Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-05
Report Of the Secretary OF War.

Report Of the Secretary OF War.
In the report Of Secretary Endicott for the
year ending June 80. last, We find the follow
ing points:
| The expenditures of appropriations under
the direction of the Secretary of War we're
s45 1850. 999 81. including s7l5, 1872 credit
ed to the subsidized Pacific railroads for
transportation services rendered the War
| Department durieg the fiscal year 1885 and
prior years. The sum of Sl,272, 125.75 per
tanning to War Department appropriations
was carried to the surplus fund
June 30, 1885. The appropriations for
the year ending next June, are 83l, 762. Alb
40, the decrease in the amount being due to
the fact that there was no appropriation for
river and harbor improvement this wear.
| The army now consists of 2, l54 officers and
%, 7O5 enlisted men. In consideration of the
numerous Indian troubles, Gen. Sheridan has
gone to Arizona to make personal investiga-
ton. As railroad facilities are now SO ample
the General comments to careful considera-
ton the policy of concentrating troops and
putting large gsrrisons in the vicinity of
| large cities as a measure of economy.
The appropriations for the Military Acade-
my were S3l5 ,853 80, and the expenditures
were 1920, 7I2.07. These amounts do not
include the sums expended at the Academy
from appropriations for support of the army.
The Superintendent reports that there were
present September l, 1885, 313 cadets.
| The Adjutant General recognizes the value
of an efficient militia, and advocates action
| looking to the increase of efficiency in that
branch, especially in the matter of armament,
which is at present defective. The number
| of trials bv general courts-martial during the
Ia. han Ios
| year of 48, and the number of convictions for
desertion was GA. There is now no provision
| Of law whereby an enlisted man can be pun
| ished for any offense against good order and
discipline except through the proceedings of
q court-martal, and it is recommended that
power be given officers to impose punishment
| for minor offences, of course with due regu-
| lations to prevent abuse OF such power.
| At the beginning of the last fiscal year
| there remained in the treasury as balances
applicable to expenses of the quartermaster' s
department the sum Of 81, 1893, 96254. There
| was appropriated for the year the sum of
80, GIL ,056.34. The balance undrawn on the
30th Of June, 1885, was 1856, 075 %, required
to meet outstanding indebtedness. For the
improved water supply at military posts, for
drainage, sewers, wharves, &C., the sum of
S243, 095 was authorized. Transportation
has been provided for persons, animals and
freight at a cost of 5000, 029 80. Beside
this is 1861, 3l8 SO, credited on the debts of
the bonded Pacific railroads.
The attention of Congress is invited to the
defenseless condition of our sea-coast and
lake frontier. The limited amount of funds
available during the past year has been main
ly applied to placing in servceable condition
the platforms of heavy guns and mortars
Tearing upon the channels of entrance to
the various harbors. There have been man.
ufactured at the National Armory at Spring
field, Mass, during the last year 1857
| rifles, carbines, and shot-guns and a consid-
| cradle number of devices involving the use
| OF high explosives in projectiles have been
| tested.
| The Chief Signal Officers report sets forth
at length the operations of the Signal Ser
vice during the last fiscal year. The pressure
of the constantly increasing meteorological
duties of the Bureau since 1870 has caused
the purely military duties and responsibilities
| of the corps to be somewhat neglected; but
| it is now proposed to remedy this by vigor-
| Gus study of the theory and practice of the
art of military signals. The expenditures
for the Signal Service during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1885, after deducting the re-
ceipts from military telegraph lines covered
into the Treasury, were $780,, 500 81.
Other items are touched upon in the report,
such as the Soldiers Home at Washington,
State claims, the Washington monument,
etc, and various recommendations made,
which we have not room to notice.