Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-11-23
ANNUAL REPORT
Of Secretary Alger, Of the War
Department.
Suggests That Two Regiments Be
Added to the Artillery Branch.
A Military Force Should Ise Sent to Alaska
An Increase In the Number OF Ca
diets at the Military Academy Rec
ommended-Statue to Grant.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-In his frs
annual report, Secretary Algcr make!
many recommendations for the better
nent of the administration of the wal
department, based upon the conclus
sions of his subordinate officers. Hl
asks favorable consideration for tho
proposition to add two regiments tc
the artillery branch, pointing to the
valuable Notifications now being
erected, which he says should not be
manned by n corporals guard. He
says of Alaska that as many as
100000 people will be gathered there
next year, and military force should
be sent to that territory and large
emergency powers should be granted
ness. Probably the creation of addi-
tional military reservations, like that
of st. Michael's, 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 en-
listed men serving in Alaska.
Secretary Alger recommends the re-
vival of the grade of lieutenant gen.
eral, saying that all the great nations
give their officers much higher ranks
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 allow
ing each senator to nominate a 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 country, but it is suggested that
the law be amended SO as to authorize
details of army officers only to such
colleges as have ut least $50 pupils
actually present.
Attention is called to the need of a
proper system of criminal Jurisdiction
over military reservations and of hall
of records for the storage of official pa
pers. The estimate for army trans
portation is increased by 500, 900 to
provide means for moving heavy
ordinances. Toprovide for the new posts
needed on the sea coasts an estimate of
So, 600, 600 is submitted.
In the opinion Of the secretary an in
crease in the engineer corps in officers
and enlisted men is indispensable. He
points to the immense value and ex-
tent of the work now in the hands of
this corps, and contends that it could
be better supervised and improved in
quantity and quality by the assign
ment of more officers, which is now inn
possible.
Secretary Alger transmits without
reduction the estimate of the chief of
engineers for the next fiscal year,
amounting to S4s, 72S, 100, more than
double the appointments for the cur
rent year. He says these are largely
in excess of what they should be at a
time when the demands upon the treas
nry arc as great as now, therefore he
recommends a large reduction. In
Justice to the chief engineer, Secretary
Alger says that these estimates were
made by his own direction, that the
facts might be placed before congress,
showing what the expe ndit ures would
be were all the requirements
If the river and harbor laws
with, and he cites the fact |
that the outstanding continuous con-
tracts for river and harbor work will |
require an expenditure of over ST.
100000 for the next fiscal year. The
secretary indorses the project for the |
construction of the ship canal connect
ing Lakes Huron and Washington |
With Puget sound, but states that
active operations can not be com.
for some time as the right of
way has not yet been acquired
Secretary Alger especially comments
Tor patriotism, generosity and zeal,
Col Burlington and Capt Crozier, the
INVENTORS ST the disappearing gun car
riage, wh2 seIeG Gyacly donated the in
vention 10 the scrcfInent.
The report closes with the recon:
that provision be made for |
the erection in Washington of statue
to Gen. Grant.
The estimates for the next fiscal year
aggregate S96, 6,25s, AS, as against S62,-
SS2, AIT, the amount of the appropria-
lions for the current year. The prn-
cipal items of increase are in rivers
and harbors, where the estimate is
;4s, 72s, 100, as against the appropriS
ton of s23, ,o7s, ,0as; Notifications and
sea coast defenses, Sl3.S7S.57l. as
against s9,5l7, ,l4l, and military posts,
parks and cemeteries, S2,55S, ,639,
against $ss9.sG7.