The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-12-13

violence have called the army into service
during rhe year, and the oesy active milf
tary duty required of it has been in the de
partmens Of Texas, where violations of the
neutrality laws of the United States and
Mexico were promptly and efficiently dealt
progal Of the civil and military authorities
OF both countries
It Is gratifying to note that we have be-
gun TO attain completed results in the COM
prehensiye scheme of sea coast defense and
tcrtiheation, entered upon eight years ago.
A large sum has been already expended
but the cost of maintenance viii be incon-
siderable rs compared with the expense of
construction and ordnance
The manufacture of heavy ordnance
Keeps pace with the current needs, but TO
render these guns available for the pur-
poses they are designed to meet, emplace-
gress has been made In this direction. and
II Is desirable that congress-, by adeuuate
appropriations, should provide for the un-
interrupted prosecution OF this necessary
work.
After much preliminary work and exam
1nation IN accordance with the reuuire-
ments of the law, the board appointed to
select a magazine rifle of modern type with
which to replace the obsolete Springfield
rifle OF the infantry service completed sts
labors during the last year, and the work
OF manufacture is now in progress NJ the
national armory At Springfield. II is con-
current year our infantry viii be supplied
with weapon equal 70 that of the most
progressive ar1niss Of the world.
The work on the PROJECTED Cniekamauga
ana Chattanooga National Military park
has been prosecuted with zeal and Jutlgz
ments and its opening viii be celebrated
during the coming year.
The reports of the Military academy at
West Point and the special schools for
special instruction of officers show marked
advance in the education of the army and
com21endable ambition among its officers
TO excel In the military profession and to
ut themselves for the highest service 70 the
country
The Report OF the Attorney General
contains the usual summary of the affairs
and proceedings of the department of JUS
tice for the past year, together with GER
tain Recommendation as 10 needed lerisla-
tion ON various subjects. can not too
heartily 1ndorse the proposition that the
fee system as applicable to the compensa-
non OF United States attorneys, inarshals,
clerk of federal courts and United States
commissioners, should be abolished with
as little delay as possible.
The report of the postmaster general
contains detailed statement of the opera
nons of the postofiice department during
the last fiscal year and much interestinS.
information touching this important
branch of the public service.
The business of the mails indicate with
absolute certainty the condition of the bus
mess of the country, and depression in
financial affairs inevitably and quickly re-
duces the postal revenue. Therefore n
larger discrepancy than usual between the
postottice receipts and expenditures is the
expected and unavoidable result of the dis
tressing stEingency which has prevailed
throughout the country during much of
the time covered by the postmaster gener-
ais report. There was a deficiency last
year of nearly IS, ,000, 600
The total number of postoffices In the
United States on the S0th day of June, 1898.
was g. .4os. an increase of ,2S4 over the pre-
ceding year. OF these $3.50 were presi-
Dental, an increase in that class of 20i over
the preceding year.
Tho report of the secretary of the navy
contains history of the operations of his
department during the past year, and ex-
hibits a most gratifying condition of the
personnel OF our navy. He presents salts
factory account of the progress which has
oeen made IN the construction of vessels,
and makes number of recommendations
to which attention is especially invited.
Frogress In the construction of new YES
sells has not been as rapid as was antici-
pletion OF unRrmored vessels, but for the
most part they have been such as are con-
stantly occurring even in countries having
the largest experience in naval ship build
ing The most serious delays, hOFVever
have been in the work upon arniored ships
The trouble has been the failure of CON
tractors to deliver armor as agreed The
altnculties seem now, however, to have
livered with satisfactory promptness
As a result of the experiences acquired by
ship builders and designers and material
men 1t is believed that the dates when yes
mated with reasonable accuracy. Great
guns, rapid fire guns. torpedoes and DOW
der ara being promptly supplied.
Since 1885 congress has, at each session,
authorized the building of one or more
vessels. and the secretary of the navy pre-
sents an earnest plea for the continuance of
this plan. He recommends the AUTHORIZE
tlon OF at least one battle ship and six tor
pedo boats.
While am distinctly in favor of con-
sistently pursuing the policy we have in
a9gurated OF building up a thorough and
efficient navy, cannot refrain from the
suggestion that the Congress should care
fully take into account the number of un-
finished vessels on our hands and the de-
pleted condition of our treasury in consid-
ering the propriety of an appropriation at
this time to begin new work
The method of employing mechanical
laber at nayyyards through boards OF labor
and making efficiency the sole test by
which laborers are employed and continued
Is Is psoducing the best results and the secre-
tary Is earnestly devoting himself to its de-
Yelopment. Attention is invited to the
statements of his report In regard to the
workings of the system.
Pensions.
The secretary of the interior has the
supervision of so many important subjects
that his report Is of especial value and in
terest On the 30th day of June, 1888,
there were on the pension rolls 966, OLE
names, an increase of 50 94 over the num-
Der on the rolls June so, 1892 or these
there were IL widows and daughters of
revolutionary soldiers, the survivors of the
war of 1872. s, ,425 widows of soldiers of that
war, q, 1,516 survivors and widows of the
Mexican war. 1882 survivors and widows
OF Indian wars, 2S4 army nurses and 49,
645 survivors and widows and children of
deceased soldiers and sailors of the war OF
the rebellion. The latter number repre-
sents those pensioned on account of disa-
bilities OF death resulting from army and
navy service. The number of persons re-
naming on the rolls June 30, 1893 who
were pensioned under the act of june 81
1s9O which allows pensions ON account of
death and disability not chargeable to army
service, was 459, ,155
The number added TO the rolls during
the year was 123, ,6S4, and the number
dropped was g, $50. The first payments ON
pensions allowed during the year amount
ed to $83, ,756, 1895. This includes arreara
or the accumulation between the time from
which the allowance of pensions dates and
oates
Although the law Of 1880 permits PEN
.aons for disability not related to military
service, yet as requisite TO its benefits q
disability must exist incapacitating appli-
eants from the performance of manual
labor TO such degree as TO render them
unable to earn support
The execution OF this law in its early
stages does not seem TO have been in ac-
cord with its true intention, but toward
the close of the last administration an
authoritative construction was given to the