The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-14

mOrtarS. III addition 10 1le product
Of the army gun factory, now COM
pletcd at Watervlict. the government
has contracted with private parties for
the purchase Of one hundred guns OF
these calibrcs, the first Of which should
be delivered to the department for test
before July /, 1894.
The manufacture Of heavy ordnance
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 IL this
direction, and it is desirable that Con-
gress. by adequate appropriations,
should provide for the uninterrupted
prosecution Of this necessary work.
After much preliminary work and
exhaustive examination. i'll accordance
with the requirements OF the law, the
board appointed to select a magazine
rifle Of modern type with which to re-
place the obsolete Springfield rifle OF
the infantry service, completed It's
labors during the last year, and the
work Of manufacture is now III prog
rcss at the National Armory at Spring
field. 1t is confidently expected that
by the end of the current year our in
fantry will be supplied with weapon
equal to that of the most progressive
armies Of the world.
PRESERVATION OF BATTLE FIELDS.
The work on the projected Chica-
manga and Chattanooga National Mil
itary Park has been prosecuted with
zeal and judgment, and its opening
will be celebrated during the coming
wear. Over nine square miles Of the
Chicamauga battle field have been ac-
quired. twenty-five miles Of roadway
have been constructed and permanent
tablets have been placed at many his
tOrical points, while the invitation of
the States to mark the positions OF
their troops participating in the battle
has been very generally accepted.
The work of locating and preserving
the lines Of battle at the Gettysburg
battle field is making satisfactory prog
res5 on the plans directed by the last
Congress.
WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY.
The report of the Military Academy
at West Point and the several schools
for special instruction Of officers show
marked advance in the education Of the
army and q cOmmendablc ambition
among its officers to excel i'll the mill
! tary profession and to fit themselves
| for the highest service to the country.
Under the supervision of Adiutant-
General Robert Williams, lately re-
tired, the bureau Of military Informal
| ton has become well established and
is performing service that will put in
possession Of the government in time
Of war most valuable information, and
at all times serve Il purpose OF great
utility in keeping the army advised OF
the worlds progress IN all matters per-
tanning to the art OF war.
THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW.
The report Of the Attorney-General
contains the usual summary Of the at
fairs and proceedings of the Depart
mrut Of Justice for the past year, to-
| clner with certain recommendations
as to needed legislation on various
| subjects. ! can not too heartily in
dorsc the proposition that the fee sys-
tenn as applicable to the compensa-
ton Of United States attorneys, mar
shals, clerks Of Federal courts and
| United States commissioners should be
abolished with as little detail as posi-
be. 1t is clearly in the interest of
the community that the business Of the
courts, both civil and criminal. should
be as small and as incXpensively trans
acted as the ends Of Justice will allow.
The system is therefore thoroughly
vicious which makes the compensation
of court officials depend upon the vol
umc of such business, and thus creates
a conflict between proper execution
OF the law and private GAIN, which can
not fail to be dangerous to the rights
and freedom of the citizen and an ire
sistible temptation to the un JUS itable
expenditure of public funds. If in ad-
dition to THIS reform, another was in
auguratcd which would give to the
| United States commissioners the final
disposition of petty oncnscs within the
| grade of mlsdemeanOrs, especially those
coming under the internal revenue
| laws, great advance would be made
toward a more decent administration
of the criminal law.
In my first message to Congress,
dated December Sth, 1885. | strongly
recommended these changes, and re-
terred somewhat 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 num-
Der of criminal prosecutions pending in
the circuit and district courts of the
United States on the first day of July,
1885, was three thousand eight hun
dred and eight. of which one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-tour were for
violations of the internal revenue laws,
while the number of such prosecutions
pending on the first day of July. 1898.
was nine thousand five hundred, of
which four thousand two hundred were
for violations of the internal revenue
laws. The expenses of the United
States courts, exclusive of judges sal
aries. for the year ended July |, 1885.
was s2,s74,733.ll, and for the year
ended July l, 1898. s4,52S, G16.S7.
III IS therefore apparent that the rea-
sons given in 1885 for a change in the
manner of enforcing the Federal Grim
inal law have gained cogency and
strength with the lapse of time.
also heartily Join the Attorney
General in recommending legislation
fixing degrees 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 govern
ment in cases where final Judgment is
rendered against the sutficiency of an
indictment or against the government
on any other question arising before
actual trial: limiting the right of re-
view III cases Of felony punishable only
by fine and Imprisonment to the Cir
cult Court of Appeals. and making
speedy provision for the construction
of such prisons and reformatories as
| NAV be necessary for the confinement