The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10

| deemed since the date last mentioned OF
| interest bearing securities S259, ,079, $50, re-
| sulting in a reduction of tue annual in
terest charges of 81, IS 1875. The money
which had been deposited in banks with
out interest has been gradually with
drawn and used in the redemption of
! bonds The result of this policy, of the
silver legislation, and of the refunding OF
| the AZ per cent bonds has been a large
| increase of the money in circulation. At
the date last named the circulation was
81, ,404 205, $685. or S23. 03 per capita; while on
the first day of December. 1891. it had in
creased to S1,577, ,262, ,070, or S24 80 per
| capita. The offer of the secretary of the
| treasury to the holders of the ~ per cent
| bonds to extend the time of redemption at
the option of the government, at an in
| tereSt rate Of two per cent, was accepted
by the holders of about one-half the
amount, and the unextended bonds are
| being redeemed on presentation.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the secretary of war ex
] hibts the result of an Intelligent progress
| sive and business like administration of g
department which has been too much re
| garded as one of mere routine. The seper.
alton of Secretary Proctor from the de-
partment by reason of his appointment as
a senator from the state of Vermont is a
source of great regret to me and to his
| colleagues in the cabinet, as l am sure it
will be to all those who have had business
with the department. while under his
| charge.
In the administration Of army affairs
some exceptionally good work has beer
| accomplished. The efforts of the seer g.
tary to reduce the percentage of desertion
| by removing the causes that promoted it
| have been so successful as to enable him
to report for the last year lower percent
! age of desertion than has been before
reached in the history of the army. The re-
sulting money saving is considerable, but
the improvement in the morals OF the en-
listed men is the most valuable incident of
the reforms which have brought about
this result.
The work of securing sites for shore
batteries for harbor defense and the man.
| ufacture of mortars aud guns of high
power to equip them have made a good
progress during the year. The Preliminary
work of tests and plans, which so long de-
Iayed start, Is now out of the way Some
guns have been completed and, with an
enlarged shop and a more complete equip
ment at Watervleit, the army will soon be
abreast of the navy in gun construction.
Whatever unavoidable causes of delay
may arise there should be none from de-
layed or insufficient appropriations, we
shall be greatly embarrassed in the proper
distribution and use of our naval vessels
until adequate shore defenses are provid-
ed for our harbors.
/ concur in the recommendation of the
secretary that the three battalion organ
izations 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 known in
Use will, hope, not be longer delayed.
The project OF enlisting Indians and or
ganzing them into separate companies on
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 completely organized
and seven more are in progress of organiZa-
ton. The results of six months training
have more than realized the highest antic-
ipations. The men are readily brought
under discipline, acquire the drill with
facility, and show great perfection in the
right discharge of their duties and perfect
loyalty to their officers, who declare that
they would take them into action with
confidence. The discipline order and
cleanliness of the military posts Will have
wholesome and elevating influence upon
the men enlisted and, through them. upon
their tribes, while the more friendly feel
ino for the whites and a greater respect
for the government will certainly be prom
ised.
The great work done in the record and
pension division of the war department by
Major AInsworth of the medical corps,
and the clerks under him Is entitled TO
honorable mention. Taking up the work
with nearly Il, COS cases behind, he closed
the last fiscal year without a single case
left over, though the new cases had in
creased 81 per cent in number over the
previous year by reason OF TIE pension
legislation OF the last congress.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
! concur In the recommendation Of the
attorney general that the right in felony
cases to review By the supreme court be
limited. It would seem that personal lib
erty would have safe guaranty il the
right of review ia cases involving only
fac and Imprisonment were limited to the
circuit court OF appeals uulsss constitu.
tional questions should IN some way be in
yolved
The judges OF the court OF private land
claims provided fo- by the act OF March 3,
1891, have been appointed aad the court
relief 10 communities long repressed ia
their Gevelopemeut by unsettled land
titles and 10 establish the possession aud
right OF settlers whose lands have been
rendered valueless By adverse and IN
founded claims
The act OF JuIy 9. 1883. provided Cor the
Incorporation aud manzgement Of . re-
form school for girls la the District OF /
C0lumis isIs. but It has remained iDoPera-
tive, for the reasoa that 10 appropriation
has been made Tor construction Or main i
tenauce- The need OF such al Institution
: very urgent Many girls could 5e saS- 4
cd from depraved lives by the wholesome 4
influences and restraints Of such y school 8
recommend that the Necessary sppropTi- +
alton he made for a site and for coEstvuc- +
ton
TIE CHINESE ExcLrsgoy Law /
The enforcement o. Ike treAsury cscAr: