The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-04

The circulation was decreased sl.7ii.as,.
The obligations OF the banks to eaeh
otacr were Increased sll1.Ho.I5t niii -,
individual deposits were 81, 2sf.Ry -. 80
than at the correspondents date In ,he
~ eYtous year. Loans and dlscoun's W.
{l6l. 2)S. q more than at the same ,Iine w
previous year. and checks and o,her c ashI
Items were so. 3i9, 963 more. The totai
resources OF the banks at the date men
toned amounted 10 S,G3.s2z.0o1' az
AGAINST $3,iO9 2Si.36 In 1898.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
From the report OF the Secretary OF
War II annears that the strength oI
the army on September 80, 1883, was
IBIS officers and y, 765 enlisted men.
Although this IL apparently q VSIS
slight decrease compared with the pre-
vious wear. the actual effective forSe nus
been increased to the equivalent OF nSal
~ two regiments through the reoi gahlLa-
ton Of the system of recruiting, anu 'nS
consequent release to regtmentai uuty W
the large force OF men hitherto st1Nnilns
at the recruiting depots, the aboiiti pi,i
furthermore effect an annual reduction
approxima ting $4,000 In the direct ef i-
penditureE besides promoting GENE a ~
the health morals, and discipline on 'HS
troons The execution OF the policy OF
concentrating the army az lnlpol tane
centres OF population and transpoIta,,'Vnrss
fnreshadowed In the last annual TepoIt VI
The Secretary has resulted tn the abaH-
donment of fifteen OF the smaller posts
which was effected under plan WNion
assemblies organizations OF the SAM
regiments hitherto widely separated. ms
renders our small forces more readiy
effective for any service when they may
he called upon to perform, increases lhe
extent of the territory under protection
without diminishing the security hereto
fore afforded TO any locality. improves
the discipline, training and esprit dc
CORPS Of the army. besides considerably
decreasing the cost Of its maintenance:
Though the forces OF the department OF
the east have been somewhat Increased,
more than three-fourts of the army ls
still stationed west of the Mississippi.
This carefully n atured policy, which Sc
cures the best and greatest service in the
interests Of the general welfare from the
small force comprising our regular army,
should rot be thoughtlessly embarrassed
by the creation OF new and Unnect ssary
pests through acts of Congress to crafty
the ambidCns or interests OF localities,
While the maximum legal strength OF the
army is y 900 men, the effective strength,
through various causes is but little over
WoA men. The purpose OF Congress
does not therefore seem to be fully az
tanned by tie existing condition. Whlie
no considerable Incl ase In the army Is
i'm my Judgment demanded by recent
events the policy of seacOast foftltca-
ton tn the prosecution of which we nave
been steadily engaged for some years
has 50 far developed as to suggest that
the effective strength of the army be
now made at least equal to the legal
strength Measures taken by the De,
have air, ady considerably augmented the
effective force and the Secretary of War
presents a plan which / recommend 10
the consideration of Congress to attain
the desired end.
The THREE BATTALION FORMATION
Economies effected in the department
In other lines Of its work will offset to
a great extent the expenditures involved
In the proposition submitted Among other
things. this contemplates the adoption Of
the three battalion formation OF reGi-
meuts. which for several years has been
endorsed by the secretaries of war and
the generals commanding the army. Com
pact IN itself. 1t provides a skeleton orga-
uIZation. ready TO be filed out in the
event Of war, which IS peculiarly adapted
TO our strength and requirmentS. and the
laCt that every other nation, with
single exception has adopted this torma-
tiOn TO meet the conditions of modern
warfare should alone secure Tor the
recommendation an early consideration.
IL IS hardly necessary TO recall the fact
that any obedience to the commands OF
the Constitution and the laws and for the
purpose of protecting the property OF
the United States, aiding the process OF
Federal courts and removing laWleSs OBJ
StruCtiOns TO the performance by the
Government OF rs legitimate functions, II
became necessary in various localities
during the year TO employ a considerable
portion OF the regular troops. The duty
was discharged promptly. courageOusIy
and with marked discretion by the Of
dcers and men, and the most gratifying
proof was thus afforded that the army
deserves that complete confidence in its
efficiency and discipline which the COun-
try has at all times manifested. The
year has been free from disturbances by
Indians and the chances of further depre-
datOns on their part are constantly be-
coming more remote and improbable.
Total expenditures for the War Depart
ment for the year ended June 30. 1894,
amounted to $J6,H3A0W3i. 0f this sum
$1,000 Gl1.T9 was for salaries and con-
tingent expenses. SD $50, lJ,i IL for the
support OF the military establishment,
S1uDl .GN223 Tor miscellaneous objects,
and S2j.31l .5tt!@ for public works. This
latter sum includes $l9.I .Ui1l9 for
river and harbOr improvements, and 80.
~, 6l3.J6 defence The appropriations for
the current year aggregate SJ2,i&l. HIS,
ard the estimates submitted by The Sec
rotary of War for the next fiscal year,
all for appropriations amounting TO
>J!.3lN. go -.
The skal and industry Of our ordnance
officers and inventors have, II IS believed.
overcome IN" mechanical obstacles which
have heretofore delayed the armament OF
our coasts and this great national under
taking upon which We have entered may
Low proceed as rapidly as Congress shall
determine. With supply of finished
guns OF large Galore already on hand.
~ which additions should now rapidly
ard emplaCements for their mount can
not be too strongly urged.
MILITARY INSPECTIONS.
The total enrolment Of the militia Of
the several States is tl7h33 officers and
enlisted men, an increase OF j3f3 over
the number reported al the close Of the
previous year.
The reports Of militia inspections by
regular army officers show a marked in
crease IN interest and efficiency among
the State organizations. ard strongly
recommend a continuance of the policy
OF afOrdlng every practical encourage
ment possible to this important auxiliary
Of our military establishment. The con
dition OF the Apache Indians held as
prisoners by the Government for eight
years, at a cost of half a million dol
lars. has been changed during the year
from captivity &c one which gives them
an opportunity to demonstrate their
capacity for self support and at least
partial civilization. Legislation enacted
at the late session Of Congress rave
the War Department authority 10 trans
FER the survivors. numbering $40, from
Mount Vernon barracks, On Alabama,
TO any suitable reservation. The depart
ment selected as their future home the
military lands near Fort Sill, Indian
Territory where. under military surviel-
lance. the former prisoners have been
established in agriculture under condi-
tons favorable TO their Advancement.
In recognition OF the long and distin-
gIshed military services ana lalthtui
DISCHARGE of delicate and responsible civil
duties by Major General John NJ. Scho-
field, now the general commanding the
army. ii is suggested ia Congress that
the temporary revival OF the grade OF
Lieutenant-Gtnerai in his behalf would
be A Just and gracious act, and would
permit his retirement, now near at hand,
with rank betting his merits.
TOR ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT JUDGES.
The report of the Acknowledgement
IL. .,rL tif,.lnt, r1rnnrnea rnnnn nv Int.