Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-04
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.
The Military Establishment and Its
Needs.

The annual report of the Secretary of War sets
forth that the expenditures OF the department
during the last fiscal year were s45, $40 $685.. hd
the estimates for the year 1884 amount TO
s3S,S97, 62034 The estimates do not include any
items for improving rivers and harbors or for the
work OF improving the Mississippi river under the
Mississippi river commission. The Secretary con-
ours In the recommendation OF Gen. Sherman that
the limit OF the enlisted strength OF the army be
fixed at 10000, instead OF 25000 men, and also in
the Generals opinion that Congress should make
provision for permanent and comfortable posts at
strategic points in the Indian country. He agrees
a AIS e Win Gen sherman that partial remedy for
the pay of private soldier to $40 per month
me Secretary also invites attention to the re-
marks or the General On the subject OF providing
for such an exchange of stations by regiments
that the officers and men may have an assurance
tn 1t within certain periods they will be relieved
from duty on the remote frontier and be brought
nearer the thickly settled parts OF the country.
summaries are given OF the reports OF the sup
erlntendent or the military academy, the adjutant
general, the commissioners OF the Soldiers Home,
the Government Hospital for the Insane. the
judge advocate general and other heads OF differ
ent branches OF the service. He renews his re-
commentator that the officer in charge OF the
military prison should be given the local rank and
the pay and allowances Of a colonel He
invites attention to the want Of an
appropriation to pay Immigrant railroads
enarmen r,pe tba 'ne r.
ISL Attention is again called to the condition of
the road between the Aqueduct bridge and the
III
mended that the approaches TO these cemeteries
De improved by appropriations of Congress.
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM.
The attention OF Congress is again invited to
the great necessity for flre-p proof building suit
able for the proper accommodation of the Army
Medical Museum collection and the library, which
yearly grows more imperative. The present build
ing is over crowded and unsuitable for the pur-
poses intended, while its general insecurity
against accident and fire places In extreme
jeopardy collections which, If destroyed, would be
an lrreparable loss not only to the United States
but to the world
The museum has attained worldwide celeb
rlty, is second to none in the number and value OF
specimens illustrating military surgery and the
diseases of armies, while its sphere of practical
usefulness to the medical profession OF the coun-
Try is unlimited. 1t Is therefore hoped that Con-
gress may be induced to appreciate It's great value
ana Importance and provide for the fire-prOof
building required to place the collections beyond
the chance OF loss or injury.
OUR DEFECTIVE COAST DEFRNsEs
Referring to the report OF the chief Of engineers
theSecretarysays he fully concurs In the view that
we have 100 long neglected the question OF pro-
viding for the safety Of our harbors and maritime
cities, our navy-yards and arsenals of supply, in
case OF foreign wars. He also invites attention to
that part of the report OF Gen. Wright, which
speaks OF the Importance OF providing means
foe Sssd osao tham es With
also in General Wright's " judgment
respecting an increase OF the strength OF the
commends the bill reported from the Senate COM
mittee on military affairs and now on the calendar,
providing for substantial increase to the appro-
priatlon TO arm and equip the militia. He
concurs, with recommendation OF the chief Sig
nal officer, for distinct organization sufficiently
large to perform the work OF the weather
bureau, and further recommends that the
weather bureau be wholly separated from the
army and from its appropriations.
1t Is recommended that the laws relating to re-
tirements be so amended as to avoid the difficulty
that now exists under an opinion of the Attorney
General, that SO long as there 400 officers on
the retired list no officer be placed on that list
except one who belongs to one or the other OF the
classes mentioned In the act OF 1882. He recon-
mendS an amendment that would impose a penalty
OF imprisonment upon Payne others who
may make raids into the Indian country. He re-
commends an increase OF $1,000 in appropriations
to make the compensation OF the chief clerk, dis
bursting clerk, chiefs OF divisions assistant chiefs
OF divisions aud stenOgrapher In the Office OF the
secretary commensurate with the arduouS duties
performed by them.