The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-11-25
SECRETARY .ALGER
Suggests That Two Regiments Be Ad-
ded to the Artillery Branch.
A Military Force Should BE Sent to Alaska
An Increase In the Number of Ca.
diets at the Military Academy Rec
Ommended-Statue to Grant.

An Increase In the Number of Ca.
diets at the Military Academy Rec-
Ommended-Statue to Grant.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-In his first
annual report, Secretary Alger makes
| many recommendations for the better
ment of the administration of the war
department, based upon the conclus-
| sions of his subordinate officers He
asks favorable consideration for the
proposition to add two regiments to
the artillery branch, pointing tn the
valuable Notifications now being
erected, which he says should not be
manned by a corporals guard. He
says of Alaska that as many as
lO0,O people will be gathered there
next year, and military force should
be sent to that territory and large
emergency powers should be granted
to the president to suppress lawless-
ness. Probably the creation of addi.
tional military reservations, like that
of St. Michaels, may be the best means
to meet the problem. 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
Il
AS an alternative he suggests that the
president be authorized to appoint tel
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 at least $50 pupils
actually present
Attention is called to the need of q
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, 200 te
provide means for moving heavy
ordinances. To provide for the new posts
$4,000, 900 is submitted
Until recently the hospital at Hot
Springs was open only TO soldiers OF
the regular army, but Secretary Algel
has just amended the regulations so as
to authorize the admission of suitable
cases among the veterans of the lat,
! war.
In the opinion of the secretary an in
: crease in the engineer corps in officer
and enlisted men is Indispensable. II,
points to the imm> nse value and ex
: tent of the work now in the hands o
this corps, and contends that it coult
: be better supervised and improved il
quantity and quality by the assign
l ment of more officers, which is now i'm
possible.
} Secretary Alger transmits withou
reduction the estimate of the chief o
5 engineers for the nest fiscal year
amounting to S4s. 100, more thai
dou ble the appointments for the cur
rent year. He says these are largel
| in excess OF what they should be at
, time when the demands upon the treas
5 ury are as great as now, therefore h
: recommends a large reduction. Il
! justice to the chief engineer, Secretar
} Alger says that these estimates wer,
5 made by his own direction, that tn
facts might be placed before congress
n showing what the expenditures woul
s be were all the requirement
e of the river and harbor law
e completed with, and he cites the fac
that the outstanding continuous cor
: tracts for river and harbor work wi
e require an expenditure of over SIT
: 100000 for the next fiscal year. Th
: secretary indorses the project for tn
a construction of the ship canal connec
u ing Lakes Huron and Washingto
with Puget sound, but states ths
active operations can not be con
y menced for some time, as the right {
way has not yet been acquired.
!. Secretary Alger especially comment
Il for patriotism, generosity and yea
Col. Burlington and Capt Crozier, tn
= inventors of the disappearing gun ca
}, riage, who generously donated the il
vention to the government.
The report closes with the recon
mendation that provision be made fc
. the erection in Washington of a statu
to Gen. Grant.
The estimates for the next fiscal yes
aggregate $96,25s, ,445, as against S62
49,, AT, the amount of. the appropri
tions for the current year. The pri1
y cipal items of increase are in river
and harbors, where the estimate
= S4s, 72S, 100, as against the appropri
\ tion of $23, ,27S, OBS; Notifications an
sea coast defenses, Sl3, 37s.57l, ;
: against S9,517,141, and military post
= parks and cemeteries, $2,55S, ,63
: against $sS9,S67.