Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-12-15
Continued from Fret Page.)

The constitution Of the United States, sount
nnsnclai principles, and our best interests, al
require that the country should have as its legal
tender money both gold and silver coin, of al
Intrinsic value, as bullion, equivalent to thai
winch: upon lts face, it purports to possess. Thu
constitution. i'll express terms recognizes both
gold and silver as the only true legal-tende1
money. 10 Danish either of these metals from
tat'ng n'.'iilm of exchange to the disparage
n,em OF important interests. The United States
tVo! more silver than anv other coun-
!ey, and liz directly interested in maintaining
IL ss one Of the two precious metals which fur
nlsh the coinage Of the world. It will, in my
Ju lgulent. contribute to this result If Congress
viii repeal SO much of existing legislation as
q'sires the coin &c of silver dollars, contain
III only 4l21s or ins of silver, and IN its stead
vii authorize the Secretary Of the Treasury to
ION with g. Id dollars. This will defraud no
IN. and will be in accordance with familiar
precedents Congress, on several occasions,
has altered the ratio of value between gold and
silver. in order to establish it more nearly in
accordance with the actual ratio Of value BE-
tween the two metals.
III financial legislation every measure in the
direction Of greater fidelity in the discharge Of
pe'unlary obligations has been found by expe-
flcnce to diminish the rates Of interest which
debtors are required to pay. and to increase the
facility with which money can be obtained for
every legitimate purpose. Our own recent
financial history shows how surely money be-
comes abundant whenever confidence in the ex-
act performance of moneyed obligations is es-
tabllshed.
The Secretary of War reports that the e1-
penditures of the War Department for the fs-
cal year ended June 30 1880, were e39, 924.-
1'o.oS. The appropriations for this depart
msnt. for the current fiscal year, amount to
$4l,993, 63u.4o
With respect to the army, the Secretary in
ylteS attention To tho fart hot i$a ,%r - -,
limited by statute (Section LIS, Revised Stat
utes) to not more than 10000 enlisted men,
ont that provisos contained in appropriation
bills have limited expenditures to
the enlistment of but $4,000. It is believed
that full legal strength is the least possible
force at which the present organization can be
maintained. having in view efficiency, discipline
and economy. While the enlistment of this
force would add somewhat to the appropriation
tor pay OF the army the saving made in other
respects would be more than an equivalent for
tins additional outlay, and the efficiency Of tho
army would be largely increased.
The rapid extension Of the railroad system
west of the Mississippi river. and the great
tide OF settlers which has flowed in upon new
territory. impose on the military an entire
change OF policy. The maintenance of small
posts along wagon and stage routes of travel
is no longer necessary. Permanent quarters
at points selected. Of a more substantial
character than those heretofore constructed
Will be required. Under existing laws, per-
manent buildings cannot be erected without
the sanction of Congress, and when sales of
military sites and buildings have been author
lied, the moneys received have reverted
to the treasury, and could ouly become avail
able through new appropriation. It is recon-
nended that provision be made, by general
statute, for the sale Of such abandoned military
posts and buildings as are found to be unneces-
sary, and for the application of the proceeds to
the construction of other posts. While many
OF the present posts are of but slight value for
military purposes, owing to the changed condi.
ton of the country, their occupation is contin
ued at great expense and inconvenience be-
cause they afford the only available shelter for
troops.
The absence Of large number Of officers of
the line, IN active duty, from their regiments is
serious detriment to the maintenance of the
service. The constant demand for small de-.
tschments, each of which should be command.
I'd by commissioned officer, and the various
details Of officers for necessary service away
from their commands, occasions a scarcity in
the number required for company duties
With view to lessening this drain to some
extent, it is recommended that the law author.
ling the detail Of officers from the active List
as professors of tactics and military science at
certain colleges 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 pro.
fiOllS ny lcSlSldllOu organizing, armiQg,
and disc!plining the actiue militia of the cou1l-
try, and liberal appropriations are recommended
III this behalf. The reports of the Adjutant
General of the army nd the Chief Of Ord.
nance touching this subject fully set forth it,
Importance.
The report of the officer in charge of eduoa-
ton in the army shows that there are seventy
eight schools in operation in the army,
with an aggregate attendance of 1905 enlisted
men and children. The Secretary recommends
the enlistment Of $50 srhnnlm:sters with the
rank and pay OF Com,nissary Sergeants. Al
appropriation is needed to supply the Judge
Advocates Of the army with sui q le libraries,
and the Secretary recommends that the corps ui
Judge Advocates be placed uton the same foot
ing as to promotion with the other staff corp-
OF the army. Under the existing laws tll
Bureau of Mill arv Justice consists of one Of
t:cer. thu Judge Advocate General. AMI the corp
OF Jrtgs Advocate OF 81 ht officers Of eq,rl
rank On .j,Ts), with 4 provision that the Iinl
OF the corps shall T. m in at four, when reduced
by Casualty or re>lgnanon to that number.
The consolidation IF the Bureau of Military
Justice and the corps of Judge Advocates,
upon the same basis with the other staff corps
of the army, would iemove an unjust dscrlnl-
nation against deserving officers, and subserve
the teIt interests OF the service.
Especial attention Is asked to the report OF
the Cllef or Engineers uIOn the condition of
our national defenses. From a personal in
specti"n cf MANY of the Notifications referred
to, the Secretary is able to emphasize the rec
concentrations made and to state that their
incomplete and defenseess condition is dis
credltable to tho country. While other nations
uave been increasing their means for CARRYING
on offensive warfare and attacking mar
thine cities, we have been dormant
IN preparation for defense; nothing of inn
portance has been done toward Strengthening
late civil war, during which the great guns
OF modern warfare and the heavy armor Of
modern Notifications and ships came into
use among the nations, and our earthworks
left, by sudden failure Of appropriations
seme years since, in all stages of incomple-
ton, are now being rapidly destroyed by the |
elements.
The two great rivers Of the North American
continent, the Mississippi and the Columbia,
have their navig BILE waters wholly within the |
limits of the United States, and are Of vast i'm
portance to our internal and foreign commerce. |
on the South pass Of the Mississippi
rlver seems now to be assured. There |
has been no failure whatever in the mainten. nee |
OF the maximum channel during the six months |
ended Aug. 9 last. This experiment has opened
broad, deep highway to the ocean, and is an
which congratulations may be exchanged
among people abroad and at home. and
especl illy among the communities Of the
Mississippi valley, whose commercial e.
cAaASes HOat III an unObstruCted chan
ne! safely to and from the sea.
A comprehensive improvement Of the Mis-
slssippl and it's tributaries il matter Of tran
6cendant Importance. These great waterways
comprise system Of inland transportation
spread like network over q large portion of
the United States, and navigable to the
extent OF many thousands Of miles,
PRODUCERS and consumers alike have
Common interest in such uneoualed
faculties for cheap transportation. Geoeraph-
lcally, commercially and politically they are the
strongest tie between the various sections Of
lie country. These channels Of communica-
ton and interchange are the property Of The
nation. Its jurisdiction is paramount over their
waters, and the plainest principles Of public
interest require their intelligent and careful
supervision, with view to their protection
improvement, and the enhancement of their
usefulness. 'Ao'1
The channel Of the Columbia river. for .
distance Of about 100 miles from its mouth. II
INSTRUCTED by succession Of bars, which 90
casIon serious delays in navigation, and heav /
expense for ighterage and towage. A depth
OF at least twenty feet at low tide should be se-
cured and maintained, to meet the require
ments of the extensive and growing inland and