The morning call., 1894-12-01
GETTING THE NEW GUNS.
All the Infantry Will Have Them
Next May.
DEFENSE OF THE SEA COASTS
There Is Nothing to Hinder the Work
Now But the Action OF
Congress.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-The annual re-
port OF Secretary Lamont shows saving
of $5OO,000ln salaries and contingent ex-
penses In tue administration OF inc war
Department at Washington, besides econ
omles IN the recruiting service ana ren's.
Expenditures for the last fiscal year were
$56.039,OO9; appropriations for the currehi
year are $50, 429 112; estimates for the
next year are S52, 316, 500
1t was found necessary at times during
the period from March to July In various
places to employ a considerable part OF
the army to execute the orders or the
United States courts, otherwise success
fully defied and resisted, to protect the dis
patches Of the I'm tied States mails and to
guard the property of the Government.
The movement of troops thus DecesSitated
was the largest which has taken place
since the close of the civil war. The ex-
tra0rdinary tasks imposed upon officers
and men were discharged promptly. firmly
aud judciouSly, attesting to the thorough
efficiency OF every branch af the service.
On October the army numbered: OFF,
GERS. 2136; enlisted men, 25.772 'Of the
latter. for various causes. only 20,114 were
effective. Secretary Lamont earnestly
battalion formation now adopted by the
armies of every other civilized nation. To
effect that change he recommends a return
to the law of 1870, fixing $4,000 as the limit
of the army. BY the change proposed the
army will be increased 20 per ce-t in eff
cheney and 1914 in numbers and only per
cent in cost of maintenance The actual
combative strength will thus become about
$4,000, the number now contemplated by
law, but which is now reduced by detach-
ments and otherwise to about 10000. 1t
is proposed to add two companies to each
of the sixty five infantry regiments and
two batteries to each of the five artillery
regiments. No increase in cavalry is re-
ported.
The cost of the Increased number of
men would be 81, 100000 annually, but re-
trenchment has reduced the admlnIstra-
ton expenses of the War Department at
Washington 100000 and by applying
these economies to the benefit of the army
efficient organization and greater strength
can be obtained at an increase of only
| S700, 900. 1t is proposed 10 meet the neces-
sary increase in line officers by reduc-
tions in the staff, and to this end con-
solidation of the quartermasters', pay and
| subsistence departments in one bureau OF
| supply is recommended.
The three recruiting depots have been
abolished. adding 1900 men to the effective
strength and reducing expenditures about
$250,O00. Post and regimeutal recruiting,
winch involves little or no expense and
brings recruits Immediately into the COM
mands with which they are to serve, will
be extended. The character of recruits is
improved and last year only 1917 out of
81, 81 applicants were accepted. All re-
cruis must now write the English Ian
guage and must be citizens of the United
States or have declared their intention to
become such citizens.
or 2710 men discharged by the expira-
! ton of service 2079 re-enlis,ed. DeSer-
tons show large decrease. The repeal
Of the law requiring a percentage of the
pay of enlisted men 10 be retained until
| honOrably discharged is recommended.
| Seven regiments have been armed with
the new magazine rife, and by May l the
infantry will be completely equipped with
the new arm. The manufacturer of thai
arm will continue to equip the militia.
The manufacture of modern field and
siege artillery has been continued. Sea
coast defense may now be prosecuted as
| rapidly as Congress makes appropriations
for that purpose. and, if these are sutfi-
Client. the project of the Endicott board
can be carried out in twelve and half
years. The cost of finishing the armament
of our wenty-eight chief sea ports is e,ti-
mated to be 500, 639, 9S7 for guns, SO, S01, 100
for mortars. So. 500. 900 for gun carriages
and SIS, $50, 900 for mortar carriages; total.
including contract work, $50, 227. 24S.
Secretary Lamont observes that the
statue to General Grant has been erected
between the Capitol and the Congress
sonal Lbr ary