Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-15

OocyOcc.OO.
NEXT YEARS ESTIMATES.
It's estimated upon the basis Of
the present revenue laws that the re-
ceipts OF the government for the year
ending June 80, 1891, will be $780,
III ,365.3S. and its expenditures $685.
III ,365.3S, resulting in a deficiency OF
$2S,OOO,OOO. On the first day OF No
vember, 1898, the amount OF money
OF all kinds in circulation or not in
cluded in the Treasury holdings was
$l,7lS,544,682, an increase for the
year OF $ll2, ,404,945. Estimating our
population at 67,426,OOO at the time
mentioned, the per capita circulation
was $25.49. On the same date there
was in the Treasury gold bullion
amounting to $96,G57 ,273, and silver
bullion which was purchased at cost
OF $126, ,26l ,553.
THE YEARS IMMIGRATION.
The Superintendent of Immigra.
ton, through the Secretary of the
Treasury, reports that during the last
fiscal year there arrived at our ports
44O,793 immigrants. Of these, 1868
were not permitted to land under the
limitations OF the law, and 557 were re-
turned to the countries from which
they came, by reason of their having
become public charges. The total ar
rivals were 140034 less than for the
previous year.
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
The Secretary in his report gives
an account of the operation of the
marine hospital service, and of the
good work done under its supervision,
preventing the entrance and spread of
contagious diseases. The admonitions
OF the last two years touching our
public health, and the demonstrated
danger OF the introduction of con-
tagious diseases from foreign ports, has
invested the subject of q national
quarantine with increased in terest. A
more general and harmonious system
than now exists, acting promptly and
pirectly everywhere, and constantly
operating by preventive means to
shield our country from the invasion
OF disease, and at the same time hav.
ing due regard to the rights and duties
of local agencies, would, believe, add
greatly to the safety of onr people.
| THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The Secretary of War reports that
the strength of the army on the 3Oth
day OF September last was 25,778 en-
listed men and 2,144 officers. The
total expenses of this department for
the year ended June 80, 1898, amount
ed to $91 ,960,074.S9. OF this sum,
81 1892 ,5S1.95 was for salaries and con-
tingent expenses, $23,377 ,S2S.35 for
the support of the military establish
ment, SCOTT ,O33 % for miscellaneous
objects, $420,15S,631.41 for public
works. This latter sum includes $15,.
296,S74.46 for river and harbor i'm
provements, and $3,266,141.2 for
Notifications and other works of de-
Tense. The total enrolment of the
militia OF the several States was, on
the 3lst of October of the present year,
ll2,597 officers and enlisted men.
The officers of the army detailed for
the inspection and instruction of this
reserve of our military force report
that increased interest and progress
are apparent in the discipline and
efficiency of the organization. Neither
Indian outbreaks nor domestic vio-
lence has 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 the neutrality 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 countries.
YEAR OF PEACE.
The operation of wise laws and the
influences of civilization constantly
tending to relieve the country from
the dangers of Indian hostilities, to-
gether with the increasing ability of
the states, through the efficiency of
the National Guard organizations, to
protect their citizens from domes-
tic violence, lead to. the suggestion
that 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 contemplates neither an in
crease in number nor added expense,
but a redistribution of the force and
an encouragement OF measure tend.
ing to greater efficiency among the
men and the improvement of the
service. The adoption of battalion
formations for infantry regiments, the
strengthening of the artillery force,
the abandonment of certain unim-
portant positions and the massing of
the troops at important and accessible
stations, all promise to promote the
usefulness of the army. In the judg-
ment OF army officers, with but few
exceptions, the operation of the law
torbidding the reenlistment of men
after 10 years service has not proven
its wisdom, and, while the arguments
that led to its adoption were not with
out merit, the experience of the year
constrains me to join in the recon-
mendstion for its repeal.
OUR COAST DEFENsEs.
1t is gratifying to note that we have
begun to attain completed results in
the comprehensive scheme of sea-coast
defense and Notifications entered upon
eight years ago. A large sum had
been already expended, but the cost of
maintaining will be inconsiderable as
compared with the exnenso ~ oo.,