Evening journal., 1897-11-22
THE ALGER REPORT.
Secretary of War Presents an
Interesting Budget.
MORE RESERVATIONS FOR ALASKA,
Urges Appropriation of the Full Amount
of the Estimate For seacoast De-
fenses, but Reduction Tor Hai-
Dor and River Work.

eceSSOrS, VINO reviewed the reports OF
the commanding generals and the
heads of bureaus. AS only the last
quarter Of the fiscal year ended june
80 fell within the secretary's term, he
presents a synopsis of the reports pre-
pared by the officers Immediately re-
Hponsible, together with their recon-
mendations for legislation tending to
the better administration of their de-
partments. The secretary then ex-
presses his Judgment of each report.
with such recommendations as seem
TO him appropriate. General Miles con-
sidered the army. although inadequate
i'm point of numbers, never in higher
state Of efficiency. He recommended
that artillery gunners and gunnery spe-
cialists receive proper compensation.
He pointed out,the necessity Of gym
nasiums and drill halls along the line
Of northern military posts. In the con-
struction of modern fortifcations and
high power guns approximately $26,OOO,-
900 had been expended nearly one-third
of what was required 10 put the coun-
try in a safe condition of defense. GEN.
eral Miles recommended the addition
of two regiments OF artillery that tho
mortar batteries and high power guna
already in position might be properly
preserved and manned in time Of hos
tility. The general plan for defense
adopted by the government should be
steadily pursued until the nation is in
a condition OF security.
The strength of the army in time OF
peace should be regulated to the popu-
latlon and wealth of the nation. The
maximum Of enlisted men should be
IA.
population and the minimum one SOL
der TO every two thousand population.
The secretary. in reviewing the COM
manding generals report, urges the ia
vorable consideration of General Miles
request for two or more artillery regi-
ments. The secretary believes that fur
ther military reservations should be
created in Alaska. On account Of the
terrible rigor of the weather and also
the inducements for desertion, the pay
Of the enlisted men serving there should
be increased. with the hope that extra
compensation win be an inducement for
a very high grade Of men 10 enlist In
that particular service.
He recommends the revival Of the
grade of lieutenant general; also. that
while serving, military attaches 10 en-
bassies be given rank and pay Of colo.
mel, while such attaches at Legations
be given lieutenant colonel emolu-
ments. In reporting to the secretary
the board of ordnance found that Eng
lish guncotton was slightly better thar
that OF American manufacture. TIL,
report of the board of commissioners o.
the Soldiers home submitted to th'
secretary shows that on Sept. 30 Their
were 1.141 beneficiaries on the rolls. al
Increase Of 43 over last year. and tina
T2i of the bcneflciaries were present a
the home at that date. The income
Of the home was 1921. 65S: expenditures
s19lS46. making an increase in the per
manent fund of S26.S12 while the bal
ance in the United States treasur.
Sept. 80 was 80. .737, ,597. The secretary o
war wants an increase in the numbe
} Of cadets at West Point. where on Sept
there were 33S, the largest numbe
ever there at one time.
Adequate appropriations for tn
maintenance of the national guard wa
the burden of the inspector general
recommendations. He thought fund
] should be appropriated for field maneu
{ vers. combined when practicable wit
( the national guaFd. Secretary Alge
E dwells upon the necessity for legisla
S ton TO provide a proper system of or
D dinary criminal jurisdiction in militar
S reservations. to amend the summar
court act and to leave to the discre
I ton of the secretary Of war the desig
= nation of the amount of the reward 10
Oh the apprehension Of deserters, as sue
gested by the judge advocate genera
Owing to the crowding of the depart
q ments with official papers. the secre
tRry concurs in the recommendatio
/, Of the adjutant general and the quar-
termaster general on the necessity Of
hall Of records being provided.
The secretary shows the need Of a
4 Increase Of 800 900 in the appropriate
: for army transportation TO move heav
: ordnance and an increase Of $t5S0. 0C
: to provide barracks and quarters for
= number of new posts on the seacoas
and TO enlarge others. The secretar
commends the work Of distribution c
l. relief to the sufferers from the over
: flow of the Mississippi river the Re
9 River Of the North and the Rio Grend'
The commissary general reported a bal
+ Rnce of Si24.0O0 remaining in the treas
S ury. Relief was extended so far as
s was possible 70 all who needed relic
d The surgeon generals report Shove
/ tIdl Nnt uIllig tHJogtu tAttlltnA Htdit
r during 1896, the death rate being onl
e 5.44 per thousand. The number of day
lost on account Of sickness for eac
8 man in the army was 12.43 days, a
d compared with 1887 in the previou
a year and 1493 the average of the pre-
vious decade.
The general impression that whit
e troops excel colored troops In point {
Il health is shown 10 be contrary 70 III
l. facts.
e General Wilson. chief Of engineer
? shows that at the close OF the flscs
o year the corps of engineers consiste
Of Ill officers. IS of whom were dc
tached from the command OF the chic
bf engineers and on special duty. TheI
was an urgent need for an increase
the number of engineer troops. bot
officers and enlisted men. The tot;
L armament proposed under the preseT
projects for coast defense comprises
total of about 80 16-inch guns. $50 II
n inch guns, 100 S-inch guns, 250 heav
Ie rapid fire guns, 1892 12-inch mortal
" and "a 10-inch mortars. Congress Ia
| 4. 4