The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-04
The PRESIDENTS. S. MESSAGE
Concluded from Page /.

the health. morals and discipline of the
troops. While the maximum legal strength
Of the army is 25,O00 men, the effective
strength through various causes is but
little over 10000 men. While no consider
able increase in the army is, in my ju1g-
ment, demanded by recent events, the
policy of sea coast fortiiication in the
of which we have been stead
lily engaged for some years, has so far
developed as to suggest that the effective
strength of the army be now made at
least equal TO the legal strength, The
secretary OF war presents plan which
recommend TO the consideration of con-
gress to attain the desired end. Among
other things this contemplates the adop-
ton of the three battalion formation of
regiments which for several years has
been indorsed by the secretaries of war
and generals commanding the army Com
pact in itself, 1t provides a skeleton or
ganization ready to De filled out in the
event of war which Is peculiarly adapted
to our strength and requirements. 1t is
hardly necessary to recall the fact that in
obedience TO the commands of the const-
tuition and the laws for the purpose of
the property of the United
States, aiding the process of federal courts
and removing lawless Instructions to the
by the government OF It's
legitimate functions, Ii became necessary
in various localities during the year TO
u
regular troops. The duty was discharged
courageously and marked dis
erection by the officers and men, and most
proof was thus afforded that
the army deserves that complete confi-
dence in its efficiency and discipline which
the country has at all times manifested.
The total expenditures for the war de-
partment for the year ended June, 80, 1891,
to S56,039 O09.S4. OF this sum
81, 900, ,Gl4.99 was for salaries and contin-
gent expenses, S3 GIG for the sup
port of the military establishments, S3,Wl,-
GS22 23 for miscellaneous objects and S25-
81 $50. 9G for public works. The appropria-
tions for the current year aggregate S52-
429, ,l127S and the estimates submitted by
the secretary of war for the next fiscal
year call for appropriations amounting
to $50 23lS, ,629.55. The total enrolment Of
the militia of the several states Is llI533
officers and enlisted men, an increase OF
), 3i3 over the number reported at the close
of the previous year. In recognition OF
the long and distinguished military SER
vice and faithful discharge of delicate
and responsible civil duties by Major
General John NJ. Schofield, now the gem
eral commanding the army, 1t is suS-
gested to congress that the temporary re-
vival of the grade of lieutenant general In
his behalf would be a just and gracious
act and would permit his retirement, now
near at hand, with rank betting his
merits.
Post Office Department.
The report of the attorney general notes
the gratifying progress made by the
supreme court in overcoming the arrears
of its business and in reaching condition
in which 1t will be able to dispose of cases
as they arise without any unreasonable
delay. The report of the postmaster gem
eral presents a comprehensive statement
of the operations of the postofilce de-
partment for the last fiscal year The re-
ceipts of the department during the year
amounted to $75, ,0SO, ,479.0l and the eXpen1i-
lures to $S4, 1924, Halo The transactions of
the postal service indicate with barometic
certainty the fluctuations in the business
of the country. lnasmuch, therefore, as
business complications continued to exist
throughout last year to an unforeseen en-
tent, 1t Is not surprising that the dell
cheney of revenue to meet expenditures OF
the postotiice department, which was es-
timated in advance at about S,OOO,UO,
should be exceeded by nearly one ana a
quarter million dollars. The postmaster
general states that this deficiency Is un-
necessary and might be obviated at once
If the law regulating rates upon mail mat
ter of the second class was modified. |
invite your prompt consideration OF thls
subject and fully indorse the views of the
postmaster general. The total number of
thirtieth day of June, 1894, was $780, an
increase of 1,403 over the preceding year;
of these 3,i2S were presidential an IN
crease in that class of siXty-eight over
the preceding year. The report shows
most gratifying results in the way of
economies worked without affecting the
efficiency of the postal service. These
consist in the abrogation of steamship
subsidiary contracts, re-lettlng man
transportation contracts and in the cost
vice, amounting in all to $l66 9,OF.42.
Attention Is called to the report OF the
secretary of the navy, which shows very
gratifying progress in the construction OF
ships for our new navy. All the vessels
now building, including the three torpedo
boats authorized at the last session of
congress and excepting the first-class bat
tleship Iowa, will probably be completed
during the coming fiscal year. The estl-
mates for the increase of the navy for
the year ending June 80 1896, are large,
but they include practically the entire
sum necessary to complete and equip all
the new ships not now in commission, SO
that unless new ships are authorized the
appropriations for the naval service Tor
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1871 should
fall below the estimates for the coming
year by at least $12,0O0,0OO. The secretary
presents with much earnestness plea for
the authorization of three additional bat
tleships and ten or twelve torpedo boats
While the unarmored vessels heretofore
authorized, including those now nearing
al
is believed is sufficient for ordinary cruis-
ing purposes in time of peace. we have
now completed and In process of construc-
tlon but four frst-class battleships and
but few torpedo boats. If we are TO have
a navy for warlike operations, offensive
and defensive, we certainly ought TO in
crease both the number of battleshipS
and torpedo boats.
Battleships Recommended.
rho nf nrDopr rnuliirpg OK.
pensive plants and the aggregation ol
many skilled wOrkmen. All the armol
necessary to complete vessels now build
ing will be delivered before the first Of
June next. If no new contracts are giVeI
out contractors must dsband their work
men and their plants must lie idle. Bat
tleships authorized at this time would mo-
be well under way until late In the com
ing fiscal year and at least three years
and q half from the date of the contrac
would be required for their completion
The secretary states that not more than Il
per cent of the cost of such ships neeC
be included in the appropriations for th'
coming year. | recommend that provision
be made for the construction OF additiona
battleships and torpedo boats. The secre
tary recommends the manufacture no
only of a reserve supply of ordnance anC
ordnance material for ships of the navy
hut also O. supply for the auxiliary fleet
Guns and their appurtenanceS should D
provided and kept on hand Tor botn pur
poses. We have not today a single gun
that could be put upon the ships Paris @
New York of the International Naviga
tlon company, or any other. The wa
now in progress between China and Japal
has rendered 1t necessary or eXpedien
to dispatch eight vessels to those waters
Roth the secretary of the navy and tn
secretary of the treasury recommend tn
transfer of the work of the coast surve.
proper to the navy department. | heart
fly concur in this recommendation.
feel II my imperative duty to call atten
tion TO the recommendation of the sec
retary in regard to the personnel of tn
line of the navy. The stagnation of pro
motion i'm this the vital branch of the ser
vice Is so great as to seriously impair 1t
| efficiency.
The report of the secretary Of the In
| terror exhibits the situation OF the numeT
Gus and interesting branches of the publ
service connected with his department
| | commend this report and the Valuabl
| recommendations of the secretary to tn
careful attention of the congress TIL
public land disposed of during the yea
| amounted to l0O,Gl0,077 acres, lncludin
| 2SS7, Cos Of Indian lands 1t Is estimate
| that the public domain still remalnln
! amounts to n little over 60OOOO 900 acres
| excluding, however, about 1850, 900, 900 acre
| i'm Alaska as well as military reservation
| and railroad lands yet unadiudicateC
! The total cash receipts from sale OF land
amounted to $2674, ,2S5.79, including $9l
| eSl 03 received from Indian lands. / full