Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-05


on within the boundaries and OF the coasts
/ of thirty-two States, two Territories aud the
DistrIct of Colulnbia. In July last, certain
irregularities we're found 70 exist in tee
management Of shis bureau, which led
toa prompt investigation Of its methods. The
abuses which were brought TO light by this
/ examination and the reckless disregard cf
duty and the interests of the Government
developed on the part OF some OK
/ those connected with the service, made
cdsnge Of superintendent and
a few Of its other officers necessary.
/ Since the bureau has been IN new hands an
introduction OF economies and application Of
business methods has produced an i'm
| portant saving TO the Goverruent and =
| promise Of more useful results. This service
4 has never been regulated by anything but
most indehnite legal snactments and the
most unsatisfactory rules IL was many
| years ago sanctioned apparently for a pur-
pose regarded as temporary, aud related to
/ q survey OF our coast. Having gained
| place In the appropriation made BY Con-
gresa, Il has gradually taken 70 itself powers
| and objects not contemplated in its crestion,
and extended its operations until IL sadly
needs legislative attention.
| Sc far as further survey Of our coast ia
concerned. there seems to be q propriety in
transferring that work to the Navy Depart
ment. the other duties now in charge Of
this establishment, il they can not be profit
| ably attached to koEns existingE depart
ment or other bureau, should be
defining their scope and purpose, and with
careful discrimination between the scientific
| inquiries which may properly be assumed by
the Government and those which should be
undertaken by State authority or by indi-
vidual enterprise.
It Is hoped that the report Of the Congress
sional committee heretofore appointed &c in
vestigats this and other ike matters viii aid
in the accomplishment Of proper legislation
on this subject.
TIE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary OF War 10
herewith submitted. The attention of Con-
gress is invited to the detailed account which
it contains of the administration OF his De-
partment and bis recommended tons and sug-
gest;0ns for the Improvements of the vice.
The army consisted, mt the date OF the last
consolidated returns, OF 2, l54 officers and
"a, 705 enlisted men. Ths expenses OF the
department. for the fiscal year ended jane
30. 1885, including $l3, l64, 394.6 80 for pub
lie works and river and hnrbor improve
ments. were $45, $50, 999. 81.
Beside the troops which were dispatched
in pnrSuit OF the small band of Indians who
left their reservation in Arizona and COM
mIttsd murders and outrages, two regiments
OF cavalry and one of infantry were sent
last July TO the Indian Territory to prevent
an outbreak, which seemed imminent. They
remained TO aid, il necessary, in the expnl-
sion OF intruders upon the reservation who
seemed TO have caused the discomfort among
warning them to remove was COM
piled with without interference. Troops
were elso sent to Rock Springs, in
Wyoming Territory, after the massacre OF
Chinese there, topTeVent further disturbances,
and afterward TO Seattle, in Washington
Territory, TO avert d threatened attack upon
Chinese iaborers and domestic violence
there. In both cases the nero presence of
the troops had the desired effect.
Ii appears that the humber Of assertions
have diminished, but that during the last Is
cal year they nun bered 2,92g. and one in
stance is given by the Lieutenant General Of
six deseruons by the same recruit. am
convinced that this number of assertions con
be much diminished by better diseIrline and
treatment, but the punishment should be in
creased for repeated otfenses.
These assertions might also be reduced by
lSSssnlng the term of first enlistneuta, thus
allowing q discontented recruit to contsm-
Plate nearer discharge and the army q
profitable riddance. After one term of S r
vice re-enlIStment would be quite apt 10
secure contented recruit service ana good
soldier. The acting Judge Advocats Gem
sral reports that the number
Of trials by general courts martial dur
ing the year was 2, 32S, ana that
IL, lS6 trials took place before garrison and
reg!mentsl courJs-martial. The suggestion
that probably more than half the army
have bean tried for offenses great and small,
In one year, may well arrest attention. OF
course many of these trials before garrison
and regimental courts martial were fer of
lenses almost frivolous, and there should,
think, bs q way devised to dispose of these
in q more summer y and less incenVsnieut
manner than by court martial. If some of
the proceedings of courts martial which /
have had occasion to examine present the
ideas of justice which generally prevail in
these tribunals, l am satisfied that they
should be reformed if the honor and the
honesty of the army and navy ars by their in
strunentality to be vindicated and protected.
g =
Ienses, appointed In pursuance OF tas pro-
visions of the act OF Congress approved
March 3, 1885, will in q short time present
their report. and 1t is hoped that this may
grea,.y aid the legislation so necessary to
emedy the present dsfenselsss condition of
our seRcoaAts.
TIE SIGNAL SERVICE.
The work Of the Signal Service has been
prosecuted during the last year with results
of bsneht TO the country. The field o. in
Ftruction has been enlarged with y view Of
adding to Its usefulness. The numbe of sta
tions in operation June 30, 1855, was 4S9.
Telsgraphic reports ere received daily from
100 stations. Reports ars also received from
as Canadian stations, 375 volunteer obsery-
ers, 62 army surgeons AZ military posts and
333 foreign stations. The expense OF the
service during tina fiscal year, after deduct
ing receipts from military telegraph lines,
Yves S797, 500. 81. In view Of the fact
| referred to by the Secretary OF War,
that work of this service ordinarily
is Of scientific nature. and further fact
that it is assuming larger propositions con-
stantiy and becoming more and more I'M
suited TO the hxed rules which must govern
the army, l am inclined to agree with him
in the opinion that ir should be separately
ssts bli>hsd. If this is done the scope and
extent of It's operations should as nearly as
possible be definitely prescribed by law, and
always capable Of exact sscertEinmsnt.
THE CADETS.
The military academy Of West Point is re-
ported being in q high state OF efficiency,
and well equipped for the satisfactory ae-
complement Of the purposes Of its MAIN
tenance. The fact that the class which
| graduates next year is an unusually large
one has constrained ME TO decline 10 make
| appointments Co Second Lieutenancies IN
| the armies from civil life, so that such va
| cancies Ns exist Ia these places may be re-
| served for such graduates, and Yet IL is not
| probable that there will be- enough vacancies
| to provide positions for them all when thew
| leava the military school,
Under the prevailing law and usage, those
not thus assigned TO duty never actively
/ enter The military service. 1t is suggested
/ taat the law ON this subject be charged SO
| that such of these young men are not sc
| once assigned TO duty after graduation may
/ be retained as Second Lisutsnants in the
army, IL they desire il, subject TO assign
ment when opportunity occurs, under
| proper rules Is to priority OF selection.
| The expenditures on account OF the military
| academy for the last fiscal year, exclusive
| of the sum taken for its purposes for sppro-
| priatons for the support Of the army, were
| $3.50, 7I2,07.
Tho act approved March 0, 1885, designed
| to coupe ns3te officers aud enlisted men for