Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-18
NEEDS OF THE ARMY.

Sheridan Endorses Schoheld's Rseo6
msndatio1s In His Annual Report.
WASHINGTON, November l7.-Lisutensnt
General P q. Sheridan has submitted bis
annual report TO the Secretary Of War. HS
says the discipline Of the srmy ia very
good, and that BE has no recommends
tious 10 make except that the number Of
men in the companies Do increased, and
that two more companies and two Majors
be added to each regiment Of infantry.
The General says that he most heartily co
iucidsi With the remarks Of General Scho-
field (of the Division Of The Missouri) on
the need OF military legislation, aud con.
sders his 7ieWs Of. go mach importance
thar he Incorporates them in bis report
substantially as follows;
There ia great need in the military ser.
vice oflegislaliou. Regulations
established and sabjeet to change cnly by
Congress would have such degree Of stabil-
ity as TO become the basis of sound
military system, which upto the present
time, mas rot existed in this country. Al
though the regulations have undergone
changes the most important
questions involved 10 tbs command and gov
erumsut Of be remain urssttled
ST the present time No commanding
general from the highest 70 the loW-
est. cEn know the eSteu, or limits OF his
authority. Aud no one can have any staff
responsible 10 him for the faithful execution
of his orders Daring the last tSentY five
years the country has passed through three
moneutous crises, wherein th5ae unsettled
Questions were Of vital importance 10 the
nation, and their decision, for the occasion,
depended solely upon individual opinions.
Another such crisis may not be fer distant
when such decision might not be 90 for
tuusts for the country. HeCcs while | pre-
sent the necessity ofa considerable increase
Of The army, also suggest. as still greater
necessity, that laws be established By Cor :
grsss for the government and regulation
OF ihe military forces.
From the reports st tas date. OF the last
consolidated returns, the army consisted
OF :, Ij4 officers and "a ,T0j men.
SHERIDAN INDIAN POLICY.
General Sheridan urges radical change
in the allotment of lards to Indians. He
saggssts uarroEiug the limits Of their res
erya,ious By loca'iUg each family On $50
acrss and that the balance Of each reserve
ton be condemned and purchased By the
Government at $l.25 per acre, tee interest
Of The proceeds Of these purchases TO be
given 10 the Indisbs each year. He Illus
trsTes he practical working OF this scheme
by instsnciDE the Cross, who now have
nearly . 00O 900 acres in their rsservs'
ZION. There are not more than $500 OF
them. and counting i've parsons to 6 fan.
iIy-a large esiiuate-lhsy could be settled
separately on 220 acres for each family
and then have mora thsR $500, 900 acres
Isit.
ftkis land vas purchased by the Gov.
ernmeut, and the proceeds invested IN
Government bonds ard the interest used
fer their support it would be more money
than il roH appropriated By Congress
annually for their maintenance. ltwoald
be their own money, and take the question
Of annual appropriations out of Congress.
Tbese lands coald readily be sold again to
settlers, and the Government lose nothing,
While the Indians would have security in
the principal, until Congress chooses to i've
/, 70 them to he used as they saw ut. The
Iudiaus. he says, eoun'iag the value OF the
lands Of their immense reservations, are
uot p1or; they are only incompetent at
present to take care of their own property,
AM therefore require lookinz after,