The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-12-03

tions and estimates. the Secretary says:
"Tho expenditures for all affairs under the
control Of this Department for the fiscal year
ending June %. lSSA, were <ya.ssi.s.s. Con-
grcss appropriated for the service the current
fiscal year <il,a93.0N. The stimatc FOR tho
service OF the fiscal year ending Junc 20.
lsss, are tf.dss .os5. The estimates in detail
were originally submitted 10 me for 81. 90. ~.
but, on revision Of the same. omissions or
reductions were made as follows: In the clyil
establishment, <i.hs5; military establish
n,ent, <e5o.oN: public works. sis.5it,i eg; and
In the miscellaneous class, $500. making
the total OF rcvisory reductions Slg,SJs,sA.
The same increase In the amounts or csti-
mates for the year isS, over she amounts ap-
proprintcd for the year 1881 appears IA the
civil establishment, the military establish
ment and the miscellaneous. For the public
work ! nave reduced the estimates 10 accord
with what ! understand 10 be the amount re-
quifed for the absolute necessities OF the serv-
ice In order 70 prevent a waste OF property
and damage TO commercial interests beyond
such necessities. II is submitted that the wis
dom OF Congress may perceive that. as yaiua-
bic improvements surround the realty OF the
Government, aud as the OF the
country advances in grow and prosperity,
50 should appropriations O. cover cxpense 8 be
apportioncd
"Thc Mississippi River Commission. opcr-
asi-g in accordance with an act approved
June Is. 1878, a report which was
duly transmitted TO Congress last March. and
was published by order Of the House of Rep
rescntatiycs. n report exhibited for the
first time estimates Of the appropriation re
quired for works OF Improvement therein de-
scribed amounting 10 $,li3.oOo. and II awaited
further consideration when the session closed.
The commission has communicate 10 ne its
desire 20 renew those and this com
munication will be transmitted "a Congress a.
a matter Of special importance. not included.
however. in the annual estimates ana cxpendi-
lures for the service of this Dcpa e.ment.'
in regard 20 the South Pass of the Mississip-
pl River. the Secretary says: "The perma
Money OF this important work seems 10 be as
sured from the fact that there has been no
failure whatever in the maintenance Of the
maximum channel during the six months end
ing August 3 last. This Improvement has
opened through sands and shoals a broai. deep
highway 10 the ocean. and Is one upon the per
manent success Of which generalization may
be exchanged among people abroad and At
home and especially among the communities
of the Mississippi Valley. whose commercial
exchanges foat i'm An unobstructed channel
safely 10 and from the sea-"
Secretary Ramsey concurs IN the recon-
mcndation Of General Sherman that Congress
be asked 20 give p. 00cnlisted men specifically
To the troops Of the lire OF the army. and "a
vors the abandonment OF many small posts
and the concentratio OF larger forces nj STRAIT
egic points The absence OF a large number OF
officers from their regiments is ude 20. and
action Is recommended looking 10 the relief OF
the service In this respect.
The Secretary Endorses the recommendation
Of the Adjntant-G cncral IN relation 10 placing
State militia upon the same foot
ing in rcsrec. u it, rules ana forms As the
regular forces. and calls attention 10 the ne
cessity Of providing BY legislation FOR the or
arning anidlscipline 81 the militia.
The affairs Of the Icayenworth Military
Prison. the Secretary says. have been cnpably
administered during the year. lie suggests.
however. that. In order 10 lie enti ciy success
fui and e. carry out IS FAR a. n ssihic the
original design Of making the institution self
sustaining, one important MEASURE OF lcri-la-
ficn h necessary, which Is the authority ~
70 apply the earnings OF The prison 10
Its maintenance.
Concerning coast dcfcnses the Secretary !
Prom personal inspection OF many u
Notifications referred 70 by the Chief ~ F,
Engineers. ] am able II emphasize his recon- !.
nendaiions. and beg 70 state that their incon-
pctent and dcfenscsess condition Il discrcdifa- !
20 the country Judging from the history !
,f all other nations and the experience OF our .
,wn, the United states will. Notwithstanding .
,ur traiitionA pacific policy. ind itself :
sooner or later at war with n maritime .
power When that war comes IL win come .
There will be no time after its :
declaration 10 construct defcnses. either fixed !,
pr Heating Other Nations have been for some I
tears and are now constructing fast war !
feamcrs ~ enormous size. incascd In iron :
lrmor up % two feet In thickness, and armed !.
With rsiitd guns weighing up 70 i0j tons, carry. \
nR shot 81 a tons weight. fired with little :
hort Of a quarter Of a ton Of powder. II Is !,
cared that the conntry does not appreciate :
be fact that after a declaration OF war a fcw !.
lays or even hours might bring these great !,
nxines OF destruction 70 our coast. II may !.
% 10 New York. or Boston. or Portland. OF q
baltimore. or New Orleans. or San Francisco. q
n any point the enemy may select. No one =
an estimate the damage which may follow" !.
The works o. river and harbor improve !,
ncnts, and examinations. and surveys pro =
idcd for BY the act o. March 2, 1879 and pre-
ions acts. were carried on during the fiscal
ear with satisfactory progress. The amount
valuable therefor July !, 1879, was &I0.s.2I.a VI
he amount expended 10 June n. 1870. was n
6~,isA2l, leaving a balance OF sf.597, as5 10 be =
during the present fiscal year. "a =
mich Is - he added appropriations BY the 81
liver ana Harbor net Of June n, 1870. amount. Z.
~ 20 <H.a5l.Oo. The net Of June ii, 1850 y
makes provision for 33 works Of improve. ~
rent, IN sums varying from <5O)to s3p,0M. and - -
Dr surveys and examinations with a view "a =
ne Improvement Or ia localities. -
In relation 70 the whittake or case. the secrc- y. -
sry says: ~ have rcfraincd from 4
~ upon the unfortunate agitation which - =
owed from an aIlcxed assault upon a colorcd -
adct at the West Point Academy In April last. n
,r the reason that, IN some OF It's legal as ~
ects, the subject 10 still under considcra- I. "A
on" Or
In conclusion Secretary ramsey recon- 81
ENDS that a provision be made by law Tor the 80
ppointment Of an Assistant Secretary OF War. ~