The Portland daily press., 1893-12-05
Coast Defences.


tion for its repeal.
Coast Defences.
1t is gratifying to note that we have
begun to attain completed results i'll the
comprehensive scheme OF sea coast de-
Tense and fortihcation entered upon
eight years ago. i large sum has been
already expended but the cost of main
tenance will be inconsiderable as COM
pared with the expense OF construction
and ordnance. AT the end of the current
calendar year the war department will
have nine IL inch guns. twenty 10 inch
and thirty-four inch guns ready to be
mounted on gun lifts and carriages, and
seventy-five II inch mortars. In addition
to the product of the army gun factory,
now completed at Watervliet, the govern
mentahas contracted with private arties
for the purchase of one hundred guns of
these calibres, the first of which should
be delivered to the department for test
before July 1, 1924. The manufacture of
heavy ordnance keeps pace with current
needs but to render these guns available
for the purposes they are designed to
meet, emplacements must be prepared
for them. Progress has been made in
this direction, sand it is desirable that
Congress by adequate appropriations
should provide for the uninterrupted
prosecution of this necessary work.
After much preliminary work and ex-
haustive examination in accordance with
the requi ements of the law, the board
appointed to select magazine rifle OF
modern type with which to replace the
obsolete Springfield rifle OF the infantry
service, completed its labors during the
last year. 1t is confidently expected that
by the end of the current year, our in
fantry will be supplied with a weapon
equal to that of the most progressive
armies of the world.
THE work on the projected Chlcka-
manga and Chattanooga national mill
tary park has been prosecuted with zeal
and Judgment, and it's opening viii be
cele brated during the coming year. Over
nine square miles of the Chickamauga
battlefield have been acquired, twenty
five miles of roadway have been con-
structed, and permanent tablets have
been placed at many historical points,
while the invitation to the states to mark
the positions of their troops participating
in the battle has been very generally ac-
cepted.
The work of locating and preserving
the lines Of battle at the Gettysburg
battlefield is making satisfactory pro-
gress on the plans directed by the last
Congress.
The reports of the military academy at
VI 6SU EOluG, anu Uut S6fcldl SCaOOlS LII
special instruction of officers, show.
marked advance in the education of the
army, and d commendable inhibition
among it's officers to excel in the military
profession, and to fit themselves for the
highest service to the country.
Under the supervision OF AdJutant
General Robert Williams, lately retired,
the bureau of military information has
become well established, and is performing
service that will put in possession OF
the government in time of war, the most
valuable information, and at all times
serve a purpose of great utility in keep
ing the army advised of the worlds pro-
gress in all matters pertaining to the
art of war.
The Department of Justice.
The report of the attorney general con-
tains the usual summary of the affairs
and proceedings of the department of
justice for the past year, together with
certain recommendations as to needed
legislation on various subjects. I cannot
too heartily endorse the proposition that
the fee system as applicable to the COM
pensation of the United States attorneys,
marshals, clerks of federal courts, and
United States commissioners, should be
abolished with as little delay as possible.
1t is clearly in the interest of the COM
munity that the business of the courts,
both civil and criminal should be as
small and as inexpensively transacted as
the ends of justice will allow.
The system is therefore thoroughly
vicious which makes the compensation of
court officials depend upon the volume of
such business and thus creates a conflict
between a proper execution of the law
and private gain, which cannot fail to be
6on TO he iobt re of
the citizen and an irresistible temptation
tothe unjustifiable expenditures of public
funds. Ii in addition to this reform
another was lnaugurated which would
give the United States commissioners the
final disposition of petty oHenses within
the grade of misdemeanors, especially
those coming under the international
revenue laws, great advance would be
made toward more decent administra-
ton of the criminal laws.
in my first message to Congress dated
December 8, 1885, i strongly recon-
mended 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 ex-
pense attending it have enormously in
creased. The number of criminal prose-
cutions pending in the Circuit and Dis
trict courts of the United States on July
1st, 1885, was 3,80S, of which 1884 were
for violations of The internal revenue
laws while the number of such prosecu-
tions pending on the 1st day of July,
1898, was $500, of which 400 were for
violations of the internal revenue laws.
The expense of the United States courts,
exclusive of judges salaries for the year
ending July l, 1885, was S., S74, 1888 II and
for the year ending July l, 1898, 81. $685.
676.S7. 1t is therefore apparent that the
reasons given in 1885, for a change in the
manner of enforcing the federal criminal
law have gained cogency and strength
by lapse of time.
L also heartily join the attorney general
in recommending legislation fixing de-
grees of the crime of murder within
federal jurisdiction as has been done in
many of the states; authorizing writs of
error on behalf of the government in
cases where final judgment is rendered
against the sufficiency of an Indictment
or against the government upon any
question arising before actual trial;
limiting the right of review in cases of
felony punishable only by fine and i'm
prisonment to the Circuit Court of Ap-
peals; and making speedy provision for
the construction of such prisons and re-
formatories as may be necessary for the
confinement of United States convicts.
The Post Office.