The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-30

c.'ling one fore Erer adm tied ~ special
AAf1oritN ~ congress. Vas f.4 beng fort-
eiEnt les- than the fnii number author zed
hy law NotWithstAnEnE t1e desire az
large numbers of fae vcuth 81 the Couh-
try- - enter fhis institution. there are ev-
cry year many uuGlied vacancies. rnatnly
ccc2nse ~ failure on the part of represen-
uuvss IN congress % make nominations
an1 the restrictive laws conccruiug ap-
po.ntments- Various methods - increase
the number have osen suggested. re-
new the recommendation Of my last report
that the president be authorized 20 name
ten caGets-at-lsrge each wear
The secretary mentions the fact that
several state militias stiu use out-0f-date
patterns OF arms. because Of the non-ap-
propriatiOus for new ones. Repeated req
concentrations for an increase % this ap-
preparation have not met with favorable
response from congress. ne says. though
the reasons for such increase seem oh
vious. IL Is now suggested thar author
ity oe granted 10 the department. 20 sell
20 the states at cost price such arms and
equipments as they may require. and that
the proceeds Of such sales he credited 70
the appropriations for supplying ana re-
placing such arms and equipments.
Coming down 20 the question Of sea-
coast 6efenses. the secretary makes men
Jon Of the appropriations made therefor
by congress. and continues. The orig
inal plan contemplated an expenditure Of
So. ~. 500 by the end OF the present year.
The actual expenditures and appropria-
tons FOR armament and emplacements
have. however, been but Sie.6sl. .ooo. The
average annual appropriations fer these
two objects have been less than Sl.5t1.tso.
The work has therefore been conducted
AT about one-seventh the rate proposed.
II future appropriations for the manu-
facture Of guns, mortars and carriages he
no larger than the average authorized
for the purpose since ISSS. ii viii require
twenty-five years more 70 supply the
armament OF the eighteen important
ports for which complete projects are ap-
proved. II the appropriations for the en-
gineer work are 10 continue a the rate OF
the annual appropriations since 1Seo IL
Will require seventy years 10 complete the
emplacements and platforms for this ar
mament for the ports referred 10. II rests
with congress 10 determine hy its appro-
priatons the period which shall elapse
before our coasts shall he put in a salts
factory condition for defense. The
amount required for the eighteen ports Is
about SS2,o oe0o. and the entire work can
be completed within ten years.
The distribution Of duty and respon-
sih'lty under existing laws. whereby the
authority 70 formulate plans and execute
operations Is lodged with separate and
distinct bureaus. well ls In \ board
established ~ statute, all without any mar
monzing or central superv sion. is, in my
judgment. a mistake that should be cor
rected. To that end recommend the ap-
pointment OF "A board Of officers OF the
army. TO be selected by the president with
out restriction as 70 rank or corps. and
without extra pay or emolument. subject
to confirmation by the senate II that be
deemed wise. who shall be relieved OF all
other service and charged solely with the
task Of directing and supervising the
work in its entirety"
Secretary Lamont tells in detail Of the
work being done AZ the different arsenals.
and refers 10 many general subjects. sew
eral tables Of statistics being given. It
is earnestly recommended that congress
shall authorize the marking OF the re-
manning important hattlehelds in the man
ner adopted At Antietam. which can be
completed in a few years al a moderate
cost. while the project of more national
military parks. with thousands Of acres
bought by the government. involves the
expenditure Of millions Of dollars and an
indefinite lapse of time before completion.