The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-27
TIE ARMY AND NAVY.
SECRETARY ENDIcoTT's REPORT.

SECRETARY ENDICoTT'S REPORT.
The report Of the secretary Of war is herewith
submitted: The attention OF congress Is invited
to the detailed account which 1t contains of the
administration OF his department., and his rec
concentrations and suggestions for the improve
mert of the service. The army consisted, at the
date of the last consolidated returns, or 2,l54
officers and 81, 705 enlisted men. The expenses
of the departments for the fiscal year ended
June 30, lS~J, including Sl3, Tor
public works and river and harbor improve
ments, were So, $50. 999.JI. Beside the troops
which were dispatched in pursuit or the small
bands of Indians which left their reservation III
Arizona and committed murder and outrages,
two regiments az cavalry and one OF infantry
were sent last July TO the Indian Territory TO
prevent an outbreak, which seemed imminent.
They remained to aid, II necessary, in the eXpul-
sion OF intruders upon the reservation who, 1t
seemed. caused the discOn'ent among the In
dians, but the executive proclamation warning
them to remove was complied with without in
reference. Troops wore also sent to Rock
Springs. in Wyoming territory, after the mas
Sicre Of Chinese there, to prevent furthcI us
turbances, and afterward To Seattle. Ill Wash
inEton Territory, to avert a threatened attack
npon Chinese laborcrs, and domestic violence
there. In both eases the mere presence OF the
troops had the desired effect. II appears that
the number Of assertions had diminished. but
that during the last fiscal year they numbered
2,921 and one instance is given by the lleuten-
ant general %. six desertiOns by the same re-
cruIt. j am convinced that this number or de-
sertIons can be much diminished by better dis-
tlIl.lus anu lltdL AcIat blL Allc luAliNiAlitiAs
should he increased for repeated ofienses.
These desertipns might also he reduced by less
cning the term OF first cnlistments, thus allow
ing a Discontinued recruit 10 n nearer
discharge and the army a profitable riddance.
After one term of service "A rc-cnlistmcnt would
bc quite apt TO secure a contcnted recruit ana q
good soldier. The acting judge advocate gem
cral reports that the number OF trials by general
court martial during the year was LIZ, aud
that ll.SJl trials took place befere garrison and
regimental courts martial. The suggestion that
probably more than half the army have been
tried Tor Ofcuses, great and small, may well ar
rest attention. The cause OF many OF these trlals
before garrison and regimental courts martial
were for ofienscs almost frivolous, and there
should. ] think, be Il way devised TO dispose OF
these in q more summary and less announcement
manner than by cOur. martial. III some OF the
proceedings of courts martial which / have had
occasion 10 examine presen; the ideas OF justice
that generally prevail in these tribunals, am
satisfied that they should be much reformed
II the honor and the honesty OF the army and
navy are by their fundamentally to be vindi-
Gated and protected. The board on
FoRTIFICATION y OTHER DEFESSES
aplointed in pursuance of the provisions OF the
act W congress approved March 81, 1855. Will,
in a shot time. present their report, and IL Is
hoped tEa: this NAV greatly aid the legislation
80 necessary To remedy the present defenseless
condition Ot our sea coasts. The work of the
signal service has been prosecuted during the
past year with results of increasing benefit to
the country. The field of operations has been
enlarged with a view of adding TO It's usefulness.
The number Of stations in operation June 80.
1SID, WAS ~ I'4tS ASIaAAN NI'AN ~
daily from 100 stations. Reports are also
received from - Canadian stations, 31j v3lun-
tccr observatOrics- % army surgeons at military
posts, and three foreign stations. The expense
Of service during the fiscal year, after deductlng
receipts from military telegraph lines, was S791,-
1927. In view OF the fact referred to by the
secretary of war that work OF this service, ordi-
narily OF a scientific nature, and further TACT
that II Is assuming larger proportions constantly
and becoming more and more unsuited TO the
fixed rules which must govern the army, j am
inclined To agree with him in the
opinion that IL should be separately established
Ii this is done the scope and extent OF It's
operations should az nearly as possible DO done
as prescribed bv the law, and always capable or
exact ascertainmcnt, the military academy at
West Point Is reported as being III a high state
of efficiency, and we'll equipped for the salts
factory accomplishment VI the purposes OF Its
maintenance. The fact that the class which
graduates next year Is an unusually large one,
has constrained me To decline to make appoint
iHcnta to second licutenancics in the army from
civil life, so that such vacancies AZ exist IN these
places NAV BE- reserved for such gTaduates, anu
yet IL In no. possible that there VIII dc enough
vacancies To provide positions for them all when
they leave the military school. Under the pre-
raiiing law and usage those not thus assigned TO
duty never actively enter the military service.
II is suggested that the law on this subject be
changed, that such Of these young men as are
not at once assigned To duty after graduating
,nay be retained as second lieutenants in tho
army, IL they so desire 1t, subject to assignment
when opportunity occurs, under proper rules as
To priority of selection. The expenditures on
account of the military academy for last hscal
wear, exclusive of the sum taken for that pur-
nose from appropriations for the support of the
army. were $3.50, 7l2.O7. The act approved
March 3. 1885, designed to compensate officers
and enlisted men for
LOSS OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
while I'm the service Of the United States Is 80
Indefinite in It's terms and apparently admits 80
many claims. the adjustment of which could not
have been contemplated, that II II Is to remain
on the statute book IL needs amendment. There
should be a general law OF congress prohibiting
the construction Of bridges over naviga6le wa