Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-12-17
THE WAR DEPAKTM ENT.
The Various Recommend ations of Secre-
tary Proctor Concurred In

The Various Recommendations of :Secre-
tary Proctor Concurred In.
The'repo,t of the secretary Of war exhibits the
results OF Intelligent, progressive and bust
ness-like administration OF department W hich
has been too much regarded as one OF mere
routine.
The separation OF Secretary Proctor from the
department by reason OF his appointment as a
senator from the State OF Vermont is source
OF great regret to me and to his colleagues in
the cabinet. as | am sure it will be to ali those
who have had business with the department
while under his charge.
In the administration OF army affairs some
especially good work has been accomplished.
The efforts Of the secretary to reduce the per-
centage OF assertions by removing the causes
that promoted it have been so successful as to
enable him to report for the last year q lower
percentage OF desertion than has been before
reached IN the history OF the army. The result
ing money saving is considerable, but the mi
provem1ent in the moral OF the men is the most
valuable incident OF the reforms which have
brought about this result
The work OF securing sites for shore batteries
lOr harDor deience and the manufacture OF NOR
tars and guns and the power to equip them
have made good progress during the year. The
preliminary work of tests and plan which SO
ongdeiayeda start, is now out OF the way. Some
guns have been completed, and with an enlarged
shop and more complete equipment at'Water.
yllet, the army will soon be abreast of the navy
in gun construction. Whatever unavoidable
o causes OF delay may arise, there should be none
from delayed or Insufficient appropriations.
We shall be greatly embarrassed in the proper
distribution and use OF naval vessels until ade-
quate shore defenses, are provided Tor our har-
bors.
l concur in the recommendation of the secre-
tary that the thee battalion organization be
adopted for the infantry. The adoption of a
smokeless powder and OF a modern rifle equal in
range, precision and rapidity of fire to the best
now in use will, hope, not be longer delayed
The project OF enlisting Indians and organizing
them into separate companies upon the same
basis as other soldiers was made the subject of
very careful study by the secretary and received
my approval. Seven companies have been COM
p!etely organized. and seven more are in process
OF organization. The results of six months train
ing have more than realized the highest antici-
patlons. The men are readily brought under
discipline and acquire the drill with facility and
duties and perfect loyalty to their officers. who
declare that they would take them into action
with confidence. The discipline, order and clean
Illness OF the military posts will have II whole
some and eevating influence upon the men en-
listed and through them upon their tribes,
While d more friendly feeling for the whites and
greater respect for the government will GER
tany be promoted.
The great work done in the record and pen
sion DIVISION OF the war department by Maj.
Answorth, OF the medical corps, and the clerks
Taking up the work with nearly Al 900 cases
behind. he closed the last fiscal year without a
single case left over, though the new cases had
increased % per cent in number over the pre-
Vlous year by reason OF the legislation Of the last
congress.