The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-05


meeting still further postponed. 1t
seems 10 me that It would DO wise TO
give general authority to the President
to invite other nations to such CONFER
ence at any timo when there should be
lair prospect of accomplishing an in
ternational agreement on the subject
Of coinage.
desire also to earnestly suggest thu
wisdom ofamendingthe existing statutes
in regard to the issuance oil government
bonds
The authority now vested in the sec
rotary OF treasury to issue bonds IS not
rs clear as 1t shonld be, and the bonds
authorized are disadvantageou to the
government both to the timo OF their
maturity and rate oiinterest.
IpIIGRATIoN AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
The superintendent OF immigration,
through tie secretary OF the treasury,
reports that during the last fiscal year
there arrived at our ports 40, 793 immi-
grants. vi these 1865 were not per
mitted to land under the limitations OF
the law and 577 were returned to the
countries from whence they came by
reason Of their having become PUBLIC
charges. Tho total arrivals were l4l,-
O34 less than for the previous year.
The secretary in his report gives an
account OF the operation Of the marine
hospital service and OF tho good work
done under its supervision in prevent
in: the entrance and spread OF conta-
gous diseases.
The admonitions of tho last two
years touching our public health and
the demonstrated danger OF the intro
duction OF contagious diseases from
foreign ports has invested tho subject
OF national quarantine with increased
interest. \ more general and harmo-
NOUS system than now exists, acting
promptly and directly everywhere, and
constantly operating by preventive
means to shield our country from the
invasion OF disease, and ut the same
time having due regard to the rights
and duties of local agencies, would, l
believe, add greatly to the safety OF our
people.
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.
The secretary of the war reports that
the strength of the army on the Both
day OF September last, was 25,77S enlist
ed men and 9,I44 officers. The total ex-
penditure OF the department for the
year ending June 80, 1893, announced to
81, 1866, 074.S9. OF this sum 81, 902, 6Sl.05
was for salaries and contingencies. Ex-
penscs So, 81, $3.50 for the support OF
the military establishments; S, on ,002. is
formisculiancous objects and so, 5iS, 63i.-
Il for public works. This letter sum in
cludes Sl5, 2OG, S7G.46 for river and har-
Dor improvements and S3,2G6, l4l.20 for
Notifications and otherworks OF defense.
The total enrolment oil the militia oil
the several states, was on the 3lst oil
October OF the current year 1850 OIL
GERS aud enlisted men. The officers OF
the army detailed for the inspection
and instruction OF this reserve OF our
military force report that increased in
terest and marked progress are APP
parent in the discipline and efficiency
OF the organization.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domes-
tic violence have called the army into
service during the year, and the only
active military duty required OF it has
been in the department OF Texas, where
violations OF tho neutrality laws OF the
United Statesand Mexico were promptly
and efficiently dealt with by the troops,
electiug tho warm approval OF the civil
and military authorities OF both coun-
tries.
II is gratifying to note that we have
begun to attain completed routes in the
comprehensive scheme OF seacoast de-
Tense and Notification entered upon
eight years ago. A large sum has been
already expended, but the cost OF main
tenance will be inconsiderabie as COM
pared with the expense OF construction
and ordnance. At the end OF the cur
rent calendar year the war department
will have nine twelve-inch guns. twenty
ten-inch and thirty-four eight-inch
guns, ready to be mounted on gun lifts
and carriages, and seventy-tive twelve
inch mortars. In addition to the pro-
duct Of the army gun factory, now COM
pleted at Watervliet, the government
mas contracted with private parties for
the purchase OF one hundred guns OF
these calibers, the first oil which should
be delivered to the department for test
before July /, 1894.
The manufacture OF heavy ordnance
keeps pace with the current needs; but
to render these guns available for the
purposes they are designed to meet, en-
placements must be prepared Tor them.
Progress has been made in this dlrec-
ton, and it is desirable that Congress
by adequate appropriations should pro-
vide for the uninterrupted prosecution
OF this necessary work.
After much preliminary work and ex-
haustive examination in accordance
with the requirements OF the law, the
board appointed to select magazine
rifle Of modern type with which to re-
place the obsolete Springfield rife OF tie
infantry service completed its labors
during the last year, and the work OF
manufacture is now in progress at the
national armory ut Springfield. 1t is
confidently expected that by the end Of
the current year our infantry will be
supplied with weapon equal to that Of
the most progressive armies OF the
world.
The reports OF the military academy
at Yves; Point and tho several schools
for special instruction Of officers show
marked advance in the education OF the
army and commendabIe ambition
among its officers to excel in the mill.
tary profession and to fit themselves for
the highest service to the country.
THE FEE SYSTEM.
Tho report of the attorney general
contains the usual summary Of the al,
fairs and proceedings OF the department
OF justice for the past year, together