Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-10


~ with reference 70 their fitness and
without reference to their political ar
party afllliation, has secured the result
which may be expected in any branch of
public employment where such q rule IA
applied. Asa consequence, this service
Is composed Of men well qualified
for the performance OF their danger.
GUS and exceptionally important duties
During the past year 2439 people have
been aided IN shpwrecks, OF whom 24gs
were saved and only II lost. Other lives
which were imperlled, though not by dis.
astcrs TO shipping, were also rescued and
a large amount OF proper was savcdl
through the aid OF this service. The costIl
OF its maintenance during the year was
SS28,474.4 AS.
COAST AND GEoDETiC SURVEY.
The work of the coast and geddetic sur.
yey was during the last year carried on |
within the boundaries and along
the coasts Of thirty two staie,,
two territories and the District
Of Columbia. In July last, certain
Irregularities were found to exist
in the management of the bureau, which
led to prompt investigation OF its methods.
The abuses which were brought to light /
by this examination, and the reckless dis
| regard Of duty aud the interests of the
government developed on the part of |
some of those connected with |
the service, made change of |
superintendency and others necessary |
Siuce the bureau has been in new hands !
an Introduction of economical business I
/ methods has produced an important saw /
| ing TO the government, and promises |
more useful results This service has
| never been regulated by anything but the /
| most indefinite legal enactments, and the |
| most unsatisfactory rules. II was many
/ years ago sanctioned as temporary and |
related to the survey of our coast, and |
having place in the appropriation made !
4 by congress, it has gradually taken to
Itself powers and objectsa not contem-
plated in It's creation, and eX-
tended its operations until it is
sadly in need of legislative attention. |
So far as Il further survey of our coast is
concerned, there seems to be a propriety
in transferring that work to'the navy de-
partmcnt The other duties now in
charge of this establishment, il they can
not be probably attached to some exist
lag department or other bureau, should
be prosecuted under law exactly detn-
ing their scope and purpose and with
careful discrimination between the scien-
ti1c inquiries which may properly be
assumed by the government and
those which should be undertaken by
state authority or by individual enterprise.
1t is hoped that the report of the con-
grcssional committee heretofore APP
pointed to Investigate this and other
matters win aid ia the accomplishment
of legislation on this subject
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary Of war is
}, -, rHt ,.f
congress is invited to the detailed ac-
count which it contains of the
administration of his department,
and his accommodations and suggestions
for the Improvement of the service
The army consisted at the date OF Che
last consolidated returns of u Oh officials
and -, 7O5 enlisted men. The expenses
OF the department for the fiscal year end
ing June so, 1885, including $l3,.
"a 3gl 60 for public works and
h rbor improvements were $40, $780, 99 Oh.
Besides the troops wncn were sent in
pursuit of small band OF Indians who left
their reservation in Arizona and COM
mltted murders and outrages, two regi-
I ments of cavalry and one of infantry were
;, sent last July to the territories to prevent
an outbreak which seemed imminent.
They remained to assist, if necessary, in
!
ton, who seemed to have caused the dis
content among the Indians, but the
! executive proclamation warning
them to remove was COM
Piled with without Interference.
Troops were also sent to Rock Springs
in Wyoming territory, after the massacre
of Chinese there, TO prevent further dis
, turbances, and afterwards to Seattle in
, Washington territory, to prevent 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 assertions have diminished,
> but that during the last fiscal year the
number was 1897 and one instance is
given by the lieutenant general of six de-
, sertions by the same recruit. am con-
WINGED that this number of assertions can
, be much diminished by better discipline
i and treatment but the punishment
should be increased forrepeated off tnses.
These deSertions might also be reduced
= by leSScning the term of first enlistment,
, thus allowing disconnected recruit to
: contemplate nearer discharge and the
a army profitable radiance, after one term
y Of service. a short retirement would be
. quite sufficient for contenteG recruit
a and good soldier.
Inc Juuge advocate general reports that
: the number of trials by general COURTS
+ martial during the year was 1929, and
+ that IL ,S5l TRIALS took place before garri-
. son and regimental courts martial. The
/ suggestion that probably more than one
q half the army has been tried
\ for offenses, great and small, in
: one year, may we'll attract attention.
a The causes of many of these trials before
+ garrison and regimental courts-martial
\ were for offenses almost frivolous, and
!, there should, | think, be way devised to
dispose OF these in Il more summary and
4 less inconsistent manner than by court
. martial. If some of the proceedings Of
p courts-martial which have had occasion
. to examine, present the ideas of Justice
/ which generally prevail in the trials am
+ satisfied they should be greatly re-
. formed, If the honor and the hon
. esty of the army and navy are by
Z their fundamentally to be indicated
: FoRrITICAlIoNs AND DEFENsEs.
/. The board on Notifications and other
h defenses appointed in pursuance of pro-
l visions of the act of congress approved
4 March 3, 1885, will, in a short time, pre-
V sent their report and it is hoped that this
g may greatly aid the legislation so neces-
!. Sary to remedy the present defenseless
- condition OF cur Sca.cOaSt