Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-22
The War Department.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

The annual report OF the Secretary Of War
says: 'The expenditures for all affairs under
the control of this department for the fiscal
Congress appropriated for the service OF the
current fiscal year $41 993, ,63040. The estimates
for the service of the fiscal year ending June 80
1882, are $3, ,627 ,055.4. The estimates In detail
were originally submitted to me for S62,.
429, 77021, but on revision of the same omissions
or reductions were made. as follows: In the
civil establishment, SlS.5s5; military establish
ment, $3.50 600; public works, SIS, ,54, 129 81, and
In the miscellaneous class, $25 900, making the
total of revtsory reductions SIS, 500, 7467. Some
year 1882, over the amounts appropriated for
the year 1881 appears In the civil establishment,
the military establishment and the miscella-
neous items.
have reduced the estimates to accord with
what l understand to be the amount required
for absolute necessities Of the service, In order
TO prevent waste of property and damage to
commercial interests. Beyond such necessities
1t is submitted the wisdom of Congress NAV
perceive that, as valuable improvements sur
commerce of the country advances in gro with
and prosperity, so should the appropriations to
cover the expenses be apportiOned. The Secre.
at the mouth Of the Mississippi river as II prooi
that the further improvement of that river
should De persisted In, thus opening an outlet
TO the commerce and productions OF our richest
sectlonS. Estimates are already before Congress
for some Of these Improvements, to be made at
a cost Of about s., 100000.
THE REGULAR ARMY AND THE MILITIA.
Secretary Ramsey concurs in the recommen-
datiOn OF Gen. Sherman that Congress be asked
to give 25,0O0 enlisted men specifically to the
troops OF the line of the army, and adds: ''The
strength OF he army is limited by statute to not
more than 10000 enlisted men, but provisions
contained in appropriation bills have limited
expenditures to the enlistment OF but 25, 600.
Secretary Ramsey indorses the recommends
tlons OF the Adjutant General relative to plao-
N nod ,tnfn
footing In respect to its rules and forms as the
regular forces, and calls attention to the neces-
slty OF providing by legislation for the organi-
zatlon, arm1ng and dlscinlining of the militia.
OUR SEA COAST DEFENCES.
The Secretary continues -" From nersonal
Inspection OF many OF the Notifications referred
to by the Chief OF engineers, am able to EN-
phasize his recommendations, and beg to state
t1on Is dlscreditable to the country. judging
from the history Of all other nations and the
experience OF our own, the United States Will,
not aaotWithstandlng our traditional pacific policy,
nnd itself sooner or later at war with a mari
tlfne power: When that war comes it Will come
suddenly. There will be no time after its de.
claration to construct defenses, either fixed or
noat1ng. Other nations have been for some
years and are now constructing fast war steam
erS OF enormous size, encaSed In iron armorS llp
10 Two 1eet Ia thickness, and armed with ritied
guns weighing up to one hundred tons, carry
Ing shot OF tons weight. fired with little short
OF quarter OF ton OF powder. 1t is feared
tnaI tne country does not appreciate the fact
that after the declaration of war a few days or
even hours might bring these great engines OF
obstruction to our coasts-it may be TO New
York, or Boston or Portland, or Baltimore. or
New orleans, or San Francisco, or to any point
the enemy may select. No one can estimate
the damage which may follow
IN RELATION TO THE WHITAKER CASE
he says: 81 have refrained from commenting
upon the unfortunate agitation which flowed
nom an alleged assault upon colored cadet at
me academy In April last, for the reason that
In some OF its legal aspects the subject Is still
under consideration" The Secretary makes a
brief reference TO the proposed bronze statue OF
Gen. Daniel Morgan, which he states viii un-
doubtedly be completed within the time con-
templated by the act OF Congress, and further
reference to the proposed monument to be
erected at Yorktown, Va, In commemoration
OF the surrender OF Earl Cornwallis, no report
YET having been received from the commission
eTS appointed to recommend design.
The Secretary approves quite generally the
important recommendations OF the various
ofcers OF the army and department. ALREADY
published.