Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-17

Tor the expenses of the department of Jus
tlce. This recommendation is commended
10 the careful consideration of congress
instances oppressive and disastrous tC
sultors, now necessarily Occurs.in federal
courts, which will in this way be RENE
died.
EDUCATION AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING 1T,
1t will be the duty Of the executive
with sufficient appropriations for the pur.
pose, to prosecute unsparingly all who
have been engaged in depriving citizens OF
the rights guaranteed To them bv the con.
stitution. 1t is not, however, to be forgot.
Ten that the best and surest guarantee of
the primary rights of citizenship is to be
found in that capacity for selfprotection
wh,ch can belong only to people whose
right to universal suffrage is supported by
universal education. The means at the
command of local and state authorities arc
| IN many cases wholly inadequate to furn-
ish free instruction to all who need it.
| This is especially true where before eman.
cipation the education of the people was
neglected or prevented in the history of
slavery. Firmly convinced that the sub
Ject of popular education deserves the earn.
est attention of the people of the whole
country, and with view to wise and com.
prehensive action by the government of
United States, l respectfully recommend
that congress, by suitable legislation and
with proper safeguards, supplement the
local educational funds in the several states
where the grave duties and responsibilities
OF citizenship have been conferred on un.
educated people, by devoting to the pur-
pose grants Of public lands, and, if neces.
sary, by appropriation from the treasury
of the United States. Whatever govern
ment can fairly do to promote free popu-
lar education ought to he done. Wherever
there is general education is fourd peace; |;
virtue and social order prevail, and civil
ana religious liberty are secure.
MILITARY AFFAIRS
The secretary of war reports that the
expenditure OF the war department for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1880, was
S30,924, ,773. Appropriations for this de
partment Tor the current fiscal year
amount to $41, ,993,63O. With respect to
the army the secretary invites attention to
the fact that its strength is limited by stat
ute section 115 (revised statutes) to not
more than 10000 enlisted men, but that
provisions contained in appropriation
bills have limited expenditures to the en-
listment of but q, ,OOO 1t is believed that
the full legal strength is the least possible
force at which the present organization
can be maintained, having in view effici.
ency, discipline and economy. While
enlistment of this force would add some
what to appropriations for pay of the army,
the saving made in other respects would
be more than equivalent for this addition
al outlay and the efficiency of the army
would be largely increased. The rapid
extension of railroad systems west of the
Mississippi river and the great tide of set
tiers which has flowed in and upon the
new territory impose on the military an
entire change of policy. Maintenance of
small posts along wagon and stage routes
OF travel is no longer necessary. Perma-
nent quarters at points selected of more
substantial character than those heretofore
constructed, will be required under exist
ing laws. Permanent buildings cannot
be erected without the sanction of con-
gress, and when sales of military sites
and buildings have been authorized, the
moneys received have reverted TO the
treasury, and could only become available
through new appropriations. 1t is recon-
mended that provisions be made by gen.
eral statute for the sale of such aban.
doned military posts and buildings as are
found necessary, and for application of
the proceeds to the construction of other
posts. While many of the present posts
are of but slight value for military pur-
poses, owing to the changed condition of
the country, their occupation is continued
at great expense and great inconvenience,
because they afford only available shelter
for troops. The absence Of a large num-
ber Of officers of the line on active duty
from their regiments is a serious detri.
ment to the maintenance of the service.
There is constant demand for small de-
tachments, each Of which should be com.
manded by commissioned officer, and
the various details of officers for neces-
sary service away from their commands oc-
casions scarcity in the number required
for company duties. With view to less
ening this drain to some extent, it is recon.
mended that the law authorizing detail of
officers from the active list as professors of
tactics and military science at certain col
legeS and universities be so amended as to
provide that all such details be made from
the retired list of the army. Attention is
asked to the necessity Of providing legis-
lation for organizing and disciplining the
active militia of the country and liberal
dppTOpTlutlOuS are ItCOluHcuucu III tuIS
behalf.
The reports of the adjutant general of
the army and chief of ordnance touching
this subject fully set forth its importance.
The report of the officers in charge of
education in the army shows that there
are 7S schools now in operation in the
army, with an aggregate attendance Of
2305 enlisted men and children. The sec
retary recommends the enlistment of $50
schoolmasters with the rank, pay and COM
mission of sergeant.
Appropriation is needed to supply the
Judge adv COATES of the army with suitable
libraries, and the secretary recommends
that the corps of judge advocates be
placed upon the same footing as to promo
tion, with other staff corps of the army
Under existing laws the bureau OF mill
tary justice consists of one officer, judge
advocate general and a corps Of judge ad-
vocates OF eight officers of equal rank
(majors) with provision that the limit
1t is evident that delay of justice, in many
of the corps shall remain at four, when re
duccd by casualty or resignation to that
number. Consolidation of the bureau of
military justice and the corps of judge ad.
vocates upon the same basis with other
ctntI .nrps Of thu ar,pv wpn1l rpmOVG an