Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-09

survey of our coast. Having gained a
place in the appropriations made by Con-
eress. it has gradually taken to itself
powers and objects not contemplated IN
| its creation and extended its operations
until it sadly needs legislative attention.
| So far as
FURTHER SURVEY OF OUR COAST
Is concerned, there seems to be pro-
priety in transferring that work to the
Navy Department. The other duties now
| in charge of this establishment, if they
cannot be proftabiy attached to some
| existing department, or other bureau,
should be prosecuted under a law exactly
defining their scope and purpose and with
a careful discrimination between the
scientific inquiries which may properly
be assumed by the Government and
those which should be undertaken by
State authorities or by individual enter
prises. 1t is to be hoped that the report
OF the Congressional committee hereto
fore appointed to investigate this and
other like matters, will aid in the ac-
complishment OF proper legislation on this
subject.
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 administration OF
his department, and his recommendations
and suggestions for the improvement of
the service.
The army consisted at the date of the
last consolidated returns, of 2, 154 officers
and 4,7O5 enlisted men.
The expenses of the departments for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1885, in
cluding $13, ,164, ,394.06 for public works
and river and harbor improvements were
$45, 1850, $685.
Besides the troops which were dis
patched in pursuit of the small band of
Indians who left their reservation In
Arizona and committed murders and out
RACES, two regiments of cavalry and one
of infantry were sent last July to the In
dian Territory to prevent an outbreak
which seemed imminent. They remained
to aid, if necessary, in the expulsion OF
intruders upon the reservation who have
caused the discomfort among the Indians,
but the Executive proclamation warning
them to remove was complied with with
out interference.
Troops were also sent to Rock Springs, in
Wyoming Territory, after the massacre of
the Chinese there, to prevent further dis
turbances, and afterwards to Seattle, In
Washington Territory, to avert a threatened
attack upon the Chinese laborers and do
mestic violence there. In both cases the
mere presence of the troops had the desired
effect.
It appears that the number of desertions
from the army have diminished, but that
during the last fiscal year they numbered
1927, and one instance is given by the Lieu
tenant General of six desertions of the same
recruit. I am convinced that this number
of desertions can be much diminished by
better discipline and treatment, but the pun
ishment should be increased for repeated
offenses. These deser5ions might also be
reduced by lessening the term of the first
enlistment, thus allowing discontented re-
oruit to contemplate nearer discharge, and
the army profitable riddance, after one
term of service. A re-enlistment would be
quite apt to secure contented recruit and
good soldier.
The acting General re-
ports that the number of trials by general
courts-martial during the year was 1873, and
that II, ,851 trials took place before the gar
r1son and regimental courts martial. The
suggestion that probably more than half the
army have been tried for offenses great and |
small In one year may well arrest attention, |
Of course many of these trials before the |
.trrlSOu anu Ieglmental cOurtS-maft1al were |
for offenses almost frivolous, and there I
should, think, be a way devised to dispose
of these in more summary and less incon-
venient manner than by court-martial. If
some of the proceedings of courts-martial |
which have had occasion to examine pre-
sent the ideas of Justice which generally
prevail in these tribunals, am satisfied that
hey should be much reformed, if the honor
and the honesty of the Army and Navy are
oy their instrumentality to be vindicated
md protected.
Continued on First Page.)