Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-01
Some Points Made in the Report Of
Secretary Lamont.
INCREASE OF ENLISTED MEN ASKED
Seacoast Defense May Keep Pace
With the Appropriations.
A STATUE COMMISSION

million dollars in salaries and contingent
expenses in administration of the War
Department at Washington during the
past year. besides effecting economies in
the recruiting service, rents, etc. The ex-
penditures for the last fiscal year were
500, O39, OO9 appropriations for the current
year are $50, 429, 112; estimates for the next
year are s52.31S.620.
The Secretary says it was found neces-
sary at times during the period from
March to July in various places to employ
considerable part of the army to ex-
ecute the orders of United States courts,
otherwise successfully defied and resisted,
to protect the dispatch of the United
States mails and to guard the property
Of the government. The movement of
troops thus necessitated was the largest
which has taken place since the close of
the civil war The extraordinary tasks
imposed upon officers and men, the Secre-
tary says, were discharged promptly, frm-
ly and judiciously, atteSting to the thor
ough efficiency of every branch OF the
service.
To Increase the Array.
Secretary Lamont earnestly recommends
legislation to establish the battalion forma-
ton, now adopted by the armies of every
other civilized nation. To effect that
change he recommends a return to the
law OF 1871, liking at oU,OOO the limit OF
the army By the changes proposed, he
says, the army will be increased 20 per
cent in efficiency, 16 IL in numbers and
only per cent in cost of maintenance.
The actual combative strength of the army
will thus become about 5000. the number
row contemplated by law, but which is
reduced by detachments and otherwise to
about 10000. 1t is proposed to add two
companies to each of the twenty-five in
fantry regiments and two batteries to each
or the 1--WE artillery regiments. No Increase
In cavalry is proposed.
The cost of the increased number of en-
listed men would be $l,2OOOOO annually,
but retrenchment has reduced admins
trative expenses of the War Department
at Washington 100000, and by applying
these economies to the benefit OF the army,
the Secretary says. the efficient organiza-
ton and greater strength may be obtained
at an increase of only 100000.
1t Is proposed to meet the necessary in
crease in line officers by reductions in the
staff, and to this end a consolidation of
the quartermaster's, pay and subsistence
departments into one bureau of supply is
recommended.
Concentration of troops at important GEN.
tors has been effected without lessening
the protection afforded to any region
where garrison was heretofore stationed
while increasing the extent of territory to
which protection is afforded.
The department has aimed especially to
Increase the comfort of enlisted men, and
with new quarters and barracks our army
the world. The repeal of the law requr-
ing a percentage Of the pay of enlisted
men to be retained until honorably dis
charged is recommended.
Seven regiments have been armed with
the new magazine life, and by May l the
infantry will be completely equipped with
the new arm. Manufacture will continue
to equip the militia.
SeacOst Defenses.
Seacoast defense may now be prosecuted
as rapidly as Congress makes appropria-
lions for the purpose, and if these are suf-
fCient the project of the Endicott board
can be carried out in twelve and one-half
years. The invention, by American ord
nance officers. of disappearing gun car
riages, unequaled for rapidty and SIM
plcity of action by any foreign carriage,
the Secretary says, removes the greatest
mechanical difficulty to be met, and ap-
preparations for the fabrication of these
carriages are recommended so that our
large investments in guns, mortars and
fortifcations may at once be utilized.
The total cost of finishing the armament
of our twenty-eight chief seaports is esti-
mated to be S50,277,2iS Annual appropria-
tons Of Si,25O.OO0 will be required for arma-
ment during the next twelve years.
The Military Academy at West Point is
commented and Secretary Lamont advises
that the President be empowered to ap-
point annually ten cadets-at-large.
Last year siXty-seven army officers We're
detailed LOT duty with the militia and thlr-
ty-three states held state camps of inStruc-
ton, showing that the National Guard is on
better footing now than ever before in
time of peace. The instruction of portions
of the militia of the seaboard states in the
use of modern heavy ordnance is a neces-
sary part of our projects of military edu-
cation and coast defense to which atten-
ton is now invited, the time is not re-
mote when plans for that instruction must
be devised. More liberal provisions of law
for arming and equipping the National
Guard are recommended. The militia num-
bers 1lI,533 officers and men, an increase
of about 5000 since last year. The artil-
| lery ARM maintained by thirty-three states,
numbers 5,022, the cavalry arm, maintained
| by twenty-siX states, 1909.
Secretary Lamont recommends the trans
| fer of the military prison at Fort Leaven-
| worth to the civil authorities, and the con-
| finement Of most military prisoners at
| large garrisoned posts.
In view of the recent passage of a river
| and harbor bill, appropriations for new
projects are not recommended, but esti-
| mates, amounting to S12,SI2, l15, for con-
| tinuing work under existing contracts are
submitted.
| Reference is made to the work done on
| the Chickamauga and Chattanooga mill
| tary park, the national cemeteries, the
Antietam battlefield and the Gettysburg
| battlefield, and last years recommended
| ton, that the general government take
| charge of the Gettysburg field is renewed,
| in accord with the desire of the Battlefield
| Memorial Association.
| The Subject of Monuments.
! On the subject of monuments Secretary
| Lamont says:
THE contracts for the pedestal and
! statue to Gen. Logan, and for the pedestal
| and statue to Gen. Hancock, which is to
| be erected at the intersection of Pennsyl-
| wanna avenue and 9TH street, have been let.
| The committee of the Society of the Army
| of the Cumberland has contracted for O
| statue to Gen. Sheridan, and expects to de-
| liver ii carly next autumn to the commits
| sion appointed by Congress, which has Sc
lected a site at the intersection of Penn
| sylvania avenue and E street northwest.
| I'm 1892 the sum of $4,000 was appro-
priated for statue to Gen. Sherman, to
| which the Society of the Army of the Ten
nessee has undertaken to add n like
| amount. Pending collection of subscrip-
| tons 1T mas been deemed inadvisable to
| enter into contracts for the monument,
! but the commissioners designated for that
! purpose have agreed on site for it at the
| east front of the Capitol, north of Green
| ough's statue of Washington.
mo monument has been erected at
Washington to the memory of Gen. Grant.
! The site to the south of the statue OF
| Washington appears well adapted for such
| use, and it is recommended that it be re-
! served for that object, and that Congress
I I'LL