Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-12-08

upon his duties ouly three modern steel vessels
were ia commission. Tho vessels since put 10
commission and TO be put in commission during
the winter will make a total Of nineteen during
his adm inistration OF the department During
the current year ten war vessels and three
navy tugs have been launched. Two other large
ships and torpedo boat are under
contract and the work upon them we'll
advanced and the four monitors are awaiting
only the arrival Of their armor VIII IN has been
Unexpectedly delayed, or they would have boon
before this In commission.
Contracts have boon let during this admins
tration, under the appropriations for the In
crease OF tho navy, including new vessels and
their appurtenances TO the amount VI $1,000
OO1, and there has been expended during tho
same period for labor at navy yards upon STINT
lar work IS OO0,OJO, without the smallest SCAN
dal or charge Of fraud or Partially. The en-.
thusiasm and interest OF our naval ofnccrs both
OF the stan and line have been greatly kndled.
They have responded magnincenuy to the con.
ndencc Of congress and have demonstrated TO
the world an unexcolled capacity to construct
In ordnance and In everything involved In tho
building equipping and sailing Of great war
shipa At the beginning OF Secretary Tracy's
administration several dfioult problems ro-
manned 20 be Trappled with and solved
before the efficiency N action OF our steam
ships could be secured II Is believed that
as the result Of new processes In the construo-
tion OF armor plate our later ships will be
clothed with defensive plates OF higher resist.
auco Than are found on any war vessel anoaL
We were without torpedoes, Tests have been
made 10 ascertain the relative etncency OF dif.
ferent constructions, n torpedo has been adopt
cd and the work OF construction II now being
carried on successfully. We arc without armor
piercing shells We are now making what IA
believed to be projoctllo superior to
any before In use. smokoless pow.
der has been adopted aud q slow burning
powder for guns Of large caibor. High explo-
Hlvcs, capable OF use In shells fired from heavy
guns have boon found and the manufacture OF
gun cotton has boon developed and the question
Of supply il no longer In doubt
Tho development Of naval militia which has
been organized In eight states and brought into
cordial and cooperative relations with tho
navy, " another important achievement
There are now enlisted In these organlza.
lions 1870 mon and they are likely to 10
greatly extended. recommend such logsla-
ton and appropriations Nv will encourage and
develop this movement
THE INTERIOR
Tho work Of the interior department always
very burdensome, has been larger than ever be-
fore, during tho administration Of Secretary
Noble The disability pension law. taking the
eleventh census, the opening OF vast areas Oi
Indian lands TO settlement the organization OF
Oklahoma and the negotiations for the oossOn Of
Indian lands furnish some OF the particulars Of
the Increased work and tho results achiov ed
testify to tho ability, ndclltuAnd industry OF
the hcnd OF the department and his efficient as
sistants.
Several important agreements for the cesslou
OF Indian lands negotiated by the Indian mission
appointed under tho act Of March 2, 1850, are
awaiting the act Of congress Perhaps tho
most important Of these Il that for tho oession
OF the Cherokee strip This has boon d
source Of great vocation To the exec
utive representative and great friction
. hot n n Ia
occupy II and the Indians who assert title, Tho
agreement which has boon made by the com.
mission Il perhaps tho most satisfactory that
could have been reached. IL will bo noticed
that II n conditioned upon its ratification by
congress- before March T. 1913 Tho secretary
Of the interior, who has given the subject caro-.
ful thought recommends the ratification Of tho
agreement and was inclined TO follow this REQ.
ommcndatiOn. Certain II Is that some action
by which this controversy shall DO brought 10
an end aud tho lands opened TO settlement IA
urgent.
The rest of the presidents message
was devoted TO departmental affairs,
much of which has already boon pub
lishcd lie concludes by hoping the
deliberations OF congress will result u
the material advantage OF the country,
|
tho secretary Of war has just been issued. The
report reviews the work dono by tho war de
partmont during tho past year, and roeommendi
many improvements In the education and equip
ment Of the men enlisted In tho army. On thii
point Secretary Elkins says;
EVERY possible cffort has been made To 10
cure the enlistment OF desirable mon. The 70
cruitlng service has been administered viii
exceptional vigor and success during the pas
two years and tho standard OF qualification
/, has been raised until tho test ~ recruiting
rendezvous In so critical that only 81 per cent
Of the applicants for enlistment woro accepted
, during tho fiscal year ending June -, 1891
, seems that almost every thing has been nc
Z compllshod that IL possible under exiatinl
1 laws. Notwithstanding oil this, however,
, complaint Is general IA 10 scarcity OF materin
. for non commissioned oiIioors."
= The secretary recommends small inoreas
!, IN compensation. Ito says that III good me
\ arc wanted for the army, they must bo pal
something near what wage oarnera receive I
tho ordinary pursuits OF civil lifo," He sui
4 geats especially that tho pay Of both non'eou
/. miasioued aud commissioned officers be IN
a creased. Ia order 10 ofer u better inducemeu
h for efficiency. The revival OF the grade q
. lioutenantgonoral II also favored
Q Tho report stAtos that ~ por cont. Of tho arm
o II now located west OF the Mississippi river
4 The total number Of garrlsonod posts, not II
J. Guiding arsonals and nrmories, IL ninety-sii
a OF these thlrty-thrco Aro located cast OF III
= river, and tho remainder sixty'thrce arc In N
Il west II IL suggested that the small posts B
o gradually abandoned and that rogimental posi-
,. be established In each Of tho larger state
/. which are now without them This would one
% Mr.. Elkins argues, better facilities for IN
10 transportation OF men and supplies and n
;. army could be conducted more economical
II than ever before II IL thought that tho citle
% near which posts may be located, should DO n
O. quired by congress 10 donate 70 the govornmeI
4 ma lsNa-a a.
10 OF building ana maintaining such posts In the
y immediate vicinity.
L Concerning tho military academy al We
4. Point Secretary Elkns says In tho report
}. "Its capacity Is not overtAEed Vacancies
Is tho list Of cadets constantly exist, which II
= important should no kept full II Il recon
Is mended that the president be given authoril
$ 10 appoint ten cadets At large each year, as wi
" authorized by law prior 10 Juno T. 1888. II
1. probable that with this Increase there wi
II still be vacancies and that the number Of gra
II ua tes will not exceed seventy nvo per annuI
d Such an enactment would result In desi
b. able increase in tho corps OF cadets, nj
ia would operate almost exclusively In b
IN half OF oficers Of this army and navy, ~
" eiyii ofncialA, who, by long absence In u
c public service md II dinloult TO secure recogr
" ton for their sons In their homo districts III
u attention Of representatives Ia called 10 u
90 provision Of law requiring nominations TO
10 made year In advance. Vacancies frequent
10 exist by reason Of neglect 10 nominate prom
" ~. The principal examination now takes pla
" March I, instead of In june as heretofore,
Of Is due 10 the government, as well as the YOU
nd men selected that they should have q Il
months OF preparation before tho March c
At animation.
or Tho study OF military science Is not Who'll
er confined 10 the army. II Is extended 70 I
ir. colleges and universities throughout the cou
20 try Pursuant 10 law, seyonty.nye oficors
On tho army are detailed as military instruoto