The record-union., 1893-12-05
TEE MESSAGE.
TcoSr1NUED FROM FIRST pAeE.l
stead of being injurious, will increase the
probability OF wise action"

stead of being injurious, Will increase the
probability OF wise action"
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION.
The Superintendent of immigration
reports that during the last fiscal year
there arrived at our ports 40, f93 imml-
grants. OF these ,063 were not permitted
10 land under the limitations Of the law,
and 577 were returned to the countries
from whence they came by reason OF
their having become publicA charges.
The total arrivals were l4O,O3f less than
for the previous year.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
The Secretary Of War reports that the
strength OF the army on the 30th day OF
September last was ., ,779 enlisted men
and 2,I44 officers The total expense OF
this department for the year ending June
50, 1898, amounted TO S5l, ,O5O,0l4 81. VI
this sum 81 1872, 56l 90 was for salaries and
contingent expenses, -, 90 90 Iof Inc
support of the military establishment,
S6,077, ,033 2S for miscellaneous objects,
and SO, ,I58, ,63I II for public works. Ihls
latter sum includes 81, $40 10 for river
and harbor improvements and $500
III 20 for fortincations and other works
of defense.
The total enrolment of the militia of
the several States was on the 3lst OF Octo-
Der Of the current year ll2,597 officers
and enlisted men. Increased interest ana
marked progress are apparent IN the uls-
cipline and efficiency OF the organlZatlon'
NO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic
violence has called the army into service
during the year. and the only active mill
itary 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, elicit
ing the warm approval OF the civil and
military authorities OF both countries.
COAST DEFENSE.
Referring to the coast defense and forti-
fcations, be says large sum mas peen
already expended, but the cost OF main
tanning viii be inconsiderable compared
with the expense of construction and
ordnance At the end of the current cal
endar year the War Department will have
nine Pinch guns, twenty l0-inch and
thirty-four 8-inch guns ready to be
mounted on gun-lifts and carriages and
seventy-tive 12-inch mortars.
NATIONAL PARK.
z The work on the projected iChickamauga
and Chattanooga National Military Park
has been prosecuted with zeal and Judg--
ment, and its opening will be celebrated
during the coming year.
WEST POINT ACADEMY.
The reports of the military academy at
West Point and the several schools for
special instructions of officers show
marked advance in the education of the
army and commendable ambition among
its officers to excel in the military profess
sion and to fit themselves for the highest
service to the country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Commenting on the report of the Attor-
nev-Generai, which contains the usual
summary Of the affairs and proceedings
of the department OF Justice, the Presi-
dent says: Il cannot too heartily lndOrSe
the proposition that the fee system as
applicable to the compensation OF United
States attorneys, Marshals, clerks of
Federal Courts, and United States Com
missioners, should be abolished with as
little delay 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 mex
pensively transacted as the ends OF justice
will allow"
The President again urges, as he did in
1885, that United States Commissioners
should have the Lnal disposition OF petty
oHenses within the grade of misdemean-
ors, especially those coming under the
internal revenue laws. He gives figures
showing the great increase IN such cases
since 1855, and the enormous expense en-
tailed thereby. He also heartily joins
the AttOrney-General IN recommending
murder within Federal jurisdiction, au
thorizing Writs of error on behalf of the
Government in cases where final judg-
lnent is rendered against the sutficiency
OF an Indictment or against the Govern
ment upon any other question arising be-
fore actual trial, limiting the right OF re-
view in cases of felony punishable only
by fine and imprisonment to the Circuit
Court of Appeals, ana making speedy
provision for the construction OF such
prisons and retOrmatOries as may be
necessary for the confinement Of United
States cOnvicts.
POsTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General is !
treated at length. The President says
that the financial depression quickly
made itself felt in the receipts of the de-
partment, and the close of the fiscal year
viii show a deficit of S. 900. 600. The Post
Office receipts for the last fiscal year
amounted to S75, 1896, ,933 Is and its expend-
itures TO So, ,074, l04 so. This Postotfice
deficiency would disappear or be i'm
mensely decreased if less matter was car
ried free through the mails, an item of
which is upward of 300 tons of seeds and
grain from the Agricultural Department.
The total number of Postoffices in the
United States on the 30th day OF June,
1898, was IS, ,403, an increase of ,284 over
the preceding year. OF these 1850 were
Presidential, an increase in that class OF
204 over the preceding year.
The President thinks the free delivery
system should not be extended beyond
What the law now provides. The expense
OF free delivery for the fiscal year was
SIl.000,000, which must constantly in
crease under present legislation. There
were 6,l01 additions to the domestic
money order offices during the last fiscal
year, being the largest increase in any
year since the Inauguration OF the sys-
tenn. The total mum Der of these offices at
the close of the year was lS, ,434. The total
issue OF money orders and postal notes
for the year amounted to SI56, ,82I, ,34S u.
The railway mail service is highly COM
mended. but the President agrees with
the General that there is
room for further improvement. The de-
nartment has S8,354 employees. civil
service IN the department is warmly ap-
proved.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
Comes in for congratulations THE re-
port of the Secretary OF the Navy has al
ready been published in the RECORD
UNION The delay in constructing of
vessels was caused by contractors falling
to deliver armor as agreed, but the diff
culties have now been overcome.
The President adds: ''Sinee 1856 Con-
Cress has at each session authorized the
building of one or more vessels, and the
Secretary of the Navy presents an earnest
plea for the continuance OF this plan. The
Secretary of the Navy recommends the
authorization OF az least one baItleship
and six torpedo boats. While I am dis
tinctly in favor OF consistently pursuing
the policy we have inaugurated Of build
ing up a thorough and efficient navy,
cannot refrain nom the suggestion that
Congress should carefully take into