The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-22
ALGER'S VIEWS ON THE ARMY.
SECRETARY OF WAR SUBMITS HIS
ANNUAL REPORT.

Artillery Branch of the Service.
Military Force should BE Sent to
Alaska and Boat Provided For the
YuI<On-Revival of the Grade OF
Lieutenant General Recommended.
Favor Increase in Number of stu
dents at West POint-Army Officers
should BE Detailed Only to the Lar
ger of the Military Schools.
Washington. Nov. 21.-In his first annual
report Secretary Alger makes many rec
administration of the war department,
based on the conclusions of his subordi-
nate officers. He asks favorable consider
alton of the proposition to add two regi-
ments to the artillery branch, pointing to
the valuable fortifcations now being
erected, which he says should not be
manned by corporal's guard.
He says of Alaska that as many as
100000 people will be gathered there next
year, and a military force should be sent
to the territory, and large emergency pow
ers should be granted to the President
to repress lawlessness. Probably the Gre
alton of additional military reservations,
like that of ST. Mlchaels, may be the best
means to meet the problem. A boat for
the patrol of the Yukon is also asked for,
as well as increased pay for the enlisted
men serving in Alaska.
Secretary Alger recommends the revival
of the grade of lieutenant general, saying
all the great nations give their officers
much higher rank than does the United
States.
He indorses the recommendation of the
superintendent of the military academy
that the number of students at West Point
be increased by allowing each senator to
nominate cadet. AS an alternative he
suggests that the President be authorized
to appoint ten cadets at large each year.
Favorable comment is made upon the
work of the military colleges of the coun-
try, but it is suggested that the law be
amended so as to authorize details of army
officers only to such colleges as have at
least $50 pupils actually present.
Attention is called to the need of a prop
er system of criminal jurisdiction over
military reservations and of hall of re-
cords for the storage of official papers.
The estimate for railway transportation
is increased by $4,000 to provide means
for moving heavy ordinance.
To provide for the new posts needed on
the sea coasts an estimate of 100000 is
submitted.
Until recently. the hospital at Hot
Springs was open only to soldiers of the
regular army, but Secretary Alger has
just amended the regulations, so as to
authorize the admission of suitable cases
among the veterans of the late war.
In the opinion of the secretary, an in
crease in the engineering corps in officers
and enlisted men is Indispensable. He
points to the value and extent of the
work now in the hands of this corps, and
contends that 1t could be better supervis-
ed and improved in quantity and quality
by the assignment of more officers, which
is now impossible.
Secretary Alger transmits without reduc-
ton the estimate of the chief of the en-
gneers for the next fiscal year, amount
ing to $4S, TBS 1S0, more than double the ap-
propriations for the current year. He
says these are Largely in excess of what
they should be at time when the de-
mands upon the treasury are as great as
now, therefore he recommends a large re-
duction.
In justice to the chief Of engineers, Sec
retary Alger says these estimates were
made by his own direction that the facts
might be placed before congress, show.
ing what the expenditures would be were
all the requirements of the river and har-
Dor laws complied with, and he cites the
fact that the outstanding continuous con.
tracts for river and harbor work will re
quire an expenditure of $1,000, 900 for the
next fiscal year.
The secretary indorses the project for
construction of the ship canal connecting
Lakes Union and Washington with Puget
sound, but states that active operations
cannot be commenced for some time as
the right-of-way has not yet been ac-
quired.
Secretary Alger especially commends for
patriotism, generosity and zeal, Col. Buff
fington and Capt. Crozier the inventors
of the disappearing gun carriage who
generously donated the invention to the
government.
the recommendation that provision be
made for the erection in Washington of
a statue of Gen. Grant
The estimates for the fiscal year are
$96. .52S, 445, as against $62 S32 All, the amount
of the appropriations for the current year
The principal items are: Rivers and har-
bors, where the estimates are $4S 72S 160
as against the appropriation of $23, ,27S, OPS;
fortifications and sea coast defenses, $13.-
37S.571, as against $9,517 1H. and military
posts, parks and cemeteries, 81, ,558 639
against $sS9,s67.
-s-9-S
N II