Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-12-08


ing oecome public Charges The total arrivals
We're lo34 less than for the previous year.
Prevention of Disease.
The secretary in his report gives an account
Of Tie operation of the marine hos p.t;l service
ahu OF lii" good work done under its supervision
III preventing the entrance and spread of con-
taEious diseases The admonitions OF the last
NO Years iouchlnE our pubic nealth and
the demons trated danger OF the introduction
OF contagious diseases from foreign ports has
invested the subject of Irrational quarantine with
increased interest A more general and har-
monioGs system than now exists, acting
promptly and directly everywhere, and CON
shield our country from the invasion OF disease.
and al the same time having due regard to the
rights and duties OF local agencies, would, be.
lieve, add greatly to the safety of our people
The War department.
The secretary OF war reports that the
strength OF the army on the 3oth day OF Sep
TENDER last was % 71a eniis ted men and z IA
officers The total expenditure of the depart
ment Tor t Of year enting June 80, 1879, amount
was for saIaries and contingeu. ex penses: s23,-
~ e2a 80 loI The The support OF The military estab
lishmeni Se'91 oS3 Is for miscellaneous OBJ
iects, and s2o 5ls, 63i.4l for public works. This
latter sum includes sis, 800 $40 46 for river and
harbor improvements ami $3.50, l4l.20 for forti-
flea tons and other works of defense.
The National Guard.
The total enrolment of the militia OF the
several states the Dist of October Of the
current year liz, 59 officers anu enIis ted 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 i'll the dis
cipline and efficiency of the organiZa ton
Peace Has Reignea-
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic VIC
lence have called the army into service during
the year. and the only active military duty re-
Quired Of IL has been in the department OF Texas
where violations OF the neutrality laws OF the
United States and Mexico were Promptly and
efficiently dealt with by the troops, elicitng the
warm approval! OF The civil and military au-
thoriteS OF both countries
Reorganlze the Army.
The operation of wise laws and the influences
of civilization constantly tending 10 relieve the
country from the dangers of Indian hosiilities
together with the increasing ability OF the
'hropSh the efficiency Of the
their citizens from domestic violence lead
to the suggestion thai the time is
fast approaching when there should
be reorganization of our army on the lines OF
the present necessities of the country. This
change contemplstes neither increase in number
added expense, but reds Il. Uu ZION OF the
force and an encouragement of measures tend
ing TO greater et1iciency An4ouo the and I'M
provement OF the service. The adoption Of
battalion forma tons for infantry regiments
the strengthening OF the artillery force the
abandonment OF smaller anu unnecessary
posts. and the maSsng of the IrooDS at impor
tanL and accessible stations all promise 10 pro-
mote the usefulness of the arm. In the judg
lnent OF army officers, with out few exceptions,
the operation of the law torUiddng the reen-
istment OF men after ten years service has not
proved its wisdom, and White The arguments
that led 10 its adoption we're not without merit
the experience OF years constra!ns To Join in
the recommendation for its repcdI.
Progress in Coast Defense.
1t IS gratifying to note that we have BEG un
10 attain completed results i'll the comprehen-
sive scheme OF seacoast defense and fortfca
ton entered upon eight years ago. A
large has been already expended
but the cost of maintenance VIII be incon-
siderable ompareG with the expense Of
cons truction and ordnance. AT the end of
the current calendar year Tie war depart
and thir ty four Sinch guns, ready 10 be mounted
| on gun-lifts and carriages, and seyenty-fve ~
inch mortars. In addition to the product of
the army gun factory, now completed at Wa
tervliet, the government has contracted
with private parties Tor the purchase
of one rr1 guns which these eeeo cali
delivered 10 the department for test before
July i, 1891. The manufacture of heavy ord
nance keeps pace with current needs; but to
render these guns available for the purposes
they are designed to meet, emplacemcnts must
be prepared for them Progress has been made
in this direction, and it is desirable that CON
greSS by adequate appropriate lions should pro
vide for the uninterrupted prosecution Of this
necessary work.
New Rifle for the Army.
After much preliminary WORK and exhaustive
examination in accordance with the require
ments Of The law, the board appointed to select
magazine rife OF modern type with which to
replace the obsolete Springfield rifle of the in
fantry service, completed its labors during the
last year, and the work OF manufacture is now
in progress at the national armory at Spring
field. 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.
National Military Park.
The work on the projected Chick amauga and
Chattanooga national military park has
been prosecuted with zeal and judg-
| ment, and its opening will be cele
! ted during the coming year Over nine
sQuare miles of the Chickamauga battlefield
ov,. ulIou, twenty-five miles Of roau-
lets have been placed at many historical points,
while the invitation to the states to mark the
battle has been very generally accepted The
work OF loca ting and preserving the lines of
battle at the Gettysburg battlefield is making
satisfactory progress on the plans directed by
Tie last congress
The Military Schools.
The reports Of the Military academy at West
Point and the several schools for special in
structIonS OF officers show marked advance in
education OF the army and a commendable am
bition among its officers to excel in the mill.
tary profession and to fit themselves for the
highest service 10 the country.
Under the supervision OF Adjt Gen. Robert
Williams. lately retired, the bureau of military
information has become we'll established anu IS
performing a service that will put in possession
OF the government IN time of war most valuable
information and DIT all times serve purpose OF
great utilitvin keeping the army advised of the
worlds progress in al matters pertaining to
the art Of war.
The judiciary Department.
The report of the attorney general contains the
usual summary OF The affairs and proceedings
OF the department of justice for the past year,
together with certain recommenda tions as to
needed legislation on various subjects L can
not too heartily indorse the proposition that the
Tee system as applicable to the compensation
Of United States attOrneTS, marShalS clerks
OF federal courts and United States commits
Sl2nerS, should be abolished with as little de-
lay as possible 1t is clearly IN the interest of
the community that the business of the courts.
both civil and criminal, Shall be as small and
transacted
OF justice will allow. The system
is therefore thoroughly vicious which
makes the compensation OF court officials de-
pend upon the volume of such business, and
thus creates a conflict between proper execu-
tioH OF the law and private gain, which cannot
fan to be dangerous to the rights and free
dom OF citizens and irriSiStib temp
tation to the uni tifiable expenditure
| Oh public funds II in addition 10 this re
| give TO toe United States commissioners
| the final disposition of petty ofenses within
| the grade Of nisdemeanors. especially those
coming under the internal revenue laws a
great advance would be made toward "a more
decent administration of the criminal law.
IL my first message 70 congress. dated De-
cember s, 1855, l strongly recommended these
| changes and referred some what at length to
| the evils of the present system. Since that
time the criminal business Of the federal courts
and the expense attending it have enormously
increased. The number or criminal proSecu-
tions pending IL the circuit and district courts
| OF The United States on the LIST day OF July,
| 1885, was $685. Of which 1884 were for vio-
latons of the internal revenue laws,
while the number OF such prosecutions pending
the 1St day OF July, 1898, $500, of which
| 400 were for violation of the internal revenue
laws. The expense of the United States courts,
exclusive Of Judges salaries. for the year ending
July L. 1885, was S2e14, 133 Ii and for the year
! ending July l. 1893, 81 5as 676 81 1t is there
| fore apparent that the reasons given in 1885 for
| change in the manner of enforcing the federal
criminal law have gained cogency and gained
strength in lapse of time
| Endorses the Attorney General.