The Breckenridge news., 1897-11-24

OUR WAR
FOOTING.
II is Not What ii Should be
Says Secretary AIger.
Many recommendation Made For
the Bettement of the War
Department.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
A Military Force For Alaska Re-
commended.

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 conclu-
sions Of his subordinate officers He
asks favorable consideration for the
proposition to add two regiments to the
artillery branch, pointing to the valua-
BILE Notifications now being erected,
which, he says, should not be manned
by corporal's guard.
He says Of Alaska that as many as
100000 people will be gathered there
next year, and q military force should
be sent to the territory and large emer-
gency powers should be granted to the
president TO repress lawlessness. Prob
ably the creation of additional 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 in
creased pay for the enlisted men serving
in Alaska.
Secretary Alger recommends the re-
vival of the grade of lieutenant general,
saying that all the great nations give
their officers much higher ranks than
does the United States.
He endorses the recommendation of
the superintendent of the military acad-
envy that the number of students at
West Point be increased by allowing
ing each senator to nominate a cadet.
AS an alternative he suggests that the
president be authorized to appoint 10
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 authorize details of
army officers only to such colleges as
have at least 100 pupils actually present.
Attention is called to the need Of a
proper system of criminal jurisdiction
over military reservations aud of hall
Of records for the storage of official pa
pers. The estimate for army transpor-
tation is increased by $1,000 to pro-
vide means for moving heavy ordinances.
TO provide for the new posts needed on
the seacoasts an estimate of g., 200, 900
Is submitted.
Until recently the hospital at Hot
Springs was open only to soldiers Of the
regular army, but Secretary Alger has
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 immense value and extent
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 assignment
of more officers, which is now impossi-
BILE.
Secretary Alger transmits without re-
duction the estimate of the chief of en-
gineers for the next fiscal year, amount
ing to $48, 728, 100, more than double the
appointments for the current year, He
says these are largely in excess of what
they should be at time when the de-
mands upon the treasury are as great
as now, therefore he recommends
large reduction. In justice to the chief
of engineer, Secretary Alger says that
these estimates were made by his own
direction, that the facts might be placed
before congress, showing what the ex-
penditures would be were all the re-
quirements of the river and harbor
laws completed with, and he sites the
fact that the outstanding continuous
contracts for river and harbor work will
require an expenditure of over $1,000
600 for the next fiscal year. The secre-
tary endores the project for the con-
struction Of the ship canal connecting
Lakes Huron and Washington with
Puget sound, but states that active
operations can not be commenced for
some time, as the right Of way has not
yet been acquired.
: Secretary Alger especially comments
for patriotism. generosity and zeal, Col
Onel Burlington and Captain Crozier,
the inventors of the disappearing gun
carriage. 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 500, 268, ,445, as against $62,-
682, AT, the amount Of the appropria-
tions for the current year. The prinoi-
pal items of increase are in rivers aud
harbors, where the estimate is $46, 728,-
100. as against the appropriation of
e28. e78, ,028 fortifications and sea coast
defenses, el8.B78, ,57l. as against $9,-
5l7, i41, and military posts, parks and
cemeteries, e2,556. .0s9, against &859,867.