The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-07

| 10 appfopf late 10 our own shlpplns s1ht
to administer hy our oWh capital due
proportion of this trade.
One initial measure, however, seeIns
10 me 50 clearly useful and efficient that
i venture 10 press il upon your earnest
attention. II seems to he very evident
that the provision Of regular steam
postal communication by aid from the
government has been the fOrerunRer OF
the commercial predominanee of uIeat
/ Britain on all these coasts and seas, a
greater share in whose trade is now thr
desire and intent OF our people.
Army Nnairs.
The secretary Of war reports that the
expenditure of the war department for
the fiscal year ended June 80, lSS1,
\ was $50, .3i, ,773. The appropriations
for this department for the current lis.
ral year amount 10 Sil ,.gri, ,G30
! With respect TO the army, the secTe-
I tary invites attention TO the facts that
/ its strength is limited by statute (sec-
/ tion ll5, revised statutes) To not more
4 than $4,000 men. but that the pro-
visos contained ia the appropriation
bills have limited the expenditures tu
4 the enlistment Of hut - 000. II is be-
lieyed the full legal strength Of the
army is the least possible force with
which the present organization car be
maintained, having in view efficiency.
discipline and economy. While the
enlistment of this force would add
somewhat 10 the appropriation for the
pay OF the army, the saving made in
other respects would be more than an
equivalent for this additional outlay.
and the efficiency of tile army would he
greatly increased.
The rapid extension of the railroad
system west of the Mississippi river and
the great tide of settlers which has
flowed In upon the 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 quar-
tiers, at points selected, Of more sub
stantlal character than those heretofore
constructed, will he required. Under
the existing laws, permanent baildings
cannot be erected without the sanct ion
and when the sales uf military sites and
buildings have been authorized, the
moneys received have reverted to the
treasury and could only become avail
able through new appropriations. IL is
recommended that provision be made by
a general statute for the sale of such
abandoned military posts and buildings
rs are found unnecessary. aud for the
application OF the proceeds to the con-
struction OF other posts. While many
OF the present posts are of but slight
value for military purposes, owing 10
/ the changed condition of the county,
their occupation is continued IT great
expense and Inconvenience because they
afford the only available shelter for
troops.
The absence of Il large number of the
officers of the line in active duty from
their regiments is \ serious 1etriment
TO The maintenance Of the service. The
constant demand for small detach-
ments, each of which should be com
manded by n commissioned officer, and
the various details of officers for neces-
sary service away from their commands
occasions scarcity in the number re-
qulred for company duties. With n
view to lessenlg this drain to some
extent, 1t is recommended that the law
authorizing the detail of officers from
the active list rs professors of tactics
and military science III certain colleges
aud universities he So amended rs to
provide that all details be made from
the retired list of the army.
Attention is asked 10 the necessity of
providing legislation for organizing,
arming and disciplining the active
militia OF the country, and liberal ap-
propriations are recommended in this
behalf.
The reports of the adjutant general
OF the army and chief ordnance touch
ing this SUBJECT is fully set forth by its
importance, and the report OF the Of
ficer in charge of education in the army
shows there are seyenty-eight schools
now in operation in the army, with an
aggregate attendance Of 3,:iO5 enlisted
men and children. The sec cary reco-
mends the enlistment of 40 school
masters with rank and pay of comm's-
sary sargeants. An appropriation is
needed 10 supply the judge advocates
of the army with suitable libraries, and
the secretary recommends that Il cop
of judge advocates be placed upon the
same footing, as to promotion, with
other stan corps of the army. Under
the existing laws the bureau of military
justice consists of one officer, judge ad
yocate general and Il corps OF Judge ad-
vocates of eight officers Of equal rank
as majors with provision hat the limit
of the corps shall remain at four when
reduced by casualty or resignation 10
that number. The consolidation of the
bureau of military justice and corps Of
judge advocates upon the same
basis with the other staff
corps of the army, would remove IN
unjust discrimination against deserv-
ing officers. and subserye the best in
terests of the service, and especial at
tention Is asked To the report of the
chief Of engineers upon the condition
of our national dcicnccs. From personal
inspection of many of the iortiiications
referred to the secretary, is able 10 em
phasZe the recommendations made and to
state thatthcir incomplete and
dcfenceless condition Is discrrdit
able TO the country. While
other nations have been in
cfcasing their means for carrying on Of
fensive warfare and attacking mari
time cities we have been dormant in
preparation for defence: nothing Of
Importance has been done toward
strengthening and finishing our
casemated works since our late civil war
during which time great guns, modern
and heavy arniaincnts, modern fO;tiii.
cations have come into use among ma
tions, and our own carthworks left hythe
sudden failure of appropriations some
years since, in all stages of incomplete
tion, and are now being rapidly destuyod
by the elements.
The completion of new building for