The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-22
ALGER WANTS PILE.
Asks Nearly s1oO,0Oo,ooo for His
Department.

Washington, Nov. PIN his first an
nual report Secretary Alger makes many
recommendations for the betterment of
the administration of the war depart
ment, based upon the conclusions of his
subordinate officers. He asks favorable
consideration for the proposition to add
two regiments to the artillery branch,
pointing to the valuable fortifications now
being erected, which he says should not
be manned by cOrporaPs guard.
He says of Alaska that as many as 100-
900 people win 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 1awlessness. Probably the crea-
ton of additional military reservations,
like that of St. Michael may be the best
means to meet the problem. A boat for
the patrol of the Yukon may also be ask
ed 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
that all the great nations give their Of
ficers much higher rank than does the
United States.
lie indorses the recommendation of the
superintendent of the military academy
that the number Of students at West
Point be increased by allowing each SEN
ator to name q cadet. AS an alternative,
he suggests that the president be author
ized 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
proper system of criminal jurisdiction
over military reservations and of a han
of records for the storage of official pa
pers The estimate for army transporta>
ton is increased by 800, 900, to provide
means for moving heavy ordnance. To
provide for the new posts needed on the
seacoast, an estimate of 100000 is SUBJ
mitted.
Springs was open only to soldiers of the
regular army, but Secretary Alger has
just amended the regulations SO as to au-
thorize the admission of suitable cases
among the veterans of the late war.
In the opinion of the secretary an in
crease in the engineer corps in officers
and enlisted men is Indispensable. He
points to the immediate value and extent
of the work now in the hands of this
corps and contends that it could be bet
ter supervised and improved in quantity
and quality by the assignment of more
officers. which is now impossible.
Secretary Alger transmits without re-
duction the estimata of the chief engineers
for the next fiscal year, amounting to
s4S. Us, ,lGO. more than double the appropri-
ations for the current year. He says these
are largely in excess of what they should
be at time when the demands upon the
treasury are a great IS now; therefore.
he recommends a large reduction.
In justice to the chief of engineers, Sec
retary Alger says that these estimates
were made by his own direction, that the
facts might be placed before congress,
showing what the expenditures would be
were all the requirements of the river and
harbor laws complied with, and he cites
the fact that the outstanding continuous
contracts for river and harbor work viii
require an expenditure OF over 81, 100000
for the next fiscal year.
Secretary Alger especially commends for I
generosity and zeal, Colonel |
Burlington and Captain CrOzier, the in 1
yentors of the disappearing gun carriages, |
who generously donated the invention to |
the government
The report closes with the renewal OF |
the recommendation that provision be |
made for the erection in Washington of a /
statue to General Grant
The estimates for the next fiscal year /
aggregate S96. .25s. AS. as against So. .SS2 AZ,
he amount of the appropriations for the /
current year. The principal items of in
.rease are the rivers and harbors, where /
he estimate is $4S, rs. 100, as against the
appropriation of $23 27s, ,02s; fortif1eations
md seacOast defenses, SIS, ,37S. 81, as against