Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1894-12-07

lIotA idIoiudA IoVcuuo Clti, ,lOo.ffo.iO ~.
The balance of income for the year,
amounting to s93,s15,5l797, was derived
from the sales of land and other sources.
NO ARMY INCREASE.
From the reports of the secretary of
war it appears that the strength of the
army on September 30, 1894, was 2,135
officers and 25,765 enlisted men. AL
though this is apparently very slight
decrease compared with the previous
year, the actual effective force has been
increased to the equivalent of nearly two
regiments through the reorganization of
the system of recruiting and the conse-
quent release to regimental duty of the
large force Of men hitherto serving at the
recruiting depots. Though the forces Of
the department of the east have been
somewhat increased, more than three
fourths of the army is still stationed
west of the Mississippi. This carefully
matured policy, which secures the best
and greatest service in the interest of the
general welfare from the small force
comprising our regular army, should not
be thoughtlessly embarrassed by the
creation of new and unnecessary posts
through acts of congress to crafty the
ambitions or interests OF localities While
no considerable increase IN the army is,
in my judgment, demanded by recent
events, the policy of sea coast fortifca-
tions, in the prosecution of which we
have been steadily engaged for some
years, has 30 far developed as to suggest
that the effective strength of the army
be now made at least equal to the legal
strength.
THE GREAT STRIKES.
1t is hardly necessary to recall the
fact that in obedience to the commands
of the constitution and the laws and fol-
the purpose of protecting the property
of the United States, aiding the process
OF federal courts and removing lawless
obstructions to the performance by the
government of its legitimate functions
it became necessary in various localities
during the year to employ considera
BILE portion of the regular troops. The
duty was discharged promptly, courage
ously and with marked discretion by the
officers and men, and the most gratifying
proof was thus afforded that the army
deserves that complete confidence in its
efficiency and discipline, which thu
country has at all times manifested.
The president recommends that pro
vision be made for the construction O
additional battle ships and torped
boats, as outlined in the report of tn
secretary of the navy.
WESTERN INTERESTS.
I cheerfully indorse the recommends
tions of the secretary of the interior tina
appropriate protection be provided fol
our forest reserves and that compre
hensive forestry system be inaugurated
Such keepers and superintendent as art
necessary to protect the forest alread,
reserved should be provided.
| am of the opinion that there should bt
an abandonment of the policy sanctioned
by present laws under which the govern
ment, for very small consideration, il
rapidly losing title to immense tracts o
land covered with timber, which shoul(
be properly reserved as permanent re
sources of timber supply
I concur in the opinion that the com
missioner of the general land otfic
should be relieved from the duty of de
Gliding litigated land cases, that a non
PARTISAN court should be created to pas
on such cases and that the decisions o
this court should be final, at least so ia
as the decisions of the department arr
now final.
INDIAN SCHOOLS.
Efforts are being made in the direction
of gradual reduction OF the number O
Indian contract schools, 80 that in
comparatively short time they may give
way altogether to government schools
and it is hoped that the change may b.
! SO gradual as to be perfected withou
! too great expense to the government, ant
with due regard to investments by thos
who have have established and are main
tanning such contract schools.
| PENSIONS.
At the close of the last fiscal year OF
the Both day of June, 1894, there wer
0G9,044 persons on our pension rolls
being a net increase of 3.532 over tn
number reported at the end of the prev
lous year. These pensions may be class
flied as follows: soldiers and sailors
survivors of all wars, 153,9GS; widow
| and relatives Of deceased soldiers, 2l5.
1872; army nurses in the war of tn,
rebellion, 4l4; of these pensioners 1903,
are surviving soldiers OF Indian anC
other wars prior to tho late civil war, ant
the widows and relatives of such soldiers
The remainder, numbering 931 ,501, ar,
receiving pensions on account of the
war of the rebellion, and of these 1884
are on tho rolls under the authority O
the act of June 27, 1892, sometimes