Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-07

| prevention of Disease.
! The secretary in his report gives an account
of the operation of the marine hos pital service
and OF the good work done under its supervision
| in preventing the entrance and spread Of con-
| tag1ous diseases. Tie admonitions OF the last
| two years touching our public health and
| the demonStra ted danger Of the introduction
OF contagious diseases from foreign ports has
| invested the subject OF Ia tlonal Quarantine with
| increased interest 4 more general and har-
| monious system than now exists, acting
| promptly and directly everywhere and con-
| stantly operating by preventive means tn
| shield our country from the invasion Of disease
| and at the same time having due regard to the
| leVe, add greatly TO the safety of our people
| The War department
| The secretary of war reports that the
| strength OF the army the 30th day of Sep
| TENDER last was p. rs enlisted men and IA
| officers. The total expenditure of the depart
/ ment for the year ending June 30. 1898, AMOUNT
ed TO Sol, 96Gu7i. a Or this sum, Il 992 5SI 50
| was for salarles and contingent expenses; a23-
81 e28 30 Tor the support OF the military estab-
| lishment: S6077,OS3lS for miscellaneous OBJ
iects, and a20, oo, 63l Il for public works. This
latter sum includes SIS 296, SO As for river and
| harbor improvements AMI % 266 141.20 for forti-
| fcauonS and other works Of defense.
The National Guard.
| The total enrolment of the militia of the
| several states on tie Sist Of October Of the
| current year IL, 597 officers and enlisted men
| The officers OF the army detailed for the in
| specuon and instruction of this reserve of our
| military force report that increased interest
and marked progress are apparent in the dis
clpllnc ana efficieucy OF the organlZa ton
Peace Has Reigned.
| Neither Indian outbreaks nor domeS tic vio-
| lence have called the army into service during
| the year, and the only active military duty re-
Quired 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, euci Ting the
warm approval of the civil and military au-
thoritieS OF both countries
| Reorganize the Army.
| The operation of wise laws and the influences
of nj tn rolf
country from the dangers of Indian hOstiIities
| together with the increasing ability of the
| states, through the efficiency of the na-
| tional guard organizations, TO protect
| their citizens from domestic violence, lead
| to the suggestion that the time is
| fast approaching when there should
| be a reorganiza ton of army on the lines of
| the present necessities Of the country This
| change cOntemplateS neither increase in number
| nor added expense, but redls trlbution Of the
! force and an encouragement OF measures tend
ing TO greater efficiency among the men and i'm
proyement of the service. The adoption OF
| battalion formations for infantry regiments,
| the strengthening of the artillery force, the
| abandonment OF smaller and unnecessary
| pos is, and the massing of the troops at impor.
tant and accessible stations, all promise TO pro
| mote the usefulness of the army In the judg-
ment Of army officers, with out few exceptions
| the operation Of the law fOrbidding the reen-
| listment OF men after ten years service has not
| proved its wisdom, and while the arguments
that led 10 its adoption were not without merit
| the experience OF years conStrains to Join in
| the recommendation for its repeal.
Progress in Coast Defense.
1t is gratifying to note that we have begun
to attain completed results in the comprehen-
sive scheme OF seacoast defense and fortifica-
ton, entered upon eight years ago. A
large sum has been already expended
but the cost OF maintenance Will be incon-
siderable as compared with the expense of
construction and ordnance At lhe end of
the current calendar year the war depart
ment will have nine l2-inch twenty lO-inch
and thirty four S-inch guns, ready to be mounted
on gun-lifts and carriages, and seventy-tive ~
inch mortars. In addition to the product of
the army sun factory, now completed at Wa
tervliet, the government has contracted
with private parties for the purchase
bers, the first Of which should be
delivered to the department for test before
July !, 1894. The manufacture of heavy ord
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, and it is desirable that con-
gress by adequate appropriations should pro-
vide for the uninterrupted prosecution of this
necessary work.
New Rife for the Army
After much preliminary work and exhaustive
examination in accordance with the require
ments of the law, the board appointed to select
a magazine rifle OF modern type, with which to
replace the obsolete Springfield rife of the in
fantry service, completed it's 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 viii be
d u
most progressive armies OF the world.
National Military Park.
The work on the projected Chick amauga and
Chattanooga naNonal military park has
ment, and Its opening will be cele-
brated during the coming year. Over nine
square miles Of the Chickamauga battlefield
--rv D-un s.suIr-u, twenty-five miles Of roau-
way have been constructed and permanent tab
lets have been placed at many historical points,
while the invitation to the states to mark the
positions Of their troops participa ting in the
battle has been very generally accepted The
work of locating and preserving the lines Of
battle at the Gettysburg battlefield is making
satisfactory progress on the plans directed by
tAe 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
tary profession and to fit themselves for the
highest service to the country
Under the supervision of Adj. Gen. Robert
Williams. lately retired, the bureau of military
information has become well established and IS
performing a service that will put in possession
OF the government IN time of war most valuable
information and at all times serve a purpose OF
great utility in keeping the army advised of the
worlds progress in all 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 recommendations as tC
needed legislation various subjects. l can
not too heartily iudorse the proposition that the
fee system as applicable to the compensation
of United States attorneys, marshals, clerks
OF federal courts and United States commits
sionerS 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
as lneXpenSiyely transacted as the ends
Of justice will allow. The system
IS therefore thoroughly vicious which
makes the cOmpenSa ton OF court officials de-
he offs q hI1Sl a1d
thus creates a conflict between proper eXecu-
ton OF the law and private gain, which cannot
fail to be dangerous TO the rights and free
dom OF citizens and irresistible temp
tation to the uni JUS titiabie expenditure
OF public funds If in addition to this re-
form another was inaugurated which would
give 10 the United States commissioners
the final disposition of petty ofTenses within
the grade of miSdemeanors, especially those
coming under the internal revenue laws, a
great advance would be made toward a more
decent administration OF the criminal law.
La my first message TO congress, dated De-
cenber g. 1859 strongly recommended these
changes and referred somewhat at length to-
time the criminal business Of the federal courts
and the expense attending it have enormously
increased. The number of criminal prosecu-
tons pending in the circuit and dis trict courts
1882 was j, sos, of which ,8S4 were for VIC
IauonS OF the internal revenue laws,
while the number OF such prosecutions pending
on the LIST day OF July, 1893, was 300, OF which
4,2O0 We're for violation of the in ternal revenue
laws. The expense of the United States courts,
exclusive of judges salaries, for the year ending
July l, 1885, 90 874, 733 II and for the year
ending July /, 1893, "a 52S 676 81. 1t is. there
fore, apparent that the reasons given in 1885 for
a change in the manner of enforcing the federal
criminal law have gained cogency and gained
strength IN lapse OF time.
! Endorses the Attorney General.
I atSD heartily iOiO In