The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09

litigation should be relieved. There is
now pending about $500 of these suits,
more than 100 have been commenced
within the past eighteen months, and
many of the Others have been at issue for
more than 20 years. These delays subject
the government to loss of eqidence and
prevent the preparation necessary to de-
feat unjust and fictitious claims which
constantly accruing interests threatens
to double the demands involved.
In the present condition
of the dockets of the courts, well filled
with private suits, and of the force al
lowed the district attorney no greater
than is necessary for the ordinary and
current business of his Office, these reve-
nue. litigatlons cannot be considered in
default of the adoption by congress of
plan for the general reorganization of the
federal courts, as has been heretofore
recommended. l urge the propriety of
passing law permitting the appoint
ment of an additional federal Judge in
the district where these government suits
have accumulated, SO that at
the continuance of the SEES
sions of courts devoted to the trial
of these cases they may be determined.
1t is entirely plain that great saving to
the government would be accomplished
by such remedy, and the suitors who
have honest claims would not be denied
justice through delay.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of war
gives a detailed account of the admins
tration of his department, and contains
sundry recommendations for the i'm
provement of the service, viii Oh l fully
approve. The army consisted at the date
of the last consolidated return of 2,103
officers, and 24,946 enlisted men.
The expenses of the department for the
last fiscal year were $36,99O, 9O33S, in
Guiding 1924 ,305.43 for public work and
river and harbor improvements. l es-
pecially direct the attention of the con-
gress to the recommendation that officers
will be required to submit to an examina-
ton as a preliminary to their promotion.
l see no objection, but many advantages,
in adopting this feature, which has opera
ted so benefcially in our navy department
as we'll as in some branches of the army.
COAST DEFENoEs.
The subiect of coast defences and forth
fications has been fully and care
fully treated by the board of
Notifications, whose report was sub
mitted at the last session of con-
gress, but no construction work of the
kind recommended by that board has
been possible during the last year from
the lack of appropriation for such pur
pose. The defenceless condition of our
sea coast and lake frontier is perfectly
palpable. The examination made must
convince us all that certain of our cities,
named in the report of the board should
be fortified, and that work on the more
important of these Notifications should be
commenced at once. The work has been
thoroughly considered and laid out, the
secretary of war reports, but all is de-
layed in default of congressional action.
The absolute necessity, judged by all the
standards of prudence and forethought,
of our preparation for an effectual resist
ance against the armored ships and steel
guns and mortars of modern construction,
which may threaten the cities on our
coasts, is so apparent that hope effective
steps will be taken in that direction i'm
mediately. The valuable and suggestive
treatment of this question by the
secretary of war is earnestly COM
mended to the consideration of
congress.
THE APACHEs.
In September and October last the hos
tile Apaches, who, under the leadership of
had for eighteen months been
on the war-path, and during that time
many murders, and been the
cause of constant terror to the settlers of
surrendered to Gen. Miles, the
military commander who succeeded Gen.
Crook in the management and direction
of this department. Under the terms of
their surrender, as then reported, and in
view of the understanding which these
savages seemed to entertain of
the assurances given them, it was consid-
cred best to imprison them in such manner
as to prevent their ever engaging in such
outrages again. Instead of trying them
for murder, Fort Pickens having been Sc
lected as safe place of confinement, all
the adults were sent thither and will be
closely guarded as prisoners. In the
meantime the residue of the band who,
though still remaining upon the reserva-
JlOU, W6T6 T6pdIllOu do ulSul6, anu SuS-
pected of furnishing arms to those on the
warpath, had been removed to Fort Mar
ion. The women and larger children OF
the hostiles were also taken there, and ar
rangements have been made for
putting the children of the proper
age In Indian schools.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary OF the
navy contains a detailed exhibit of the
condition of his department, with such q
statement of the action needed tC
improve the same as should challenge the
earnest attention OF congress. The pres
ent navy of the United States, aside from
the ships in course of construction, con
sists of:
First-Fourteen single turretted moni
tors, none of which are in commission, OIL
at the present time serviceable. The bat
teries of these ships are obsolete, and they
can only be relied upon as auxiliary
ships in harbor defense and then after sucf
an expenditure upon them as might mo-
be deemed justifiable.
Second-Five fourth-rate vessels, Of
small tonnage, only one of which was de-
signed as war vessel and all of which
are auxiliary merely.
Third-Twenty-se cruising ships
three Of which are hnjlt of IRON of small