The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-26
STATE OF TIE ARMY.
Secretary Proctor's Report and
Recommendations.
RUSSIA HASTENS HER ARMAMENT
Frontier Camps are Ordered to be Enlarged
PostOfice Report-With Stanley in
Africa - Peters is safe.

expenditures and appropriations Tor the
past fiscal year, SAG, 654, III; appropriation
for the current fiscal year, S33, 9s9, go. The
difference is due mainly to the reduction o.
appropriations for public works, including
rivers and harbors The estimates for the
next fiscal year are S4, l56, 953, of which
over eleven millions are for public works
The secretary concurs in the reconmen
dalton of the major general commanding
for the REORGANIZATION of the artillery,
making seven regiments instead Of i've and
dropping additional first Eeutenants also
three battalion formation for infantry.
Referringto the retired list, the secretary
calls attention to the fact that now forty
eight offic, rs are iucapacitited VINO cannot
be placed upon the limited retired list
which is full. The secretary recommends
that the list be extended to 400 or have a
special act authorizing the retirement OF
fifty officers.
On the subject of desertions the secretary
summarizes the department reports given
heretofore in these dispatches. He calls
attention to the fact that desertion from
the colOred regiments for the past year was
only 2 per cent. as against from twelve to
twenty seven per cent. in the white regi-
ments. Investigation does not disclose
that III treatment prevails to any apprecia-
BILE extent. The employment of enlisted
men in ordinary labor cannot be wholly re-
moved, but recruits should be made fully
acquainted with its existence; unnecessary
restraint should be removed and
the soldiers life in the post made
as pleasant and comfortable as possible
Great care should be exercised in recruit
ing, and it is a question whether locating
recruiting officers in or near large cities
secures the best material The subject of
ii aTeNW
perimented VITA n New York. The pith
of the whole question is to make the ser
vice worth seeking and then enough good
men will seek and stay in il. There is
now little incentive for young and intelli-
gent men 10 make profession of soldier
ing. The hope of achieving a commission
is but slight and the distance between the
highest grade of non-commissioned officers
and the commissioned officer is far too
great, in the secretary's judgement. He
submits a number of recommendations
among which are the followieg: Make the
pay of non-commissioned officers of in.
fantry, cavalry aand artillery the same as
the engineers, and more bright and ambi-
tious men might be thus induced to enter
the service; give the soldier an OPP
pOrtunIty 10 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 established; authorize re-enlist-
ments for one or more Years at pests
where the soldier is discharged; make the
code Of punishment suited to times of
peace and less arbitrary, but more certain.
The secretary also calls attention to the
recommendation of mary officers that the
term of enlistment be made three years
and give the men the privilege of purchas-
ing their discharge, etc. Favorable men
tion is made Of the results of the summer
camps for troops and service schools, and
the suggestion is made that battalion of
apprentices might be of assistance to the
army nc well as to the navy. The discipline
and Ell ;iency Of the nat;ona guard are
highly commended and Congress is urged
~ lucrease 80 appropriation therefor.
The secretary treats the subject of eX-
aminations for promotion in the army at
length and says the system of non compel
tive examination with wellC defined lin
itations is founded is God SCI and sup
ported by our own experience as wei! as
that Of those countries where the efficiency
of the standing armysis held in the highest
estimation. To give many promising voul z
men who have Joined 10 national u Ird
chance to gain a commission in the army
would be proper recognition and encour-
agement of that organization. Strenuous
plans should be made for coast defenses,n
the secretary says. THE apparent sense
OF security among our people is born of
thoughtlessuess. Although our position
aud traditions of national diplomacy
tend to the maintenance of peace,
a defenselesS condition will ever invite at
tack" ne submits as basis TO start from
that no time should be lost in placing Wash
ingtou, New York and At least one port on
the Pacific in the best possible state of de-
Tense. How rapidly the work shall be
carried on until it embraces every impor-
tant vulnerable point is the only question.
In the sccretary's view progress cannot be
too rapid. Special attention is ire led to
the reports Of Generals SrhofCld and VI les
that our general prosperity points 10 the
present as al tluspIclOuS time for pressing
the work, and Congress IS urged to make
liberal appropriations at once to build de-
lenses. The cost of maintaining a thorough
system Of defensive works is comparatively
small and Will require only S,7O0 men for
garrison aud defense works in time OF
peace. This will be sufficient to care for
the armament aud serve as nucleus for
the instruction of the militia and the sea
coast states, which must be relied upon TO
supply the men peeded 10 war and which is
estimated at 5, 700, and it is very important
that opportunity for this instruction should
be provided at once. This offers TO the
national guard of the seaboard states u new
and attractive field for drill and study al
ing themselves to man the defensive woi Ks
Of their own.ports. In regard to rivers and
harborS the york performed is m Mi n d
and the sugge ,tion Of the chief engin er Tor
further legislation 10 prevent obstruction
to navigation presented. Referring 10 tie
military law the secretary says: During
the year there were ll,5ol cases tried be
fore inferior courts martial in the army
whose effective strength is 2f,1l0 men.
This proves that there is a vital defect
somewhere and a revision Of the articles of
war is recommended. Also that provision
be made for the punishment of minor Of
lenses under well defined restrictions with
out the Intervention of courts martial.
Attention is called to the report of the sur
geon general on the unsatisfactory condi-
ton of the hospital corps, due chiefly to the
inadequacy Of the pay, good men refusing
to enlist Twentyfour surgeons, IA per
cent Of the whole force, are nOn-effective
on account of sickness or permanent dis
ability.
General Greely's recommendation that
greater attention be given TO instruction
in military signalling is approved, and the
suggestion is made that the same sho aid,
If possible. be given to the militia To some
extent. Many other department reports
are reviewed and suggestions made. The
secretary urges the creation of the Office of
vice assistant secretary of war.
Economy and strength are peculiar of
Hoods Sarsaparilla the only medicine to
which 100 doses one dollar" is true. &c
A Sure Cure for Piles.
Itching Piles are known by moisture Hike
perspiration, causing intense itching when
warn This form, as well as blind, bleed
ing and protruding, yield at once to Dr..
Bosanco's Pile Remedy. which acts di-
LIZ IL