Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-25
WASHINGTON VIKINGS.
Secretary Proctor's Forth
coming Report
THE NEEDS OF THE ARMY TOLD
Facts About the Postal Service
The Republic of Brazil Given
the Church's Blessing.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

nual report OF the Secretary OF War
shows that the expenditures and appro-
priations for the past fiscal year were
SAG, ,654,1 the appropriations for the
current fiscal year are $33, ,9S9,790. The
difference is due mainly to the reduction
of the appropriations for public works,
including rivers and harbors. The esti-
mates for the next fiscal year are $44,-
157,973, of which over eleven million
dollars is for public works.
| The Secretary concurs in the recon-
mendation of the Major. General COM
manding for the reorganization of the
ratillery making seven regiments instead
of five, and dropping the additional first
llieutenants; also the formation OF the
infantry regiments into three battalions
each.
Referring TO the retired list, the Secre-
tary calls attention to the fact that now
forty.eight officers are incapacitated who
cannot be placed on the limited retired
list, which is full. The Secretary recon-
mends that the list be extended to $50,
or that special act be enacted authoriz-
ing the retirement of fifty officers.
On the subject of desertions the Sscre-
tary summarizes the reports given here
tofore in these dispatches. He calls at
tention to the fact that desertion from
colored regiments the past year was only
2 per cent, as against from II to 27 from
white regiments. Investigation does
not disclose that i'll treatment prevails to
Iany appreciable extent. The employ.
<.f sv, loA
cannot be wholly removed, but recruits
should be made fully acquainted with its
existence. Unnecessary restraint should
be removed, and the soldiers lite in the
post be made pleasant and comfortable.
recruiting, and it is question whether
large cities secures the best material.
The subject of regimental recruiting is
now being experimental in New York.
The pith of the whole question
lis to make the service worth
seeking, and then enough good men will
seek and stay in it. There is now
, little incentive for young and intelligent
men to make a profession of soldering.
The hope of achieving commission is
but slight, and the distance between the
, highest grade OF non commissioned ed
officers and commissioned officers is far
too great, in the Secretary's judgment.
He submits a number of recommends
tions, among which are the following
, Make the pay of fDon-commissioned officers
l. infantry, cavalry and artillery - the
same as engineers. More bright, ambi.
! tious young men might be thus induced
to enter the service. Give the soldier
, an opportunity to SO improve himself
| that when he leaves the service he may
be better fitted for civil life than when he
entered it. Post schools should be es-
tablished. Authorize re.enlistment for
, one or more years at the post where the
| soldier is discharged. Make the code Of
, punishment suited to the times of peace,
less arbitrary, but more certain.
The Secretary also calls attention to
the recommendations of many officers
that the term of enlistments be made
three years, with the privilege of pur-
chasing discharge, etc.
Favorable mention is made of the re-
suits of the summer encampment OF
troops and service schools, and the sug.
, eestion is made that battalion of sp.
prentices might be of assistance to the
army as we'll as to the navy.
q The discipline and efficiency of the
National Guard is highly commended,
and Congress is urged to increase the ap.
preparations therefor.
The Secretary treats the subject of ex-
animation for prom oting in the army at
length, and says the system of competi-
tive examinations now in vogue, with
|, well-defined limitations, ia founded on
good sense and supported by our own
| experience as we'll as that of those coun.
tries where the efficiency and standing
of the army is held in the highest esti.
nation.
To give many promising young men
who have joined the National Guard a
chance to gain commission in the
army it would be proper to give recogni.
tion and encouragement to that organi-
zation.
A strenuous plan should be made for
coast defenses. The Secretary says the
apparent sense of security among our
lpeople is born of thoughtlessness. Al
though our position and traditions of
national diplomacy tend to the mainte.
nance OF peace, our defengeless condition
will ever invite attack. He submits as
basis to start from that no time be loat
to place Washingt1n New York and at
least one po on the Pacific in the best
| pOSslDl6 eLdl6 Ol u6lbDS0. low rapidly
the work shall be carried on until it en-
braces every important vulnerable point
is the only question. In the Secretary's
view progress cannot be too rapid.
| Special attention is directed to the re-
ports of Generals Schofield and Miles on
this subject. Our general prosperity
points to the present as an suspicious
time to be pressing work, and Congress
is urged to make liberal appropriation
Once built the cost of maintaining a
thorough system of defensive works is
comparatively small. 1t will require
only SO 900. 900 to garrison the defensive
works in time of peace. This will be
, sufficient to care for the armament and
, serve as nucleus for the instruction of the
militia of the seacoast States, which must
! be relied on to supply the men needed
in war, and which are estimated at 87..
| 600. 1t is very important that
an opportunity for this instruc.
ton should be provided at once
This offers to the National Guard
of the seaboard States a new and attract.
+ i've field for drill and study, and it is be-.
} lieved they will take pride in training
themselves to man the defensive worke
, of their own ports.
In regard to rivers and harbors, the
work performed is mentioned and the
suggestion of the chief engineers for fur.
ther legislation To pravent the ohatYuctior