The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-05
CONGRESS- TOO STINGY
Lamont Tells Why Our Coast:
Are Undefended.
7OYEARs TO COMPLETE THE WORK
VIII Be Necessary II Appropriations Are
Made In the Future as In the Past.
100000 State Militia Avaiiable-Reoom-
nendatlons In His Report.

100000 state Militia Available RECON-
nIendatlons In His Report.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-The secre.
tary of war, in his annual report TO the
president, says the. expenditures for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895,
were S52, 9S7, 780. a; appropriations for
fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, $I3,-
466,57l.75; estimates for fiscal year
ending June 30, 1897, $5l, ,945, ,643. .45.
The year has been tranquil and undis-
turbed by Indian outbreaks, domestic
violence or troubles on the border. The
total I all enlisted men is 25,7O8.
A considerable reduction by congress
OF the estimates of the pay department
left the paymaster general without
sufficient funds TO meet the army nav.
roll for the last month of the year. An
unofficial arrangement was made under
which the necessary amount was ad-
vanced to meet these acc )unts in full,
the secretary of war having assumed
the personal responsibility Of guaran-
teeing their payment. A deficiency
appropriation of $24 900, or so much as
may be necessary to extinguish the
debt, is recommended.
TIE secretary says that by far the
most essential ueeu of our army today
Is the adoption of the three battalion
formation. The reasons for this change
and way to provide 1t were stated in
the report of the department for 1894.
AS necessary to effect that change, he
recommends the removal of the limit
Of $4,000 men fixed by the act of June
lS, 1874, and return to the limit fixed
I,rk klna al - l.1v II.
approval Of these two propositions will
restore to the effective force about
1000 enlisted men, bringing the actual
strength of the army up to the uom.
inal strength now fixed by law. BY
these changes the army will be in.
creased in efficiency 20 per cent, in
numbers about 1917 per cent, and in
cost OF maintenance only about 6 per
cent, or an increase in annual appro.
p "a ions of bo t $4,000 o.
) he policy Oi concentrating the army
q d abandoning unnecessary posts has
not only won the approval of all those
acquainted with the lines of progress
which conditions have marked out for
our army but is approved by all
thoughtful citizens. This policy has
also rendered it possible for this de.
partment since March 4, 1893, to turn
over to the department of the interior
TAI 900 acres of public land, convent
entity situated for the use Of actual
settlers.
The efforts of ,ecent years to bring
the army into closer lvIaClous with the
national guard of the states may now
be regarded as having established q
permanent union between the two
forces, ad antlgeous to both. During
the year .5 officers, 6 more than in the
previous year were permanently de-
tailed at state eadquarters, and 43
states secur' d I temporary duty the
services of arm officers. State eu-
campments OF troops were held by Q
states, to which 20 additional officers
were assigned as instructors and inspeo
tors. The conditions are favorable to
the development of volunteer force of
upward of 100000 men, Of the highest
efficiency and prepared for any service.
The secretary says the militia should be
supplied with modern arms and more
money should be appropriated by the
government. The secretary says the
military schools are increasing the in
terest of the youth in military affairs
and says army officers should be detail
ed to city high schools and state nor
NAL schools.
CbCIt hIJ LdluOuN bu bLub bll ; III
adequacy and impoteuCy y. .... sea-
coast defenses have been 50 evident
that the intelligence of the country
long since ceased to discuss that hui
initiating phase of the subject, but has
addressed itself to the more practical
undertaking of urging more rapid
I progress in the execution Of the plan
Of defense devised by the Endicott
board in 1886, with subsequent slight
notifications.
That plan contemplated system OF
Notifications at % ports Ito which
| Puget Sound was subsequently added),
requiring 81 uns and S24 mortars OF
modern const non, at cost OF
$97, 1872, 800, T o ling 8 $4,000 for
floating bat q. By an immediate
appropriation at that time of sci $780,.
900 and an annual appropriation Of
50, 100000 thereafter, as then recon.
mended, the system of land defensea
20 d have been completed in 1895.
The original plan contemplated an
expenditure Of $97, ,782, 800 by the end
of the present year. The actual ex'
penditures and appropriations for
armament and emplaoents have, how
ever, been but $l0,68l 900. The first
appropriation for guns was made only
seven years ago and the first appropria
tion for emplacements was made only
five years ago. The average annual
appropriations for these two objects
has been less than $l,50O,O00. The
work has therefore been conducted al
about one. seventh the rate proposed
If future appropriations for the man
ufacture of guns, mortars and carriages
be no larger than the average author
ICED for the purpose since 1883, 1t will
require % years more to supply the
armament Of the Is important ports
for which complete projects are ap
proved.
II the appropriations for the engi
neer work are to continue at the rate
of the annual appropriations since 1880
IL will re ulre 10 years TO complete the
emplacer' and platforms for this
armam NJ Tor the poIss Ieiorrer
BY about July next the condition ol
the completed oomponents of our new
defenses will be as follows: Guns, q
l2-inoh, 45 l0.inoh and 10 l2-inch; car
riages, 10 12-inch, 81 10.inch, IA 6-inch
emplacements, 3 12inoh, 10 l0'inoh
8-inoh; mortars. SO l2.inoh; car
riages, SO l2-inohi emplaoements, O.
12-inch.
1t rests with congress to determin,
by its appropriate ons the period which
shall elapse before our coasts shall b.
~~s in satisfantnrv condition nf da
fense, The amount required for the Il
r-.s- is about $62, 100000, and the en-
tire work can be completed within tel
years. The rate of progress will b.
slower in proportion as appropriation
are kept below tho amount which ca
be advantageously expended
1t is important that congress shoul
early adopt and consistently pursue
| Axad nolicv in raDard to the MARLIN