The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-21
THE REGULAR ARMY.
Reports and Recommendations of De-
pnrtmcnt Commander

partmeut Commanders.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 20-Major General
Merritt commander OF the Department OF
the Missouri headquarters at Chicago;
Gen. John r. Brooke. commanding the De-
partment of the DakotaS; Gen. Frank
Wheaton commanding the Department OF
the Colorado: Gen. Elwell ). Otis. COM
handing the Department of the Columbia:
Gen. James w Forsythe. commanding the
Department of California. and Gen. u. II.
Bliss. commanding the Department Of
Texas. have made their annual reports to
the Secretary of War. The reports review
i'm detail the work of the troops under their
respective commands. the condition of the
stations, ana contain recommendations for
the future
General Merritt says that the year has
been singularly free from military opera
tions and the frontiers have enjoyed peace
and quiet In the meantime the troops
have been engaged i'm perfecting themselves
in drill. tactics and gymnastics and I'm all
these pacticulars during the last year they
have made important progress General
Merritt adds: Il earnestly recommend that
at each post where cavalry Is likely TO be
stationed a riding hall be constructed on
the general plan of those at Forts Riley
and Leavenworth. They are not expensive.
and the benefit which results from their
i'm winter and at other times to men
fessionally is so great that cost of con-
struction should not be considered. In this
connection l especially call attention to the
necessity for drill halls at all permanent
infantry posts. AT many posts during the
winter season, notably Forts Brady and
Wayne. Mich. the winters are long and
inclement and outdoor drills are impossi-
bic. At such posts drill halls impera-
tive necessities t and and they should be built at
General Wheaton in his report devotes
considerable space to the suppression OF
the Yaqui Indians. or Santa Teresa Ia
natics who attacked Mexican Nogales in
August last. and to the raids of the rene
gade Apaches. The labor performed in the
effort TO rid Arizona OF these pestiferous
renegades. he says. can be appreciated
when he stated that in single year his
troops i'm Arizona and New Mexico marched
AZ. 457 miles this duty General Wheaton
urges that the attention of Congress be
called TO the disparity between the pay OF
adjutant generals clerks compared with
the pay of clerks in the supply department.
General Otis called attention TO the in
crease of assertions in his department.
which he attributes to mine discoveries i'm,
the territory under his command rather
than any spirit of decentralization Speak
ing of the new magazine rifle he says IL
has displayed great strength and DURABLE
ity and appears TO need only strengthening
in some of its minor parts magazine cut
off and cooking appliances to complete its
General Kruger urges an increase OF the
artillery arm of the service. as follows;
1T seems almost superfuouS to allude in
this report to the necessity for an increase
of the artillery force so fully has the case
been h h w IN paDartent The nres
ent force is inadequate as a reliable basis
for the event of war with maritime
power. The most pressing need. think. in
respect to the personnel OF the army Is an
increase OF the military force.
Prof. Jordan on the Seal Question.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 20. = Prof David
Starr Jordan president of the Leland STAN
ford University and member of the Ber-
ing Sea Commission. had another confer
ence to-day with Assistant Secretary Ham,
lin on the subject of his forthcoming re-
port. The Professor declined to discuss at
any length the questions involved In the In
vestigation of the commission I'm advance
of their report. 1T was his opinion. how
ever. that the Paris award had proven in-
slaughter of the seals, which must result
in time i'm practically DISCRIMINATING the
ar and he the snbsttution of spears had
not resulted in the good expected. and. on
the whole. the present situation was not
altogether encouraging to the friends OF
the seals The Professor confidently ex-
pected. however. that the investigation just
concluded by our own and the British COM
missioners would result in a better general
understanding of the subject and a will
ingness the part Of all concerned TO do
whatever was found needful TO prevent the
humiliation Of the seal herds.
a Kansas PopuIfst Money scheme.
WASHINGTON, Mo-. 20. - Should the
Kansas PopuIists make Mexican sIiver dol
lars Il legal tender a constitutional question
of prime Importance will arise for decision
by the United States Supreme Court. which
unquestionably would have a case brought
before IL to test such law The Constitu-
ton. Section l, declares that mo State
shall coin money, emit bills OF credit. make
anything but gold and silver coin tender
Of .ataf hsG
ed that under this provision Kansas could
make Mexican silver dollars legal tender
within her borders. but generally IL has
been believed that under this and other
constitutional provisions. Including mat
forbdding the impairment Of conIracts. amy
such law would be held invalid by the
courts.
The Appropriation Bills.
WASHINGTON, Nov 2O.-lChairman Cam
non of the House committee of appropria-
tions. has called meetings of the subcom-
mittees of that bodyyfor Nov. %. one week
before the opening of Congress. in order
to begin work on the appropriation bills.
Chairman Bingham. OF the subcommittee
on the Legislative. executive ana Judlclal
bills. says he hopes by THIS week OF adj
vance work TO have the appropriation bill
OF which he is in charge about ready when
Congress meets. and IL Is thought that sew
eral of the bills will be ready for action in
the House before the Christmas recess.
No Orders Given for loO.OtpO Rifles.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2O.--Captain samp-
son. chief of ordnance of the navy, says
there is no truth. far as ne knows, In
the sensational report that the navy will
order to-day 100000 Lee rifles. The navy
ordered ten thousand rifles one year ago,
and these are being delivered. the irst con-
sienment OF five hundred having reached
New York recently. IL il the only order
known or contemplated and IL was given In
the usual course of supplying the navy with
a modern arm.
General Notes.
WASHINGTON. Nov. pa medal OF
honor has been awarded 10 Ordnance Ser
geant Moses williams. Fort Stevens. Ore
gon. for most distinguished g'sllantry In
action with Apache Indians Aug l6 ISL