Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-12-18
The War Department,

Il ne report OF the secretary or war eX-
hibits the results of an intelligent. pro-
gressve and business-like administration
of department which has been too much
regarded as one of mere routine.
Inc separation of Secretary Proctor from
this department, by reason of his appoint
ment as senator from the state OF Yer
mont, is a source OF great regret to me, and
to his colleagues.
In the administration of army affairs
some especially good work Il IS been ac-
complished. The efforts of the secretary
to reduce the percentage of assertions, by
removing the causes that promoted it,
have been so successful as to enable him to
report for the last year lower percentage
OF desertion than has been before reached
III the history of the army. The resulting
money saving is considerable. but the i'm
provement in the morals of the enlisted
men is the most valuable incident OF the
reforms which have brought about this
result.
The work of securing sites for shore bat
teries for harbor defenses, and the manu-
facture of guns, etc of high power to
equip them. have made good progress dur
ing the year. The preliminary work of
tests and plans which SO long delayed a
start. Is now out of the way. Some guns
have been completed. and with an enlarged
shop ana more complete equipment at
Watervliet, the army will soon be abreast
OIL the navy ia gun construction. | con-
cur IN the recommendation of the secre-
tary that the three battalion organizations
he adopted for the infantry The adop-
ton of smokeless powder and of a
modern rifle. equal in range. precision and
rapidlty of fire 10 the best known use,
will, nope, not he 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 completely or
gained and seven more are in process of
organization. The result of six months
training have more than realized the
highest authorizations The men are
readily brought under discipline, acquire
the drill with facility. and show great
pride 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 disci-
pline, 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 feeling for the whites and q
greater respect for the government will GER
tainly be prompted. The great work done
in the record and pension division of the
war department by MAJOR Airsworth, the
medical corps and the clerks under him, is
entitled to honorable mention. Taking
NJ the Work with nearly Al, 900 cases be-
mind he closed the last fiscal year without
single case left over though the new
cases had increased 80 per cent in number
over the previous year by reason OF the
pension legislation Of the last congress. /
concur in the recommendation ofNhe attor-
ney general that the right in felony cases
TO review by tho supreme court be lin
tied. 1t would seem that personal liberty
would have safe guaranty of the right OF
review in cases involving only fine ana i'm
prisoni- INT for those limited TO the court OF
appeals, unless a constitutional Question
should in any way be involved.
The judges OF the court of private land
claims provided by the act of March 8.
1891, have been appointed and the court
organized. Ii is now possible to give carly
relic. 10 communities long repressed in their
development by unsettled land titles and
to establish the possession anu right OF
settlers whose lands have been rendered
valueless by adverse and unfounded
claims. The act OF July o, 1888, provided
for the incorporation and management Of a
reform school for girls In the District & I
Columbia, but 1t has remained inoperati w
for the reason that no appropriation has
been made for construction or maip tenance
SMUGGLING (,htpeae