Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21

PENSION DIVISION.
Secretary Proctor in his annual report to the
President OF the business of the War Depart.
ment, from which be is about to depart to fill a
seat in tie Senate, takes occasion to note the
new legislative and administrative measures
affecting the department That have been in
auSurated during the present administration
In the following language:
In the line of coast defense sites for fortif-
cations have been procured and engineering
work has been begun on batteries for mortars
and emplacements for guns at New York, Bos-
ton. San Francisco. Hampton Roads anu WASH
ington. The north wing and center sec ton of
the gun factory at watervliet has been COM
pleted and is nearly equipped. A south wing,
doubling the capacity, Is now being con-
structed Provision has already been made for
the manufacture by the government OF ninety
eight breech-loading steel rifed guns of high
power and one hundred more have been con-
tracted for with pJSate manufacturers.
supply of submarine mines and seventy-three
twelye-inch mortars also under corstruc-
ton.
IMPROVEMENT OF rHE ENLISTED FORCE.
For the Improvement of the enlisted force
new methods of recruiting have been adopted.
It is carried on more in small towns and
rural communities, and the recruits are
held on probation and their antecedents
carefully inquired into. The ration has been
increased by the addition of one pound of veg
etables daily. Soldiers are now entitled to a
discharge al the end of three years of faithful
service and are permitted tc purchase their dis
charge at any time after one year. Summary
courts have been established for the speedy
trial of petty offenses. If the men desire it
competent officers are assigned to defend them
before courts-martial. Puuishments under
the articles of war in time of peace have been
defined and limited. Sunday Inspections and
tattoo roll call have been abolished, schools and
gymnasia established These together with the
specific measures undertaken for that purpose,
have reduced the percentage III assertions to a
lower point than ever before in the history of
the army, and in the last year have reduced
the number Of inmates in our military prisons
over 20 per cent.
A system of examination Of officers FOR pro-
motion has been established, and their promo
ton, with the exception of one grade, has been
put upon a ineal basis throughout the army
The retired list has been relieved by appro-
PIRATE legislation. An efficiency record of
officers has been kept, enabling their selection
for special duty to be made on that basis.
CONCENTRATING TUE TROOPS.
In pursuance of policy IF concentrating the
troops in larger posts, about ons-fourth of the
number of posts occupied in 1889 have been
abandoned. and the reservations turned over
of contract surgeons, in addition to the Iegu-
lar medical corps has been nearly dispensed
with The licenses of most pos. traders have
been revoked. The enlistment Of Indians has
been successfully undertaken The detail of
officers to colleges has been increased and new
rules adopted. The Rebellion Records have
been published much more rapidly under in
creased appropriations and a reorganization
of the work. The military and hospital records
OF the late war have been brought together in
the record and pension division, the settlement
OF pension claims has been expedited and the
preservation of these valuable records for
effective use is we'll toward completion. When
finished GOO clerks can be discharged or trans
ferred to other departments.
THE RECRUITING sRRvIcR.
As to the recruiting service he remarks: An
effort has been made TO improve the character
of the recruits Of the army by excluding. as far
as practicable, men of questionable habits or
reputation. Applicants for enlistment are not
accepted unless they produce satisfactory evil
dence OF good character. In case of doubt
they are held on probation a reasonable time,
and, il the result of the probation is not salts
factory, are discharged before any expense for
uniform, pay or transportation is incurred.
Heretofore recruiting has been carried On in
from thirty to forty of the largest cities of the
country, and the rendezvous have sometimes
been established in sections Of these cities fire.
qaented by the least desirable classes from
which to obtain recruits Besides giving
special care to the proper location of such rem
devious as are still maintained III the larger
cities. the experiment has been tried with ex-
ceiient results of extending recruiting to the
smaller towns. The number Of recruiting sta
tons has thus been increased more than five
fold, and besides many villages and rural dis
trlcts are visited by non-commissioned officers
from neighboring rendezvous Wherever regi-
ments are favOrably located for sending recruit
ing parties into the towns and villages within
a reasonable distance from their posts, they
are required to depend largely for recruits
upon their own exertions. As a result the num-
Der OF desirable recruits obtained from the
rural districts during the past year has been
much larger than heretofore, and that has
doubtless contributed considerably toward the
great reduction Of deserrion.
ENLISTMENT OF INDIANS
The matter Of the enlistment of Indians calls
forth these remarks:
1t was not deemed advisable to urge Indians
into the service hastily and special efforts have
beer MADE to inform them Of the responsible
ties they would incur and the duties that would
be required of them as soldiers. The results
have been very satisfactory. Seven companies,
three of cavalry and four of infantry, have
been recruited to their full implement. and
seven others partially, and the reports indicate
thar the organization OF these will be completed
ut an early day. In good conduct, drill and
military bearing, attention to duty, observance
OF courtesies and care of horses, arms and
equipment clothing. barracks. mess rooms and
kitchens, they are at least equal to soldiers of
other races OF no greater experience.
Nothing unfavorable has been brought to the
attention of the departments regarding the
utility as military organizations OF the Indian
companies of either arm. but so far there is
every reason to believe that much more than
was expectedof the experiment viii be realized.
They are treated in all respects like other