The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-15

ease, and at the same time having due regard
TO the rights and duties of local agencies,
would, I believe, add greatly to the safety Of
our psollo.
The secretary of war reports that the
strength of the army on Sept. 81 last was 20
IT'S enlisted men and 21i4 officers. The total
expenditures of the department for the year
ending June 30, 1893, amounted to $5l 66,07i.S9.
OF this sum 81 ,992,jSl.0 was for salaries and
contingent expenses, $23,377, 1886 for the sup
port of the military establishment, $6,077,-
033.19 for miscellaneous objects, and SO,5lS,-
631.4l for public works. This latter sum in
cludes S15, 296, S16 40 for river and harbor i'm
provements and 1926, l4l. 20 for fortiications
and other works of defense.
The total enrolment of the militia of the
several states was on the 3lst of October of the
current year 1925 97 officers and enlisted men.
The officers of the army detailed for the in
spection and instruction of this reserve of our
military force report that increased interest
and marked progress are apparent in the dis
cipline and efficiency of the organization.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic vio-
lenco have called the army into service dur
ing the year, and The only active military
duty required of it has been in the depart
ment of Texas, where violations of the neu-
trality laws of the United States and Mexico
were promptly and efficiently dealt with by
the troops, ~eliciting the warm approval of the
civil and military authorities of both coun-
tries.
1t is gratifying to note that we have begun
to attain completed results in the comprehen-
sive scheme of sea coast defense and f%orttfioa-
ton entered upon eight years ago. A large
sum has been already expended, but the cost
of maintenance will be inconsiderable as COM
pared with tse expense of construction and
ordnance.
The manufacture of heavy ordnance keeps
pace with current needs; but to render Lose
guns available for the purposes they are Je-
signed to meet, emplacements must be pre-
pared for them. Progress has been made in
this direction, and it is desirable that congress
by aquedate appropriations should provide
for the uninterrupted prosecution of this
necessary work.
The work on the projected C~hickamauga
and Chattanooga military park has been pros
ecuted with zeal and Judgment, and its open
ing will be celebrated during the coming year.
Over nine square miles of the Chickamauga
battlefield have been acqui red, 25 miles Of
roadway have been constructed, and perma-
nent tablets have been placed at many histor-
ical points, while the invitation to the states
to mark the pc ~itions of their troops partici-
pating in the battle has been very generally
accepted. The work of locating and preserv-
ing lines of battle at the Gettysburg battle
field is making satisfactory progress on the
plans directed by the last congress.
Department of Justice.
The report of the attorney general contains
the usual summary of the affairs and pro-
nost 90 connpt FOO boortily indorso Tho
proposition that the fee system as applicable
to the compensation of United States at
torneys, marshals, clerks of federal courts
and United States commissioners, should be
If In addition to This reform another was
naugurated which would give to United
tates commissioners the final disposition Of
city offenses within the grade of misde-
peanors, especially these coming under the
made toward a more decent ad administration
the criminal laws.
heartily iojn the ATTORNEY general in rec.
,mending Iagislation fxing degrees of the
mo of murder within federal iurisdiction
has been done in many Of the states:
tborizing writs of error On bebalf of the
yornrent In cases ybere anal iudgment 10
darad aa.inst tbo sufioiency os on ;ndiot.
Ement or AGAINST the Government unon anv
on nnos.tnn ar;s;no bofora oo+raI tr;ai.
t;nd tha riobt Of roy;eyy in casos of foIony
isbeble only bv fine and imnrisonment IN
circu;t court of annaa,s and making
dv nrovision for the construction Of sucb
N and refnr,nator;es 40 may ha necessarv
be COMMENCEMENT of JInited states convicts
~ -. s---,.-
'''"' '''''
ne report Oh the postmaster general con,
IS a detailed statement OF the operations OF
postoihce curing the lusC hscal year ana
en- interesting information touchihg Inls
siness OF Ihe mails ihdlcates WIN aosoiute
talnity the cohdltion Oh ,he business OF the
lntry ana depression IN hhahclal analrs ln'
ltably ana quickly reouces the postal reVen'
s. 49,.
AT a dale "heh oetter tl'nes were ahtci-
ited IL was estimated by MS predecessor
pat the dehclehcy On June o. 1880 "ouiu ot
Ut a NIUE over Si'o"'uV, ~ amounted now
Ver' 10 more IMAM SoiVoo'"o' Az the saht
me, ana uhuer INC influence Oh IKE ahtlci
atlohs, estimates were maue ior inc curren'
lscal year ehdlng June o. 1871 when exhlb
teu a surplus Oh revenue over expenditures o.
boI2,2ta''l; Dut now, IN view OF the actual re
oeipts ana expenditures during mat part o.
the current hscal year already expired, tn
present postmaster general estimates that a
Its close, instead OF a surplus there Will be
deficiency OF nearly ss,ooo,ooO:
The total numter oil posto1hces IN the Unitet
States on the ooth day OF june 1898, was w.
403, an increase OF l2o4 over the preceding
year. Of these S6o are PRESIDENTIAL an In
crease In That class OF @Df over the preceding
year. forty-two free delivery ofices wer
added during the year 10 those already exist
ing, lhahihs a !" " oloo i'io "nu eo"hs pso
49, - ,hrao otbor o;ties ond towns ora No,
ant;tied 20 this soryica under tho low hut ;
S ~ not hoan occordod them op account of In
nuS,niant fnrds 10 meet the evnense of 40 as
sohIahnoant
Thona 80 e,o, oaa;.;o,, -
ihCio SiS ""i puuitioho W thc uouutSli