Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-12-09

pieces, valued at s43,es' i7s so, of which there
was 49,, ,USS l4J In gold coin ab3i3,7i5 In silver
| dollals, a72H,22l4O in subsidiary silver coin
and Si,US6 i0s % I'm minor coins
During the calendar year 1899 tho production,
OF precious metals In the United States was
Estimated to be l530,3i5 fine ounces OF gold OF tho
commercial and coinage yaluo OF s33,OOOn, and
| bSi0WOOO tine onncos of silver OF the bullion or
market value OF 80, 10000 and OF the coinage
value OF IA, os9,0)O
l desire also to earnestly suggest tho wisdom
OF amending the existing statutes in regard to
issuance of government bonds The authority
now vested in tho secretary of the treasury to
issue bonds is not uS clear as IL should be- ana
| the bonds authorized are disadvantageous TO
the government both rs to tho time OF their
maturity and rate OF interest
Tho superintendent OF immigration, through
the secretary OF tho treasury, reports that
during tho last fiscal year there arrived at our
| ports Hl,103 immigrants or these 1,O8 were
not permitted to land under tho limitations of
the law, and 81 were returned to tho countries
from whence they came by reason OF their hay.
| become public charges. The total arrivals
were lil,O3i less than for the previous year.
THy ARMY.
Tho secretary OF war reports that the
strength OF the army on tho Soth day of Sep.
! tembcr last was 2S,I15 enlisted mon and 2,lii
| oflcers. Tho total expenditures OF tho depart.
ment for the year ending June3o lSo3,amounted
| to DOL 9Bj,e7Lo9 or this sum Sl,9a10SL9b was
for salaries and contingent expenses, s23 81! ,S2s
80 for the support of the military establish
ment, i6,OTT O3S TX for miscellaneous objects and
!2O5ls A for public works This latter sum
| includes ,l6 296 STd 46 for river and harbor i'm
| provcmentS and SS,26j lil20 for fortihcations
| 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 259T officers and enlisted men
| The officers OF the army detailed for the inspec.
| tion and instruction of this reserve OF our
| military force report that increased interest
and marked progress are apparent in tho dis
cipline and efficiency of the organization
| Neither Indian outbreaks nof domestic
| violence have called the army into service dur
| ing the year, and the only active military duty
| required of II hNs been in the department of
| Teas whore violations of the neutrality laws
| OF tho United States and Mexico wore promptly
and efficiently dealt with by the troops, elicit
| Ing the warm approval of the civil and military
authorities OF both countries.
| 1t is gratifying to note that we have begun
to attain completed results in the compreRen-
| siye scheme OF seacoast defense and fortihca-
tion, entered upon eight years ngo A large
| sum has been already expended, but the cost OF
| maintenance will be beinconsiderable as compared
with the expense of construction and ordi-
| nance. AT the end of the current calendar year
the war department will have nine l2-inoh guns,
| twenty 0inch, and thirty-four S.inch guns
| ready to be mounted on gun lifts and carriages
| and sevcnty-iive l2inch mortars. In addition
| to the product of the army gun factory, now
| completes ut Watervliet the government has
| contracted with private parties for the pur.
| chase OF one hundred guns OF these calibers
| the first OF which should be delivered to the
| department for test before July l, 1894
The manufacture of heavy ordinance keeps
paco with current needs; but TO render these
| guns available for tho purposes they are de
signed to meet, emplacements must be pre-
pArou Tor them. PROGRESS mas been made In
Til direction, and 1t is desirable that congress
by adequate appropriations should provide for
the uninterrupted prosecution OF this necessary
work
After much preliminary work and exhaustive
examination in accordance with the require
ments OF the law, the board appointed to select
q magazine rifle of modern type with which to
replace the obsolete Springfield rifle of tho in
fantry service completed Its laborS during tho
| last year and the work Of manufacture is now
in progress at tho national armory at Spring
field 1t is confidently expected that by tho
end Of the current year our infantry will bo sup
piled with weapon equal to that of the most
progressive armies of the world.
The work on the projected Chlciamauga and
Chattanooga National Military park has been
ing viii bo celebrated during tho coming year.
Over nine square miles OF the Chickamauga
battlefield have been acquired twenty- five
miles Of roadway have been constructed. and
permanent tablets have been placed at many
historical points. while tho invitation to the
states TO mark the positions Of their troops
erallv accepted. The work of locating and pre-
serving the lines Of battle ut tho Gettysburg
battlefield 10 making satisfactory progress on
the plans directed by the last congress.
The reports of the military academy OF West
Point and the several schools for special instruc
tion OF officers, show marked advance in edu-
cation OF the army and u commendaDle Gmbi tion
| among its officers to excel In the military pro
fession and to tit themselves for the highest
service to the country.
THE D DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The report of the attorney general contains
ings of the department of Justice for the past
year, together with certain recommendat tions
as to needed legislation on various subjects. 1
cannot too heartily indorso the proposition that
thefee system Us applicable to the compensa-
tion of United States attorneys, marshals,
clerks OF federal courts and United States com
miSSonors should be abolished with as little de.
lay as possible. 1t is clearly in tho interest of
the community that the business OF the courts,
both civil and criminal, shall DO as small and az
tneXpenSiyely transacted as the ends of justice
will allow The system is, therefore, thorough.
ly vicio ls which makes the compensation of
court officials depend upon the volume OF such
business and thus creates q conflict between a
proper execution OF the law and private gain,
which cannot fail TO be dangerous to the rights
and freedom Cf the cttizsn and an irresistible
temptation to the unjustitiable expenditure of
pubic fCnds If in addition 10 this reform an
other was inaugurated which would give to
tion OF petty offenses within the grade OF mis-
demeanors' especially those coming under the
internal revenue laws, a great advance
would be made toward more decent
In my first message to congress, dated De-
cember 8, 1885, strongly recommended these
changes and referred somewhat at length TO the
evils OF the present system. Since that time
the criminal business of the federal courts and
the expense attending II have enormously in
creased. The number of criminal prosecutions
pending in ths circuit and district courts OF the
United States on the lst of July, 1887, was 3S0S
national revenue laws, while the number OF such
prosecutions pending on the lst of July, 1893.
was $500. OF which 1900 we're for violation Of
the internal revenue laws. The expense OF the
United States carts, exclusive of Judges sal
aries. for the. year ending July l. 1885. was
~ S7i, 733 II and for the year ending Julv L. 1893,
n, A,52s67d6 1t is therefore apparent that the
reasons given in 1885 for . change in the manner
- ~" ing the federal criminal laws have
sency and strength by lapse OF time,
leartiiy Join the attorney general In