Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-22
SEC'YAL GER'SREPORT
Made Up Of Synopses and Com
mentS.
GRADE OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL
He Recommends That 1t Be Re-
yved.
MORE MILITIA RY CADET s


usual run of such documents in that 1t is
made up of synopses of the reports of COM
handing officers and heads of bureaus pre-
pared by themselves with brief comments
on each by Secretary Alger. The material
features of these reports have been al
ready published in The Star from time to
time. In commenting on General Miles
report the Secretary says:
1T is earnestly urged that his recon-
menGation concerning two additional regi-
ments of artillery be faycrably considered.
We are erecting great seacoast batteries,
as he says. without men to man them.
These costly works should, as soon as
completed. be manned by a sufficient force
to care for and preserve them. and to be-
come familiar with the handling of the
guns, the manipulation of which requires
experienced services, to be ready at all
times to operate them.
The Alaska Reservation.
Within the past year. as is of course
well known. the great territory of Alaska
has opened up new problem 1t Is probable
that with another year a very large num-
Der of people may be gathered there, esti-
mated by many conservative men as high
as 100000. and / urgently suggest that
some adequate measures be adopted by
which military force can be sent to that
territory. if need be, to guard persons
and properly.
tiers on the Island of ST. Michael. was
created under orders of the Goth ultimo.
The creating of further military reserva-
tonS. in command of prudent officers,
given some discretion may best solve the
problem \ boat for transportation and
patrol on the Yukon and its tributaries
will be essential, and authority is asked
to provide one
ION account of the terrible rigor of the
weather. and also the inducements for de-
sertion. | recommend that the pay of the
enlisted men serving there be increased,
with the hope that extra compensation
will be inducement for very high
grade of men to enlist in that particular
service
Grade of Lieutenant General.
Il recommend the revival of the grade of
lieutenant general. All the great nations
of the world give their officers much higher
rank than does the United States, and few,
even of the smaller ones have their COM
mandinc general below the grade of lieu
tenant general.
1T is found upon full investigation that
the military attaches to the different en-
bassies and foreign courts have much
higher rank than those from the United
States, which places at a great disadvan-
tage in cases Of ceremony. The cost of liv-
ing Is greatly increased at those stations.
1t seems to me to be unjust to our officers.
i therefore recommend that the military
attaches to the different embassies be
given the rank and pay. while serving, of
colonel. and that the attaches at legations
be given the rank and pay of lieutenant
colonel while. serving, or at least the rank
and pay of major"
In regard to the Military Academy the
Secretary says:
The Military Academy at West Point
can accommodate more students, and if
provision is made for two additional regi-
iIIery n1ad tbe
army can absorb more CT it's graduates.
The superintendent recommends Iegisla-
ton to authorize the appointment of two
cadets-at-iarge from each state. to be nom
mated by senators. This would give ninety
cadets more than at present 1t is desira-
bic that there should be no surplus grad
yates, and / recommend an alternative
that the President be authorized to
appoint ten cadets-at-large each year.
This would be excess of thirty cadets
over the number now authorized
After quoting the report of the Judge ad-
vocate general. Secretary Alger says:
THE necessity for legislation to pro-
vide proper system of ordinary GRIM
1nal jurisdiction in military reservations. to
amend the summary court act. and to leave
to the discretion of the Secretary of War
the designation of the amount of the re-
ward for the apprehension of deserters, is
fully stated in the report of the judge adj
vocate general. and it is hoped that hts
recommen datiors may receive favorable
action at the coming session of Congress"
sary general of subsistence, the Secretary
says:
1T gives pleasure to commend the
work of distribution of relief to the SUI
ferers from the overflow of the Mississippi
river. the Red River of the North and the
Rio Grande OF the $4,000 appropriated
the cOmmissary general reports a balance
of S12i.UD remaining in the treasury"
Considerable space is devoted to the con-
sideration of the questions included in the
report of the chief of engineers. Secretary
Alger says. in part:
THE time seems to have arrived when
an increase in the number of officers and
enlisted men of the corps of engineers is
Indispensable. The immense work intrust-
ed to few men is overta king, and IL Is be-
lieved a great saving of money in secur-
ing efficient and thorough work by con-
tractors in fulfillment of their contracts
would be effected by detailing young Off
Ger to remain on each work under con-
struction or improvement to that day
by day all material as purchased both in
quality and quantity, and according to
specifications, is furnished
II invite attention to the remarks OF the
chief engineers on the subject of sea
coast defenses. in which he gives the prog
ress of the work on gun and mortar bat
teries and emplacements- Sea coast de-
fenses are being rapidly constructed, and
they should be completed at the earliest
possible date. / cannot emphasize this too
strongly, and therefore urge that the full
amount of the estimate be appropriated.
Estimates Too Large
1.-The estimates for river and harbor i'm
provements submitted by the chief of en-
gineers have been prepared in accordance
with the requirements of law. They great
ly exceed former estimates. and. while /
hesitate to express an opinion in matters
so fully within the knowledge of
members of Congress. l cannot re-
frain from stating the result of
my observations since my connection with
yf t. hat
had an opportunity TO make a personal in
spection OF many of the works in question.
yet with the exception of waterways and
harbors where there is a large traffic. or
where immediate improvement is impera-
lively needed. / am convinced that the es-
Inmates are largely In excess of what they
should be at time when the demands
upon the treasury are as great as now. 1t
Is therefore recommended that the amount
to be appropriated be largely reduced below
the estimates
Special attention is invited to the fact
that there are now continuous contracts