The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-16

IL
fenseless of all viii find that the dol
lar received for the wages OF their toll
has sadly Shrunk in its purchasing
power. So if this silver coinage be
continued we may reasonably expect
that gold and its equivalent viii aban-
don the field of circulation To silver
alone. This, of course, must produce
Il severe contraction of our circulating
medium instead of adding to it.
The president goes ON 10 mention
our participation in the conference of
the Latin union. and refers to the fall
ure OF that effort. He recounts send
ing a delegate 10 look into the financial
condition of Europe. and saws that the
attitude of the leading European eoun-
tries has not been changed on financial
subjects since 1881 and that these views
are supported by public opinion. He
then saws:
The steps thus taken have therefore
only more fully demonstrated the use
1esSness of further attempts at present
to arrive at any agreement on the sub
Ject With other nat OnS. The condition
IN which our treasury may be placed
by persistence IN our present course
Is a matter of concern 10 every patriotic
citizen who does not desire his govern
ment to pay n silver such of its obi ga
tons as should be paid in gold. Nor
oDl ge us. III a prudent management of
our affairs. TO discontinue the calling
III and payment of interest bearing
| obligations which we have the right
now TO discharge and thus avoid the
! payment of further interest thereon
Ihat disaster has not already oyertaken
1 US furnishes no proof that danger does
! not wait upon continuation of the
/ present silver coinage. | recommend
of ttl
OF silver dollars. directed by the law
passed in February. 1878.
THE LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
The most crafty ng results have at
| tended he operations of the life saving
service during the last fiscal year The
| observance of the provision of law re-
quirinG the appointments of the force
employed III the service to be made
| solely with reference to their fitness
and without reference to their political
or party affiliat. on" has secured the re-
suit which may confidently be expected
in any branch of public employment
where such a rule is applied. As a
) consequence this service is composed
of men we'll qualified for the perform
f, ance OF their dangerous and exception
ally important duties.
The number of stations in commits
sion at the close of the year was 9 3.
The number of disasters to vessels and
crafts of all kind within Their field of
act.On was 81. The number of per-
sons endangered i'll such disasters was
,439. of whom 242S were saved. and
only eleven lost. Other lives which
We're imperiled. though not by q s.
asters to shipping. We're also rescued,
and a large amount of property was
saved through the aid of this service.
The cost of Is maintenance during the
year was SS2S. 474 A.
THE ARMY.
The report of the Secretary of War
is herewith submitted. The attention
of Congress is invited to the detailed
! account which it contains of the ad-
ministration of his department and his
| recommendations and suggestion for
the improvement of the service.
The army consisted. at the date of
the last consolidated returns. of , 154
officers, and "a ) enlisted men. The
expenses of the departments for the
| fiscal year ending June 81. 1855, in
| Guiding Sl3 l64 .394.6D for public works
and river and harbor Improvements,
were S45. So .999. 81.
| Beside the troops which were dis
| patched in pursuit of the small band of
| Indians who left their reSerVat on in
| Arizona and committed murders and
! outrageS. two regiments of cavalry and
/ one of infantry were sent last July to
the Indian Territory to prevent an out
| break which seemed imminent. They
| remained to aid, If necessary, in the
/ expulsion of intruders upon the reSer-
vation, who seemed to have caused the
! discomfort among the Indians, but the
executive proclamation warning them
| to remove was complied with without
! i'll erference.
Troops were also sent to Rock
! Springs. in Wyoming Territory, after
the massacre OF Chinese there. to pre-
vent further disturbances, and after
ward TO Seattle, i'll Washington Terri
tory. to avert threatened attack upon
| Chinese lab0rerS and domestic violence
there. In both cases, the mere pres
ence OF the troops had the desired
effect.
1t appears that the number of deser-
| tions has diminished but that dur nc
the last fiscal year they numbered 927
and one instance is given by the Leu
| tenant General of SIX desertiOnS by
the same recruit. | am convinced that
this number of desert ons can be much
d mnished by better disc pline and
| treatment, but the punishment should
be increased for repeated offenses
utSt utStI llOiiS lulSl III dISb Dt ItuuCtt
by leSSenlng the term of first enlist
ments, thus allowing a discontented
recruit to contemplate nearer dis
charge, and the army profitable rid
dance. After one term of service,
re-enliStment would be quite apt tt
secure a contented recruit and goo(
soldier.
The acting Judge Advocate Genera
reports that the number of trials by
general courts-martial during the year
was 32S. and that 1851 trials tool
place before garrison and regimenta
courts-martial. The suggest on tina
probably more than half the army ha:
been tired for offenses great and small
in one year. may wel~arrest attention
Of course, many of these trials befor
garrison and reglmental courts MARTA
were for offenses almost frivolous. an,
there should, | think, be a way devised
to dispose of these in more summar,
and less inc0nvenient manner than b,
court martial. If some of the pro
ceedings of courts-martial which
have had occasion to examine, presen
the ideas of justice which generall
prevail in these tribunals. | am salts
fled that they should be much re
formed, if the honor and the honest
of the army and navy are by their Ill
strumentallty to be indicated and pro
tected.
SIGNAL SERVICE.
The work of the Signal Service ha
been prosecuted during the last yea
with results of increasing benefits t
the country. The field of instruction
has been enlarged with view of ad
ding to its usefulness. The number O
! stations in operation June 80, 1885,
was 4S9. Telegraphlc reports are re
/
ports are also received from 10 Cana
dian stations, 375 volunteer observers
81 army surgeons at military posts, an
333 foreign stations. The expense @
service during the fiscal year. after de
/. Quoting receipts from military teit
graph lines. was S797 .592. 81. In vie'
J of the fact referred to by the Secretar
of War that the work of this seryic
1 ordinarily is of scientific nature, an
: the further fact that it is assumin
| large proportions constantly, and bt
coming more and more unsuited to tn
: fixed rules which must govern til
army, am inclined to agree with hiI
: in the opinion that it shoU / be seps
e rately established. If this Is done til
: scope and extent of its operation
2 should, as nearly as possible. be def
l nitely prescribed by law. and alway
= capable of exact ascerta.nment.
I NAVAL AFFAIRS.
. The report of the Secretary of tl
: Navy gives a history OF the operation
i OF his departments and the present col
= dltion of the work committed to b
: charge. He details IN full the cours
+ pursued by him to protect the rights ,
4 the Government in respect of cerrai
S vessels unfinished at the time of b
8 | accession to office. and also concerniI
the dispatch boat Dolphin. claimed
4 be completed and awaiting the acceI
ance of the department
No one can fail to see. from the r
~ cit;l contained in this report, that on
!. the application of business principl
u - In In frl.a