Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-05

bling OF the conference, led me 10 ex-
press a willingness 10 have the meeting
stIlI further postponed. 1t seems 10 me
that Il would be wise 10 give general
authority to the President to invite other
nations 10 such conference at any
time when there should be a fair pros
pect OF accomplishing an international
agreement on the subject OF coinage.
issuance OF BONDS.
desire also TO earnestly suggest the
wisdom Of amending the existing statutes
In regard to the issuance Of government
bonds
The authority now vested in the Score
tary of the Treasury TO issue bonds Is
not as clear as 1t should be. and the
bonds authorized are Instantaneous to
the government both as TO the time OF
their maturity and the rate Of interest.
IMMIGRATION.
The Superintendent OF immigration
through the Secretary OF tho Treasury,
reports that during the last fiscal year
there arrived at our ports il0i% immi-
grants or these 1903 were not permitted
to land under the limitations of the law
and 81 were returned to the countries
from whence they came by reason OF their
having become public charges. The total
arrivals were 1900 less than for the
previous year.
NATIONAL QUARANTINE
The Secretary. I'm his report. gives an
account of the operation OF the Marine
Hospital Service, and Of the good work
done under its supervision in preventing
the entrance and spread Of contagious
diseases. The admonitions OF the last
two years touching our public health ana
the demonstrated danger OF the introduc-
ton Of contagious diseases from foreign
ports has invested the subject Of national
Quarantine with increased interest. \
more general and harmonious system
than now exists. acting promptly and d.
rectly everywhere. and constantly ope-
rating by preventive means to shield our
country from the invasion Of disease, AMI
at the same time having during regard
10 the rights and duties Of local agencies
would. I believe add greatly to the safe
ty Of our people.
THE ARMY
The Secretary Of War reports that the
strength OF the army on the 20th day OF
September last was p. rs enlisted mon
and 2,lH officers The total expenditures
OF the department for the year ending
June 30. 1898. amounted 10 $l.@6,0, 50. or
this sum 81. s92 81. % WAS for salaries and
contingent expenses, $23,375,s2S35 for the
support Of the military establishment,
SG071.033 Is for miscellaneous objects, and
s20.5lS6i5n for public works. This latter
sum includes 81, 2s6, $3.50 for river and
harbor improvements and S,26lil.2O for
Notifications and other works OF defence.
THE MILITIA.
The total enrolment Of the militia OF
., ~
October Of the present year 1888 officers
and enlisted men The officers OF the army
detailed for the inspection and instruction
OF this reserve Of our military force re-
port that increased interest and marked
progress are apparent in the discipline
and efficiency Of the organization.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic
violence have called the army into ser
vice during the year, and the only active
military duty required of it has been In
the Department Of Texas. where viola
tions Of the neutrality laws Of the United
States and Mexico were promptly and ELL
GENTLY dealt with by the troops, eliciting
the warm approval Of the civil and MILL
tary authorities Of both countries.
ARMY REDIsPOSAL.
The operation Of wise laws and the in
huences Of civilization. constantly tending
TO relieve the country from the dang rs
Of Indian hostilties, together with the
increasing ability Of the states, through
the efficiency of the National Guard or
CARNATIONS 10 protect their citizens IRON
domestic violence lead 10 the suggestion
that the time is fast approaching when
there should be reorganization OF our
army on the lines Of the present necessi-
-
mates neither Increase in number nor
added expense. but a redistribution OF the
force ana an encouragement of measures
tending to greater efficiency among the
men and Improvement OF the service.
The adoption OF battalion formations
for infantry regiments, the Strengthening
of the artillery force. the abandonment
Of smaller and unnecessary posts ana the
nassing OF the troops at important and
accessible stations, all promise to promote
the usefulness Of the army.
Tn-fne Judgment Of army officers, witt
hut few exceptions the operation OF thi
law forbiddng the re-enlistment OF mer
after ten years service has not proved
its wisdom, and while the arguments thai
led to it's adoption We're not without
merit the experience Of the year con
strains me to join in the recommendation
for its repeal.
SEA-COAST DEFENCE.
1t IS gratifying to note that we have
begun to attain completed results
m the comprehensive scheme oi
sea-coast defense and fertilization
entered upon eight years ago y
large sum has been already expended
but the cost Of maintenance VIII be IN
| considerable as compared with the eN
pense Of construction and ordnance. ~
| The end Of the current calendar year thu
War department will have nine twelve
! inch guns. twenty ten-inch and thirty
! four eight-lnch guns ready to be mounted
on gun-llfts and carriages. and seventy
/ five twelve-inch mOrtars. In addition Il
the product OF the army gun factory
| now completed at Watervliet' the gov
/ eminent has contracted with private
| parties for the purchase Of one hundred
| guns OF these calibers, the first of which
| should be delivered 10 the department
| for test before July /, 1894.
| Tho manufacture OF heavy ordnance
| kaeps pace with current needs; but Il
| render these guns available for the pur
poses they are designed to meet, em
placements must be prepared Tor them
! Progress has been made I'm this direction
| and il is desirable that Congress- 10y
| adequate appropriations should proVld'
| for the uninterrupted prosecution OF thl'
/ necessary work.
NEW INFANTRY ARM
After much preliminary work and eX
/ haustivc examination, IN accordance
with the requirements Of the law, th'
| board appointed TO select a magazine
| rifle OF modern type with which to re
place the obsolete Springfield rifle Of tn
infantry service, completed its labori
during the last year. and the work o
manufacture Is now In progress at tn
| national armory at Springfield II is con
! fdently expected that by the end OF th'
current year our infantry VIII be sup
! piled with a weapon equal 10 that or Ia
| most progressive armies of the world.
CHICKAMAUGA AND GETTYSBURG
The work on the projected Chcka
amauga and Chattanooga National Mill
/ tary Park has been prosecuted with Yea
and Judgment. and its opening Will b.
| celebrated during the coming year
/ over nine square miles of the Chicka
I manga battlefield have been acquired
twenty-five miles of roadway have beei
/ constructed, and permanent tablets hav
been placed at many historical points
while the invitation to the States TO mari
I the positions Of their troops participating
In the battle has been very general.
accepted. The work OF locating and pre-
serving the lines of the battle at tn
Gettysburg battlefield Is making salts
factory progress on the plans directe
by the last Congress.
MILITARY EDUCATION.
Tho ranorts ~ the Military Academy a