The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-09

rlended by the Secretary of the Treasury,
would doubtless tighten the labors of Congress
wAensver this subject shan be brought to lis
consideration.
SECRETARY OF WAR.
The accompanying report of the Secretary Of
Var will make known the operations of that
department. for the past year. He suggests
measures Tor promoting the efficiency Of the
army by adding to the number of its officers,
and recommends the legislation necessary to
increase the number of enlisted men to 80 QO0
tile maximum allowed by law. This he deems
necessary to maintain quietness on our ever
shifting frontier. to preserve peace and suppress
disorder and marauding IN the new settlements
to protect settlers and their property against
Indians. and Indians against the eneroaeh-
nents Of intr1ders and to enable peaceable
immigrants to establish homes in the most
remote parts of our country. The army is
now necessarily scattered over such vast
extent of territory; that whenever an OUT
freak occurs; relnforcefnents must be hurried
rom many quarters over great distances;
and always at heavy cost for transportation
plies. concur in the recommendation
Of the Secretary for increasing the
army to the strength of $4,000 enlisted men.
Itappears by the Secretary's report that in the
absence of disturbances on the frontier, the
troops have been actively employed in collect
ing Indians hitherto hostile and locating them
on their proper reservations that Sitting Bull
and his adherents are now prisoners at Fort
Randall; that the Utes have been moved
to their new reservation in Utah; that
during the recent outbreak of the Apa-
ehes it was necessary to reinforce the
gsrriion in Arizona By troops withdrawn
from New Mexico, and that some Apaches
are now held prisoners for trial; while some
have escaped and the majority of the tribe are
nov on their reservations. There is need of
legislation to prevent intrusion upon the lands
set apart for the Indians. A large military
force, at great expense, is required to patrol
the boundary line between Kansas and the
Indian Territory. The only punishment that
at present can be inflicted is the forcible re-
moYsl of the intruders, and the imposition of a
pesuniary fine which, in most cases, it is i'm
possible to collect. There should be penalty
by1mprisonment in such eases.
SIGNAL SERVICE.
The separate organization of the Signal Ser
vice is used by the Secretary of War, and full
statemsnt of the advantages of such perma-
hent organization is presented in the report of
the Chief Signal Officer. 4 detailed account
ofthe useful WORK performed by the Signal
Corps and the Weather Bureau are also given
in that report
THE INDIAN BUREAU.
ask your attention to the statements Of the
Secretary of War regarding the reqI1isitions
frequently made by the Indian Bureau upon
the Subsistence Department of the army for
the casual support of bands or tribes of In
dams for which appropriation are exhausted.
The War Department should not be left, by
reat0n of inadequate provision for the Indian
Bureau, to contribute for the maintenance of
the Indians.
COAST DEFENsEs.
The report Of the ChiAf of Engineers fur
nishes detailed account of the operations for
the improvement OF rivers and harbors. I
commend to your attention the suggestions
contained in this report in regard to the con-
ditlon Of our Notifications, especially our coast
defgnaes, and recommend an increase of the
strength of the engineer battalion, by which
tllp efficiency of our torpedo system would be
Improved.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
/ also call your attention 10 the remarks upon
the improvement of the South Pass of the
Mississippi river, the proposed free bridge at
ssorg< town over the Potomac river. TIE i'm
p0rtance of completing at an early day the
north wing the War Department building, and
other recommendations of the Secretary of War
which appear in his report The actual ex-
penditgres OF this department for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1881, We're $42, 122, 291 80.
The appropriations for the year 1882 were
a.. 889, 72542. The estimates for 1883 are
"a, Sal, 276.9l.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary OF the NAVY ex-
hibits the condition of that branch of the SER
vice, and presents valuable suggestions for its
improvement. call your especial attention
also to the appended report of the Advisory
Board which he convened to devise suitable
measures for increasing the efficiency of the
navy, and particularly to report as to the char
acter and number of vessels necessary to place
it upon a footing commensurate with
the necessities of the Government
cannot too strongly urge upon you my con-
viction that every consideration of national
safety, economy and honor imperatively de-
mands thorough rehabilitation of our
navy, with just appreciation Of the
fact that compliance with the suggestion Of
the head of that department and of the
Advisory Board, must involve a large ex-
penditure of the public moneys. I earn
estly recommend such appropriation as
will accomplish an end which seems
more inconsistent with true public economy
than the Withholding of the means necessary
to accomplish the objects intrustad by the con-
stitutlon to the National Legislature. One of
these objects, and one which is of paramount
Importance, Is declared by our fundamental
law to be the provision for the "common de-
Tense" Surely nothing is more essential to
the defenee of the United States and of all our
people than the efficiency of our navy.
GIN TIME OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR"
We have for many years maintained with for
eign governments the relations of honorable
peace, and that such relations may be perma-
nent Is desired by every patriotic citizen of the
republic. But if we read the teachings of his
tory we shall not forget that in the life of every
nation emergencies may arise when a resort
to arms can alone save it from diSbOnor. No
danger from abroad now threatens this people,
nor have we any cause to distrust the friend
y possessions of other governments.
But for avoiding as well as for repeling dam
gers that may threaten in future we must be
prepared to face any policy which we think
wise to adopt. We must be ready to defend
our harbors against aggression, to protect, by
the distribution of our ships of war over the
highways of commerce. the varied interests of
our foreign trade, and the person and property
of our citizens ABROAD; to maintain everywhere
the honor of our flag and the distinguished po-
sition which we may rightfully claim among the
nations of the world.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The report OF the Postmaster General is a
gratifying exhibit of the growth and
efficiency of the postal service The
sources during the past fiscal year were
$36, 4S9, 616.59. The receipts from the money
order business were 1926, 581.39 making a
total of $50, 785, 397.97. The expenditure for
the fiscal year was sos, 251 736. 46. The deficit
supplied out of the general treasury was
50, 481, 1885, or SO percent. of the amount.
The receipts were So, 469, 918.63 in excess of
those of the previous year, and 4,575, 1897. 81
in excess of the estimate made two years ago,
before the present year Of business prosperity
had fairly begun.
The whole number of letters mailed in this
country in the last fiscal year exceeded 1,000,-
100000.
The registry system is reported to be in ex-
cellent condition, having been remodeled DUR
amounts of registration fees collected during
crease over the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877,
of $435, 443. 40. The entire number of letters
and packages registered during the year was
1888. 919, of which only 2,061 were destroyed
or lost in transit. The operations of the
money-order system are multiplying yearly,
under the impulse of immigration, of the
rapid development of the newer States and
territories, and the consequent demand for
additional means of accommodation and
exchange During the past year 1888 additional
money-order offices have been established.
making total of 5. 499 i'll operation at the date
Of this report. During the year the domestic
money orders aggregated in value SO. 507. 576,-
935. A modification of tbs system is suggested
reducing the fees for money orders not ex-
ceeding SIS from 10 cents to cents, and
making the maximum limit 500 in place of
500. Legislation for the disposition of I'M
claimed money orders in the possession of the
Yat4r 1ora+ f4r1