The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-12-11
Renort Of The Secretary Of War.

Report Of the Secretary Of War.
WASHINGTON, November Il.
rur animal report Of the Secretary OF war
gtves Q general reviaW the various suoolu
nate reports, o. eeeGton TO thelr seSe,"
recommendations and "details at lenE'n 'ne
operations of the Department during the year
Upon the subject of expenditures appiop..
tions and estimates, the secretary e"ys.
..The expenditures for all affairs under the
control Of this Department for the fiscal year
ending June 20. 1889, were sA.3a.''3. Con-
sress nppropriated for the service the current
fiscal wear x4l, 99lSN. The estimates 1or inc
service of the fiscal year ending june ~.
1882. are &43GS..OI,. The estimates III detali
were originally submitted to me 1or s':'4
but. IN revision of the same, OMISSIONS "l
reductions were made as follows: In the cNh
establishment. $l3,5S5; military estao'ish.
ment. SS5NOO: public works, sls,'l+'ls'; an"
in tho miscellaneous class, $ShOOA making
the total OF revisory reductions Sls's''''n'
The same increase in the amounts OF estr
mates for the year lSs. over the amounts up
propriated for the year 1881 appears III inc
civil establishment, the military cstaollsh'
mont and tho miscellaneous. For the public
work have reduced the estimates to accord
With what understand to be the amount re-
uuired for the absolute neccssnlcs oi tue se's.
ice in order to prevent waste Oh property
and damage to commercial interests oe9o.u
such necessities It 10 submitted that INC WIS
dom of Congress may perceive that. as Sa'ua'
BILE improvements surround the realty OF the
Government. and - the commerce OF the
country advances in growth and prosperity,
90 should appropriations to cover expenses oe
apportioned.
"Thc Mississippi River Commission, oper.
atin9 in accordance With IN act approved
June g 1879, submitted report which was
dulv transmitted to Congress last March, ana
was published by order Of the House OF hep
rsentatiyes. The report exhibited for the
first time estimates Of the appropriation re-
ouired for works of improvement therein dc.
scribeti amounting to &',lla.OW, audit awaited
further consideration when the session closed
The Commission has communicated to me its
desire to renew those estimates. and TINS COM
municatiOn will be transmitted to Congress rs
matter Of special Importance, not includea'
however, In the annual estimates and expendl'
lures for the.service Of this Department.
In regard to the South Pass Of the Misstssip'
nj River, the Secretary says: 1.-THE perma-
nency Of this important work seems to he as
mred from the fact that there has been no
failure whatever In the maintenance OF inc
maximum channel during the six months end
ing August 9 last. This improvement mas
onenc,l through sands and shoals broad, deep
| highway to the ocean, and Is one upon the per
manent success of which congratulations ma!
bc exchanged among people abroad ana NJ
home, and especially among the communities
; of the Mississippi Valley, whose commerc'a
exchanges tloat in IN unObstructed chanhc
safely to and from the sea-"
Secretary Ramsey concurs in the recon
mendation Of General Sherman that Congress
be asked to give q 600 enlisted men spec'hcaIi!
to the troops of the line of the army. anu III
yors the abandonment of many small post
u and the concentration Of larger forces at stra'
n egic points. The absence of 4 large number Q
y officers from their regiments Is alludcdt to. an
ID action il recommended looking to the relief q
l. the service in this respect.
"a The Secretary indOrses the recOmmcndatlO
:. of the Adjutant.G General in relation to placin
uniformed State militia upon the same 100
~ ing in respect to ito rules and forms ~ 10
regular forces. and calls attention to the m
ty cessity Of providing by legislation for the O
en- eanization, arming and discipline OF the militl
I'd The affairs of the LcavenwOrth Militar
he Prison, the Secretary says. have been capap
p; administered during the year. He suggest
"A however, that, in order to be entirely success
'~ tul and to carry out 40 far % possible Il
I'LL original design Of making the institution gel
W sustaining, one important measure OF leelsi
10 ton Is necessary, which 10 the aitnorlty
1t Congress to apply the earnings OF the prison
" Its maintenance.
m Concerning coast defenses the Secreta
H,ys: "From personal inspection OF many
70 the Notifications referred to by the Chief
10 Engineers, am able to emphasize his rcco'
m mcndatious, and beg to state that their inco
he petcnt and defenseless condition Is discredi'
DC. bic to the country. Judging from the histo
the of all other nations and the experience OF O
ia own. the United States will, nOtwithstandi
mn our traditional pacific policy, find Its
~. sooner or later ut war with marlti'
Wv power. When that war comes 1t Will CO.
y" suddenly. There viii be no time amer
sly declaration to construct defenses, either M
st. or floating. Other Nations have been for so
cry wears and arc now constructing fast
ada steamcrs of enormous size, incased IN u
A armOr ND to two feet In thickness, and arr
with rifled guns weighing up to l00 tons, Gu.
-. ing shot of tons weight, fired with III
~. short of quarter of ton Of powder. II
and feared that the country does not appreci
He the fact that after declaration OF war I
days or even hours might bring these 81
+ tn engines Of destruction to our coast. 1t \
-. be to New York, or Boston, or Portland
''' Baltimore. or New Orleans, or San Francis
ator or any point the enemy may select. No
can estimate the damage which may folio
Ma. The works of river and harbor imprC
own ments, and examinations, aud surveys
wed vided for by the act Of March 3 1873. and
yious acts, were carried on during the d
year with satisfactory progress. The amo
"t available therefor July I, 1871. was SlO,'':
ana The amount expended TO June %. 1870.
lion. &6,l142.l, leaving balance of Si,59.,S5 Il
ines expended during the present fiscal yea
lom. which Is to he added appropriations by
River and Harbor net of June IA, 1850, amo
l,,.oo ing to Ss,a5l,5OO. The act of June IA,
wv makes provision for 3a3 works Of impr
'de's ment. in sums varying from &50Oto $4,000
Oane for surveys and examinations with o we
mis-. the improvement Of IA localities.
n the In relation to the Whitaker case, the 81
llers tary says: have refrained from comm
iug upon the unfortunate agitation y
- flowed from an alleged assault upon col
"s0. cadet at the West Point Academy In April
ana for the reason that, in some Of Its iega
their r,ects. the subject 10 still under consi
ton"
In conclusion Secretary Ramsey re
~ mends that provision be made by law Il
.rro,ntment Of m Assistant Secretary OF
The Indian Bureau.
State A--
emily WAsRIN0ToS, Novembe
,tions TIE annual report Of the Indian Durea