The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-07
THE MESSAGE.
CONTINUED from yesterday. ]
REVISION OF THE TARIFF.

REVISION OF THE TARIFF.
The tariff laws also need revision, but
that a due regard may be paid to the con-
Aeting interests of our citizens, important
changes should be made with caution. IF
careful revision cannot be made at this
session, commission such as was lately
approved by the Senate, and is now recon
mended by the Secretary Of the Treasury,
would doubtless tighten the labors of Con-
gress, whenever this subject shall be
brought to its consideration.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The accompanying report of the Secre-
tsry of War viii make known the opera
tions of that Department for the past year
He suggests measures for promoting the
efficiency of the army by adding to the
number of its officers and recommends the
legislation necessary to increase the num-
Der of enlisted men to $4,000 the maxi
mum allowed by law. This he deems
necessary to maintain the quietness on our
ever shifting frontiers, to preserve peace
and suppress disturbance and maraud-
ING in the new settlements, to protect
the settlers and their property against
the Indians, and the Indians against the
encroachments of intruders, and to en-
able peaceable immigrants to establish
homes in the most remote parts OF our
country The army is now necessarily
scattered over such vast extent of terrific
~ that when an outbreak occurs, reinforce
ments must be hurried from many quarters
over great distances, and always at heavy
cost for transportation Of mon, horses,
wagons and supplies. concur in the
recommendation of the Secretary for
increasing the army to the strength of
thirty thousand enlisted men.
1t appears by the Secretary's report that
in absenc Of disturbances on the frontier
the troops have actively employed in col
lecting Indians hitherto hostile and loca-
ting them on their proper reservation; 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 Apaches il was necessary to rein
force garrisons in Arizona by troops with
drawn from New Mexico, and that some
Apaches are now held prisoners for trial,
while some have escaped, and the maj jority
of the tribe are now on their reservation.
There is need OF legislation to prevent in
trusion upon the land set apart for the
Indians A large military force, at great
expense, is now required to patrol the
boundary line between Kansas and Indian
Territory. The only punishment that can
at present be inflicted is the forcible re
moval of the intruder and the imposition
Of a pecuniary fine, which, in most cases
it is impossible to collect. There should
be penalty Dry i'm prisonment in such
cases. -
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
The separate organization of the Signal
Service is urged by the Secretary of War,
and q full Estatement of the ad-
vantages of such spermanent orgaiza-
ton is represented in the report OF the
Chief of the Signal Office. A detailed
statement of the useful work performed by
the signal corps and the Weather Bureau is
also given in that report. | ask attention
to the statements of the Secretary Of War
regarding the acquisitions frequently made
by the Indian Bureau upon the Subsistence
Department of the army for the support of
bands and tribes Of Indians which appro-
priationa are exhausted. The War Depart
ment should not be left by reason of mad
eouate provision for the Indian Bureau to
contribute for the maintenance of the lndl-
ans s
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
The report of the Chief of Engineers fur
nishes detailed account of the operations
for the Improvement OF rivers and harbors
tions contained in this report in regard to
the conditit ns of our fortifications, especi-
aIlv our coEst defenses and recommend an
increase of the strength of the Engineer
battalion, by which the efficiency of our
torpedo system would be improved also
cali your attention to the remarks upon the
Improvement Of the south pass of the Mis-
sissipp river, the proposed free bridge
over the Potomac river at Georgetown, the
importance of completing at an early day
the north wing of the department build
ing and the other recommendations OF the
Secretary of War which appear IN MS
report. The actual expenditures OF this
Department for the fiscal year ending june
80, 1882, were $42, ,122, ,2o1.39. The appro-
priation for the year 1882 was S44 ,8o9,
725.42. The estimates for 1883 are $44.-
541, 276.91.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the condition of that branch ol
the service and presents valuable sugges
tions for its improvement. l call your
especial attention, also, to the appended
report of the advisory board which he con
vened to devise suitable measures for IN
creasing the efficiency OF the navy ane
particularly to the report as to the charac
ter ana 0umDcr VI fboSClS hOSS9o"iy
place it upon a footing commensurate witt
the necessities of the government. can
not-too strongly urge upon you my con
viction that every consideration of Nationa
safety, economy and honor imperat;vei.
demands a thorough reorganization OF ou
navy with full appreciation OF the FAC
that the compliance with the suggestion
of the head of that department and OF Tn
advisory board must involve, be larg
expenditure of the public moneys.
earnestly recommend such apropr1ation
as will accomplish an end which seems :
be so desirable. Nothing can be more ID
consistent with true public economy tha
withholding the means necessary to &C
complish the objects intrusted by the con
sutution TO the National Legislature. On
OF these objects, and one which is of pei
manent Importance, is declared byour fun
damental law to be the provision for th
common defense. Surely nothing is NOR
essential to the defense of the Unite
States and of all our people than the eff
cheney of our Navy.
II naee Ior many years maIntalne
WIN Iorelgn Governments the relations o
honorable peace. and that such relation
may De permanent is desired by every pa
triotic citizen of the Republic. But If w
read the teachings of history we shall no
forget that in the life Of every natio,