The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-05
the WAR DEPARTMENT..
syaopsis of tho Report Of Robert T. Lin.
coin, Secretary of War.

syaopsis of tho Report OF Robert +. Lin.
coin, Secretary of War.
WASHINGTON, November 29.-Following
are extracts from the annual report of
Jecretary of War Lincoln:
WAR DEPARTMENT, November q, 1884.
To the President:
have the honor to submit the following
annual report of the administration of this
Department.:
EXPENDITURES, APPROPRIATIONS AND EsTI.
MATES.
The expenditures by reQuisition under the
direction of the Secretary of War during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, were as fol-
lows:
Salaries, contingent expenses and
Military stablishment--army and
military academy %, 840,612.f e
Public works, including river and
harbor improvements. ......... 10,6G2. 5q3 SO
Miscellaneous objects ............ 3,SJ6,66s.34
which Included the sum of $l.5ss,Gs = not
drawn from the Treasury, but credited.
under the act of March 3, co Statutes,
40. to the subsidized Pacific Rail.
the War Department during the fiscal year
1884 and prior years. The amount carried to
the surplus fund June 30, 1854, was $l,0lO,.
54S13. The appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1855, are as follows:
Salaries, contingent expenses,
Military establishment - army
and Military Academy. ......... 24,s42 1873 SO
Public Works. including river
and harbOr improvements. 15,6S1 ,tS5 .0C
Miscellaneous objects ......... 3052, 30S AZ
Total. $500 SOL So
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 81, 1856, as revised by me are as follows:
Salaries, contingent expenses
Military MISUNDERSTANDING
and Military Academy. ........ 26,4 ss9, 5,1 Al
Public Works, including river
and harbor improvements, and
new sea coast fortitcations 1S491, 400 As
Miscellaneous objects. 1856, 147 81
s5O,sJO,5oO5
STATE CLAIMS.
The following claims have been received at
this Department:
Kansas, September 3, 1852 ....... S}49 80 %
Nebraska, November q, 1883. ....... s7,6ll 81
Texas. first instailment, July ., ISL. 81 iS.a
Oregon, November 3, 1884. .......... 3Us, i59. ~
THE ARMY.
Lieutenant General =. III. Sheridan, COM
manding the Army, reports that since the
date of the last report of his immediate pre-
decessor, General w. 4. sherman, the Army
t hps ef1 nIS almost complete rest from nc
duties, consisting of occupation of posts
upon the frontiers of Canada and of
Mexico, and stations near Indian Agencies,
the protection of Indian reservations, and
the guarding of the Indian Territory from
intrusion, have been important and labori.
Gus. The reports of military commanders
show an unprecedented quiet among the
Indians, there having been reported during
the year no disturbance to cause the firing of
single musket. The renewed invasion of
what Is called the Oklahoma country, in the
Indian Territory, by intruders determined to
settle upon lands there. in defiance of laws
and of Executive prOclamations, has re-
quired movements of of considerable mum.
bers of troops; but the intruders have been
ed haynnH lirni re nf ba for
ritory, and new military district has been
organized called the District of Oklahoma,
under command of Colonel Edward Hatch,
of the Ninth Cavalry, with view of prevent.
ing recurrence of this trouble. lnforna.
ton received at the War Department indi.
Gates that the persistent leader of these in
truders Is an adventurer who has found
profitable source of money making i'm or.
gunizing colonies to go into the terri
tory. As ] have heretofore stated, the
only penalty for tho offense committed
by him and those whom he deludes into join
ing these colonies is the fine which may be
imposed under section PAS of the revised
statutes, and the fine cannot be collected;
and renew my Recommendation that an
of the statute be made providing
for imprisonment, as il is believed that such
a punishment would prevent his veXatious
raids, and save very large expenditure now
incurred in the movement of troops en-
ployed in executing the law. The artillery
school at Fort Monroe and the cavalry and
infantry school at Fort Leavenworth are
continuing their work, from which it is be-
lievcd that very great good results to the
army.
MILITARY ACADEMY.
The Superintendent of the Military Acade
my ut West Point reports that there were
present ut the Academy September l, 1874,
3l4 cadets, and that there had been an i'm
prOvement in the tone ard discipline of the
corps. 1t is believed by the Secretary of War
that the rigid enforcement of the provision
of section LBS of the Revised Statutes,
which prohibits the return to the Academy,
except upon the recommendation of the
Academic board. OF any cadet found def
cient in studies or conduct, has not failed TO
exercise beneficial influence at the Acade
my. Many instances of the disregard of the
provisions of that law in former years I'M
impaired the force of discipline.
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the COmmisSary General of
Subsistence shows a total of expenditures
during the last fiscal year amounting to 3d.
2l1 "a B. There is included in this sum the
amount of subsistence funds embczzled by
an officer of the army who deserted the SER
vice, and, 1t Is believed, fled to Mexico. The
sum embeZzled by him was Sl.905.15; and it
may not be improper to remark in this place
that this is believed to be the only sum of
money lost to the public treasury by the dis
honesty OF any person in the military ser
time there have been three other in.
stances of dishonesty on the part of
Oihcers OF the army. each having funds
Of different bureaus, but in each case the
money embeZZled was fully restored to the
before the trial of the officer i'll
Solyed, and each officer was promptly dis.
missed from the military services by SEN
tence of court martial.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT..
The Surgeon General reports that the total
number of deaths in the army I'm the last
iscal year was ~, of which 1913 were from
disease, and ~ from injuries. No casualties
rom actual warfare are reported.
PAY DEPARTMENT.
The PaymaSter General shews in his report
hat his department has during the last year
!uly accounted for SIS, $50, 160.s6. He again
recommends, with my concurrence, the re-
zeal of the law forbidding payment of mile
'ge to officers for travel over land grant
Dads. As mileage Is given to an officer not
merely to pay his railroad but to cover
'ther travelling expenses, and as officers |
II the army are the only public office
RS against whom a discrimination is made |
n this regard, l recommend legislation 10 |
correct ii. |
ENGINEER BUREAU. |
The Chief of the Engineers presents in his |
nnual report a review of the modern re-
uirementS for the defense of our important |
en- coast cities, and in his comprehensive, |
nut brief discussion, shows not only the |
Urgent necessity of beginning the defensive |
works which cannot be improviscd, but their |
mall cost in comparison with our National |
esources. Steel forts and turrets to resist |
uns which can send a projectile Weighing a |
themselves must have like guns, with steam
machinery to load and manipulate them can
ot be built in the short time which would be
iven us by an enemy after the occasion of |
iplomatic intercourse; and, as is said by /
he Chief of Engineers, THE contribution
Thich could be levied from New York alone
,ould probably pay four or hve-fold the
ost of all the fortSications of the important
arbors of the country" l trust that the
arrest attention of Congress may be invited
D this subject, and that adequate appropria-
ions may be made to carry out the views
4 the Chief of Engineers. The danger
the efficiency of the tornado Sys- |
EN- without the construction of Electrical
ooEls ard cable galleries has been dweh
pom in rny previous reports.