The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-09
[coNrrNuEp FRoM r1Rsr PAGE.

them. /
apparent, their coinage may be renewed That
disaster has not Ealready overtaken us furn-
ishes no proof that danger does not wait upon a
continuation OF the present silver coinage We
have been saved by the most careful management
and unusual expedients by combination of for
tunate conditions and by confident expectation
yer coinage would be speedily changed by the ac-
ton of Congress. Prosperity hesitates upon our
threshold because OF the dangers and uncertain
shrinks from trade and investors are unwilling to
take the chance of the questionable shape in
which their money will be returned to them, while
enterprise haIts at risk against which care and
SagaciouS management do not protect. AS a neces-
sary consequence labor lacks employment and
suffering and distress are visited upon portion of
our fellow citizens especially entitled to the care
full consideration Of those charged with the duties
of legislation No interest appeals TO us so strong
y for a safe and stable currency as the vast army
of the compulsory coinage Of silver dollars direct
ed by the law passed in February, 1873
THE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION sRRvIcE
on the 30th day of June, 1885, was composed of
lao persons, including officers, clerks and mes
sengers The expenses of the service over the re-
ceipts were S139, 82222 during the fiscal year
The special inspection OF foreign steam vessels
organized nnder law passed III 1882, was MAIN
tanned during the year at an expense of S36, GAL
a. Since the close OF the fiscal year reductions
have been made in the force employed, which will
result in saving during the current year of
$4,000, without affecting the efficiency of the
THE SUPERVISING SURGEON-GENEBAL
reports that during the fiscal year Al TIA patients
have received relief through the marine hospital
service, of whom H. SO3 were treated in hospitals
and 2s911 at the dspensaries. Active and eff
fective efforts have been made through the med-
UNI of this service to protect the country against
the invasion OF cholera which has prevailed in
SPAN and France, and the small poX, which re-
Gently broke out in Canada.
THE LIFE-SyyING SERVICE
The most gratifying results have attended the
operations of the life-saving service during the
last fiscal year. The observance of the provision
of law requiring the appointment of the force en-
ployed in this service to be made solely with ref
ergnce to their fitness and without reference to
their political or party afhliation has secured the
result which may confidently be expected in any
branch of public employment where such rule is
applied. AS consequence this service is COM
posed of men well qualified fol- the performance
OF their dangerous and exceptionally important
duties. The number of stations in commission
at the close OF the year was 203. The number of
disasters TO- vessels and craft OF all kind within
their field of action was 81. The number of per-
sons endangered in such disasters was 2439, of
whom 2428 were saved and only IL lost. Other
lives which were imperiled, though not by disaS-
ter to shipping were also rescued, and large
amount OF property was saved through the aid of
this service. The cost of its maintenance during
the year was 1928, 474.43.
THE WORK OF THE COAST SURVEY
the boundaries and off the coasts of 80 states two
territories and the District of Columbia. In July
last certain Irregularities were found to exist in
the management of this bureau, which led to a
prompt investigation OF its methods. The abuses
which were brought to light by this examination,
and the reckless disregard of duty and the inter-
eSts of the government developed on the part Of
some OF those connected with the service, made a
change in superintendency and a few of its other
offices necessary. Since the bureau has been in
new hands an introduction of economies and the
application of business methods have produced an
of more useful results. This service has never
been regulated by anythinglbut the most indefinite
legal enactments and the most unsatisfactory
rules. 1t was many years ago sanctioned appar.
entity for purpose regarded as temporary. and
related to survey of our coast. Having gained a
place in the appropriations made by Congress
1t has gradually taken to itself powers and objects
not contemplated in its creation, and extended its
operations until 1t sadly needs legislative atten
ton So far as furthefssurvey of our coast is con
cerned, there seems to be a propriety in strans-
ferrng that work to the navy department. The
other duties now in charge of this establishment,
if they cannot be prOftably attached to some ex-
listing department or other bureau should be pro
secuted under a law exactly defining their scope
and purpose, and with careful discrimination
between the scientific inquiries which may prop
erly be assumed by the government and those
which should be undertaken by state authority OF
port of the congressional committee heretofore
appointed to investigate this and other like mat
tiers will aid i'll the accomplishment of proper leg
iSlation 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 i'm
provement of the service The army consisted al
the date of the last consolidated returns of 1854
officers and 4705 enlisted men. The expenses
of the department. for the fiscal year ended june
80, 1885, including $13, 164, 394.60 for public
works and river and harbor improvements, were
| $45, $50, 999.53. Beside the troops which were
dispatched in pursuit of the small band Of Indians
who left their reservation in Arizona and commit
ted murders and outrages, two regiments of caval
ry 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 expulsion of intruders upon the
reservation, who seemed to have caused the dis
content among the Indians, but the executive
proclamation warning them to remove was com
Piled with without their interference. Troops
were also sent to Rock Springs, in Wyoming terri
tory, after the massacre of the Chinese there to
Seattle, in Washington territory to avert threat
ened attack upon Chinese laborers and domestic
violence there. 1nbOth,caSes the mere presence Of
the troops had the desired effect. 1t appears thai
the number of assertions have diminished, but
that during the last fiscal year they numbered
2927 and one instance is given by the lieutenant
| general of six assertions by the same recruit.
am convinced that this number of assertions car
be diminished by better discipline and treatment
but the punishment should be increased for re-
| peated offences. These assertions might also be
reduced by lessenng the term of first enlistments
late anearer discharge and the army profitable
radiance. After one term of re-enlistment il
it would be quite apt to secure contented recruit
| and good soldier.
The acting jndge advocate general reports that
the number Of trials by general courts-martial
during the year was $685. and that 1851 trials
took place before garrison and regimental courts
| martial. The suggestion that probably more than
half the army have been tried for offences, great
and small in one year may well arrest attention
| OF course many of these trials before garrison
| and regimental cOurts-martial were for offences
| almost frivolous and there should, think, be q
| way devised to dispose OF these i'll a more sum
mary and less inconyenient 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 pre-
vail in these Tribunals, L am satisfied that they
should be much reformed If the honor and homes
ty of the army and navy are by their inStrumen-
tality to be indicated and protected.
OUR SEA COAST DEFENCEs.
The board on Notifications or other defences
appointed in pursuance of the provisions of the
act of Congress approved March 3, 1885, will, in
short time, present their report, and it is hoped
that this may greatlyaid the legislation so neces-
sary to remedy the present defenceless condition
OF our sea coast.
THE WORK OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE
has been prosecuted during the last year with re-
suits of Increasing benefit to the country. The
of adding to its usefulness. The number of STA
lions in operation June 80, 1885, was 49, Tel
egraphic reports are also received from % Cana
dian stations, 375 volunteer observers, 81 army
surgeons at military posts and 1913 foreign sta
tOns. The expense of the service during the ifs
cal wear, after deducting receipts from military
telegraph lines was 1872, 992.97. In view of the
fact referred to by the secretary of war, that the
work of this service ordinarily is of a scientific
nature, and the further fact that it is assuming
larger prop ortions constantly and becoming more
and more unSuited to the fixed rules which must
govern the army am inclined to agree with him
in the opinion that it should be separately estab-
lished. If this is done, the scope and extent of
its operations should as nearly, as possible, be
definitely prescribed by law, and always capable
of exact ascertainment.
ACADEMY AT WEST POINT.
The military academy at West Point is reported
as being in high state of efficiency and well
equipped for the satisfactory accomplishment of
thespurpose of its maintenance The fact that the
class which graduates next year is an unusually
large one has constrained me to make appoint
ments to second leutenancies in the army from
civil life so that such vacancies exist in these
places may be reserved for such graduates, and
yet it is not probable that there will be enough
vacancies to provide positions for them all when
they leave the military school. Under the pre-
vailing law and usage, those not assigned to duty
never actively enter the military service: 1t is
suggested that the law on this subject be changed
so that such of these yonug men as are not as
signed to duty after graduation may be retained
as second lieltenants in the army, If they desire