Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-03
RepOrt d the secretarr Of Mnr.
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u
gives general review OF the various subordi-
nate reports, calls attention 10 their several
| recommendations, and details at length the
operations Of the Department during the year.
Upon the subject Of expenditures, nppropria-
tions and estimates the Secretary saysi
Tho expenditures for all affairs under the
control Of this Department for the fiscal year
ending june 20, 1880, we're S39, ,S2l,773. Con-
gross appropriated for the service the current
fiscal year S4l,803,630. The estimates for the
service of the fiscal year ending June 20.
lss2, are Si3,621, ,055. Tho estimates in detail
were originally submitted TO me for sG2 42a ITO.
but, on revision Of the same, omissions or
reductions were made as follows; In the civu
establishment, Sl9,bs5; military establish
menti $4,000; public works, sls,5l4, 12g; and
In the miscellaneous class, $4,000, making
the total OF revisory reductions Sls,sO2, ,7i4.
The same increase In the amounts of esti-
mates for the year 1889 over the Amounts an
propriated for the year 1881 appears I'm the
civil establishment, the military establish
ment and the miscellaneous. For the public
work have reduced the estimates TO accord
with what understand TO be the amount re-
quired for the absolute necessities of the serv-
ice in order TO prevent waste Of property
and damage TO commercial interests beyond
such necessities. II is submitted that the wis
dom of Congress may perceive that, as ynlua-
Government, and as the commerce Of the
country advances in growth and prosperity.
30 should appropriations to cover expenses be
apportioned.
THE Mississippi River Commission, oper-
ating In accordance with an act approved
June 2s, 1879, submitted a report which was
duly transmitted TO Congress last March, and
was published by order of the House OF Rem
resentatives. The report exhibited for the
mrnff INN nuNH anHn 90 81
quired for works Of improvement therein de-
scribed amounting to S5lls,OOO, and It awaited
further consideration when the session closed.
The Commission has communicated to me its
desire to renew those estimates, and this COM
munication will be transmitted to Congress- "a
matter Of special Importance, not included.
however, in the annual estimates and expendi-
lures for the service Of this Department.
In regard to the South Pass Of the Mississip-
pi River, the Secretary says: "The perma-
nency Of this important work seems to 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 0 last. This improvement has
opened through sands and shoals broad, deep
highway to the ocean, and is one eupon the per-
manent success of which congratulations NAV
be exchanged among people abroad and at
home and especially among the communities
Of the Mississippi Valley, whose commercial
exchanges float in an unobstruoted channel
safely to and from the sea-"
Secretary Ramsey concurs in the RECON-
mendation Of General Sherman that Congress
be asked to give $4,000 enlisted men specifically
TO the troops of the line of the army, and IA
VOrs the abandonment of many small posts
and the concentration Of larger forces at STRAIT
egic points. The absence of large numbero Of
officers from their regiments is alluded to- and
action is recommended looking to the relief of
the service in this respect.
The Secretary indorses the recommendation
of the Adjutant-General in relation to placing
uniformed State militia upon the same foot
ing in respect TO its rules and forms as the
regular forces, and calls attention to the ne
cessity OF providing by legislation for the or
ganization, ,arming and discipline of the militia,
The Affairs of the LeavenwOrth Military
Prison, the Secretary says, have been oapably
administered during the year. He suggests,
however, that, in order to be entirely success
tul and to carry out as far as possible the
original design Of making the institution self
sustaining, one important measure of legisla-
tiOn is necessary, which is the authority of
Congress to apply the earnings of the prison to
Its maintenance.
Concerning coast dcfenses the Secretary
says: "From personal inspection of many of
the fortihcatlons referred by the Chief Of
Engineers, am able TO emphasize his recon-
mendations, and peg to state that their incom-
petent and defenseless condition is discredita-
BILE to the country. Judging from the history
Of Rll other nations and the experience of our
own, the United States will, Notwithstanding
our traditional pacific policy, find itself
sooner or later at war with a maritime
power. When that war comes 1t will come
suddenly. There will be no time after its
declaration TO construct defenses, either fixed
or floating. Other Nations have been for some
years and are now constructing fast war
steamers of enormous size, incased in iron
armor up to two feet in thickness, and armed
with rlied guns weighing up to 100 TONS carry
Ing shot of a toms weight, fired with little
short of quarter Of a ton of powder. 1t is
feared that the country does not appreciate
the fact that after declaration of war a few
days or even hours might bring these great
engines of destruction to our coast II may
be to New York, or Boston, or Portland, or
Baltimore, or New Orleans, or San Francisco,
or any point the enemy may select. No one
can estimate the damage which may follow"
The works of river and harbor improve
ments, and examinations, and surveys pro-
vided for by the act of March Q, 1879, and pre-
vious acts, were carried on during the fiscal
year with satisfactory progress. The amount
available therefor July 1, 1873, was S10,7T2 l76.
The amount expended to June 30, 1880, was
SB,l14,2a, leaving balance of Sl597, ,055 to be
expended during the present fiscal year, to
which is to be added appropriations by the
River and Harbor act of June IA, 1880, amount
Ing 20 Ss,95l,50O. The act of June a. 1880.
makes provision for 343 works of improve
ment, in sums varying from S5OOto $4,000, and
for surveys and examinations with view to
the Improvement Of Ia localities
In relation TO the Whitaker case, tho secre-
tary says; 81 have refrained from comment
ing upon the unfortunate agitation which
flowed from an alleged assault upon a oolored
cadet at the West Point Academy in April last,
for the reason that, IN some of its legal as
poets, the subject is still under oonsidera-
tiOn."
In conclusion Secretary Ramsey recon-
mends that provision be made by law for the
appointment Of Rn Assistant Secretary of War.