The Portland daily press., 1885-12-05
THE ARMY.
Annual Report of Secretary En-
rirnff

dicott-
WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-THE annual report OF
Secretary Endicott of the War Department was
given to the public today. The expenditures for
1884 were $45, $50, ,99954, and appropriations for
the present year are $36 762, ,413. .4othe increase
of the past year over the present being for river
and harbor improvements.
THE ARMY.
The lieutenant t-general commanding reports
that the army at the date of the last consolidated
returns consists of 2,154 officers and 24,705 en-
listed men.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
The specific appropriations for the Military
Academy for the fiscal year 1885, were
$315, $3.50, and the expenditures were $780,
712.07.
The superintendent reports that there were
present Sept. L, 1885, 313 cadets, and that the
tone and discipline of the corps leaves little or
nothing to be desired The total number OF Off
GERS for duty at the post, including eight profess
S0rS and two surgeons, IS 6S.
ADJUTANT GENERALS REPORT.
There were 40 persons admitted to the govern
ment hospital for the insane, under the orders of
the Secretary of War, from Oct. /, 1884, to Oct l.
1885, twenty-three less than during the preceding
year.
Generals Office is submitted, from which it ap-
pears that there were las, PA calls for Informal
while during the past year there were l,ool re-
ceived.
Under the act of June s. 1884, authorizing the
remuster OF volunteer officers in certain cases,
10000 claims have been fled and ,641 adjusted
great number OF claims will doubtless be hled
during the three years allowed by the law, and
their adjustment will involve much clerical la
Dor.
Under the law of July 5, 1884 provided for the
removal of the charge of desertion $500 applica-
tions have been granted, 700 rejected, 2200 await
investigation, and new cases are filed daily
INSPECTOR GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
Nearly all of the military posts have been in
spected during the year and their sanitary condi-
tion has received more attention than formerly.
The health of the troops has been generally
good much time has been devoted to their in
Struction, with excellent results, and great inn
provement has been made in target practice with
small arms. The means and opportunities Tor
improvement in light or field artillery have been
wanting and the condition OF that arm IS unSatlS-
factory All the field batteries properly organ
ized, should be assembled at some suitable post
for school of theoretical and practical lnstruc-
ton.
Heretofore, while great attention. in his opinion,
has properly been paid to the ''physique" OF the
recruit too little has been given to his mental
and moral fitness.
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
1t appears from the report of the Acting Judge
Advocate General that the number of trials by
general court-martal during the year has been
2,32S. an increase over last year OF 20, anu lHe
number Of convictions for desertion was 674,
In the Department of the Platte 3,0OS is the
largest total of enlisted men during the last year,
while the number of courts-martial is more than
half that number viz, 1876 The humber of de-
sertions diminished during the past year but 1t IS
still very large q ,o2s). and demands the serious
attention Of all officers, from the highest to
the lowest, in command of troops.
ARREST OF DEsERTERs
The Supreme Court of the United States has re-
Gently decided that police officer of State or a
private citizen has no authority as such, without
any warrant or military order, to arrest and de-
tain deserter from the Army of the United
States This decision will deprive the army, in az
resting and securing deserters, of the assistance
of civilians and police officers, who have hereto
fore rendered valuable service in this direction.
QUARTERMAsTER's DEPARTMENT
At the beginning of the last fiscal year there re-
manned in the treasury as balances applicable to
expenses ofprior years the sum of $1,193, 972.54
There was appropriated for the year the sum Of
S9,911 ,056.34. The balance undrawn on the 3Oth
of June, 1885, was $500 075.09, required to meet
outstanding indebtedness. For the improved wa
ter supply at military posts, for drainage, sewers
wharves, ETC., the sum OF $243, ,095 was author
lied.
The cost of repairs to old buildings ETC., has
reached the sum OF $266,797. There have been
authorized under the direction of the Secretary
of War, 81 new buildings erected, at cost Of
S229556.
the sundry civil bill, approved July 1884 $1OO-
| 600 was granted by the Secretary of war for re
building Fort Russell, Wyoming Territory.
The CONSTRUCTION OF the army and navy hospita
| at Hot Springs, Ark, was completed Nov. l. 1885
There were on hand June 30 1885, 67l0 caVal
| ry and artillery horses, 3S3 team horses, anC
| 554S mules and oxen.
| During the fiscal year there were 2507 miscella
| neous iclaims and accounts. amounting to $553,
| 563.4 AZ, which received action There remained
on file July l, 1885, 10,967 miscellaneous claim:
| and 267 accounts, amounting to $6,723, ,226.09.
There were at the close of the fiscal year 80 ma
| infa nntC
| The work of furnishing head-stones for graves a
private, village and city cemeteries is nearly com
| pleted, The appropriation is nearly exhausted
| but applications continue to be received, and i
| the work is to be continued it is recommended
| that a further appropriation by Congress be made
| for the purpose, which should include provision
| for the graves of soldiers of the Revolutionary
| and other wars prior to 1861.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
| The surgeon general reports that the total mum
| ber of deaths in the army for the calendar yea
ending Dec. 81. 1884, was 2e3, of which 17S wer
| from disease and "a from injuries No casualtie
from actual warfare are reported.
| During the year ending June 80, 1885, there
were added to the library G. .481 volumes and 8
| 420 pamphlets The number of volumes now ii
| the library is 72,2l9, and of unbound theses an,
| pamphlets 95,923.
ENGINEER BUREAU.
The attention of Congress is invited to the de
fenseless condition Of our sea-coast and lax
frontier. This subject received careful consider
alton in the report Of the Chief of Engineers sui
mitted at the last session of Congress. AS til
question OF the defensive system of the country
so far as the ports at which Notifications othe
defenses are most urgently required, has been II
ferreds by Congress to a board, of which tn