Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-14
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Annual Report of the Inspector General
decrease in our shipping - Damages
One Ceat-TelePhOne Case.
WARRINGTON. Nov. l3

"ASHiSGTON, NOV. 10.
Inspector General Davis, in his annual re-
port, says that the inspection of money
accounts shows that the funds Of the army,
so far as discovered, have been faithfully
dishursed. The health of the troops is re-
ported to have been generally good. At q
majority of the posts much time and attention
has been given to the instruction Of the
troops, resulting in q marked Improvement in
drill, in the knowledge of tactics, and in mil
itary bearing and dress Of the men. The
Improvement made in rifle practice is highly
commendable. The light field artillery has
not kept pace in improvement with that of
the small arms. 1t is suggested by the gen.
eral that cavalry school be established for
thorough instruction in this arm, including
drill. practice firing, stable management, and
for the proper training of horses.
The contract system affords, he says, many
vexatious delays, and necessarily considera-
BILE expense. He advocates the concentration
of the existing ll9 posts, with correspond
ing increase in garrisons. While much at
tentiOn has been given to the physique of the
recruit, and properly, it is apparent, to a
certain extent, that too much has been sacri-
feed to this quality in regard to his mental
and moral fitness. The vicious and stupid
are not wanted. The standard of character
mand the best men, and such should be the
estimation of it in the public opinion.
The 18th annual list of merchant vessels of
the United States as prepared by the COM
missioner of navigation, shows as follows,
compared with the list of the previous fiscal
year Total number of vessels 1884, &c, $50 /;
1885, 255l3; decrease, lll7 vessels. Sail
ing vessels 1884, 1883; 1885, l7,l67; de-
crease 43l. Steam vessels 1884, Gill; 1885,
5705; decrease, 405. Unrigged vessels 1884,
1921; 1885, 2640; decrease, 2Sl. 1t is
stated that the decrease in the number of
vessels is more apparent than real as is
evidenced by the fact that there were
many vessels on the list of 1884 which have
been lost or sold to foreign traders. That
they were retained on the list is due to the
failure on the part of their owners or masters
to report their loss or sale. 1t is estimated
that the real decrease in the number of ves-
sells owned in the United States during the
past year was about POO.
The jury in the case of Rev. DR.. Hicks,
the spiritual advisor of the assassin Guiteau,
against the Evening Star Co. for $35, 900
damages for an alleged libel in the publica-
ton of the statement that Hicks had negotia-
ted for the transfer of Guiteau's bones to the
Medical Museum for $1,000, rendered ver-
dict today for the plaintiff of one cent dam
ages.
When the hearing was resumed in the tele-
phone case Mr.. Bakewell, who was one of
the counsel for the defense in the Pittsburg
case, made statement touching the proceed
ings in that case. He said the court declined
to go into the question of the validity of the
Bell patent. Mr.. Bakewell had offered TO
prove that the Reiss instrument would trans
nit speech, and the court said if that could
be shown he would refuse the injunction, but
on second thought said that that point would
make no difference, and the question of the
Ress instruments was not discussed. The
instruments were not explained TO the court
or looked at, except in a casusl way Mr..
Dlckerson pointed out that Mr.. Bakewelfs s
statement placed the Pittsourg court in very
disagreeable light. He appealed to Mr..
Bakewell to recall the facts and try to re-
member whether Judge McKennan had not
said if Storrow would acknowledge that the
Reiss telephone would transmit speech then
he would deny the injunction, and that Mr..
Storrow had declined to make any such ad-
mission. Mr.. Bakewell admitted some such
statement had been made but said it referred
to another occasion, and he persisted in his
first statement The hearing was adjourned
until tomorrow, when it is the intention to
present the remaining affiidavits and begin
the arguments.