Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08

regarded as temporary and related TO surrey
preparations made by Congress. q has gradually
taken TO itself powers and objects not coutein
lions, until IL sadly needs legislative attenta.
20 Jar as a further survey OF our coast Is ''oit.
ferrinc that WORK TO the NAVY pepar,ment. Ths
other duties now In charge OF this establish
ment. II they cannot be profitably attached to
should DE prosecuted under n law exactly de.
lining their scope and purpose, and with n care
quiries which may properly be assumed 10y ths
Government and those which should he under
taken by state authority or by individual en-.
II is hoped that the report OF the Congress
sional committee heretofore appointed 10 in-
vestigate this aud other like matters will aid I'm
the accomplishment OF proper legislation on
this sublec..
THE ARMY.
The report OF the Secretary OF War is herewith
submitted. The attention OF Congress is inv tied
TO the detailed account which u contains ut
the administration OF his Department, and hh
recommendations and suggestions for the Inn.
provement OF the service.
The Army consisted, at the date OF the iass
consolidated returns. OF two thousand one hun
bred and fifty-four officers and twenty four
thousand seven hundred and five enlisted men.
The expenses OF the Departments for the
fiscal year ended Juno 80. 1855, including
S13. 164. 394 90 for public works aud river aud
harbor improvements, were S45, $50, s9a.S4.
pursuit OF the small band OF Indians who len
their reservation in Arizona and committed
murders and outrages, two regiments of cavalry
and one of infantry We're sent last July to the
Indian Territory TO prevent an out break which
seemed imminent. They remaiaed TO aid IL
necessary in the expulsion OF fntruders upon
the reservation, who seemed to have caused tho
discomfort among the Indians, but the Execu-
tive proclamation warning them Ia remove Was
complied with without their interference.
Troops We're also sent 20 Rock Springs I'm
Wyoming Territory, after the massacre OF
and afterwards 10 seattle I'm " ssnington Terri
tory, to avert a threatened attack upon Chinese
laborers and domestic violence there. In both
cases the mere presence OF the troops had the
desired effect.
1t appears that the number of desertions have
diminished but that during the last fiscal year
they numbered 1927; and one instance IL
given by the Lieutenant General OF six deser-
lions by the same recruit. / am convinced that
this number of desertions can be much dimin-
| ished by better discipline and treatment: but
the punishment should be increased for re-
These assertions might also he reduced by
lessening the term of first enlistments, thus
allowing discontinued recruit TO contempla
nearer discharge and the Army "a prof table
radiance. After one term Of service a re-enlist-
ment would be quite apt TO secure a contentca
recruit and good soldier.
The Observation-Disclosures reports
that the number OF trials 10y general courts
martial during the year was 2,32s, and that
1851 trials took place before garrison and
regimental courts-martial. The suggestion
that probably more than half the Army haNe
been tried for ofienses. great and small in on.
year, may well arrest attention. OF cour>e
many of these trials before garrison and regi-
mental courtsmartal were tor offenses almost
frivolous; and there should, think, be a way
devised TO dispose of these in more summary
and less inconvenient manner than by court
martial.
II some OF the proceedings OF courts-martial
which have had occasion to examine present
the ideas OF Justice which generally prevail in
these tribunals, am satisfied that they should
be much reformed, the honor and the honesty
OF the Army and Navy are by their instrument
tality to be vindicated and protected
The Board on Notifications other defenscs,
appointed i'm pursuance of the provisions OF TINS
act of Congress approved March g. 1883 will in
short time present their report; aud II ~
hoped that this may greatly aid the legislation
SO necessary 10 remedy the present delenseess
condition OF our sea-coasts.
The work OF the Signal Service has been pros
ecuted during the last year with results of M
creasing benefit to the country The field of I'm.
struction has been enlarged with "A view OF add
In operation June So 1855. 4S9. Tele-
graphic reports are received daily from 100 sta
lions. Reports are also received from 25 Cana
dian stations. $50 volunteer observers, 81 army
surgeons at military posts and 1888 foreign sta
tons. The expense of the service during the
tary telegraph lines. was s7s2. 5s2 81. In view
OF the fact referred To by the Secretary Of War.
that the work OF this service ordinarily IL of !.
scientific nature, and the further tact that II is
assuming larger proportions constantly, and
rules which must govern the Army. 1 ann In
clined to agree with him in the opinion that iL
should be separately established. n this IS
|
should, as nearly possible, be definitely pre-
scribed by law and always capable Of exact as
The Military Academy at West Point Is re-
ported as being In q high state Of efficiency, and
well equipped for the satisfactory accom- lisli-
ment OF the purposes of it's mainterance.
The fact that the class which graduates next
year is an unusually large one has constrained
me TO decline TO make appointments to second
lieutenancies I'm the Army from civil lie, So
that such vacancies as exist In these places may
be reserved for such graduates and yet IL is not
probable that there will be enough vacancies 10
provide positions for them all when they leave
and usage those not thus assigned TO duty never
actively enter the military service. Ii IL sug-
gested that the law on this subject be cha nged.
so that such OF these young men as are not al
once assigned TO duty after graduation, may bee
retained as second lieutenants i'm the Army IL
| they desire il, subject TO assignment when OPP
portunity occurs, and under proper rules a. 10
priority Of selection.
The expenditures on account OF the Military
Academy for the last fiscal year, exclusive &C
the sum takentor its purposes from appropria-
tons for the support OF the Army, were
The act approved March 3, 1885, designed Co
compensate officers and enlisted men for loss
| of private property while In the service OF the
United States Il 40 indefinite in ITS terms aud
apparently admits many claims, the adjust
Inent OF which could not have been contem-
plated, that il il is Ia remain upon the statue
book it needs amendment.
There should be a general law OF Congress
prohibiting the construction OF bridges over
nayigable waters i'm such manner as To obstruct
navigation, with provisions for preventing the
same. IL seems that under existing statutes
the Government cannot intervene 10 prevent
such a construction when entered upon with
out its consent, though when such consent g.
asked and granted upon condition, tue
authority 10 insist upon such condition
is clear. Thus IL is represented THAI
while the officers OF the Government
are with great guarding against
the obstruction OF navigation by "A bridge acres
the Mississippi River AT saint Paul, large pier
for a bridge has been built just below this place
directly in the ayigable channel of the river.
If such things are To be permitted strong argu-
ment Is presented against the appropriation oI
large sums OF money To improve the navigation
cf this and other important highways OF CON-
merce.
MENDED.
The report of the Secretary OF the Navy gives
a history Of the operations Of his Department
and the present condition Of the work com
mitted to his charge.
He details in full the course pursued by him
to protect the rights of the Government I'm TO
spect Of certain vessels unfinished at the time
OF his accession to office, and also concerning
the dispatch boat Dolphin, claimed to be CON-
pleted and awaiting the acceptance Of the de-
partment. No one can fail 10 see from recitals
contained in this report, that only the applica-
ton Of business principles has been Insisted
upon ia the treatment Of these subjects, and