing fast
war steamers OF enormous size, lncased in iron
armor up to two feet in thickness, and armed
with ritied guns weighing up 10 100 tons, carry
ing shot of q tons weight, fred with little
short of q quarter of q ton OF powder 1t is
feared that Ihe country does not appreciate the
fact that after declaration of war few DAYS
or even hours might bring these great engines
of destruction to our coast. 1t may be to New
York, or Boston, Or Portland, or Baltimore or
New Orleans. or San Francisco, or any pcin;
the Nleny may select. No one can estimate
the damage which may follow"
The works of river and harbor improvements,
and examinations, and surveys provided for by
the actof March 8, 1879, and previous acts, were
carried on during the fiscal year with satisfac-
tory progress. The amount available therefor
July ]. 1879, was $10772, 176. Tue amount ex-
pended to June 80, 1880, WAS Sc, ia, 221 leav ng
balance of 1857, 955 to be expended during
the present fiscal year, to which is to be added
appropriations by the River and Harbor act of
June IA, 1880, amounting to $8, 951, 500 The act
of June IA, 1880, makes provision Tor 343 works
OF improvement, in sums varying from $500 to
$4,000, and for surveys and examinations with
view to the Improvement Of IA localities.
In relation to the Whitaker case. the Secre-
tary says: . / have refrained from commenting
upon the unfortunate agitation which flowed
from an alleged assault upon a colored cadet at
the West Point Academy in April last. for the
reason that, in some Of its legal aspects, the
subject is still under consideration"