Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

Inc statement or expenditures and
estimates presents some tor.nidable
figures. The expenditures TO, the fs-
cal year ended Juoe 80, last, were $62,-
534,7 S4, and the estimates for the next
fiscal year beginning July 1st, 1899,
are s195,250,3u. Of this great esti-
mate the sum of s55,4S0, sO9, is charged
to pay of the army. The estimate of
extraordinary appropriations required
for the six months ending June 80,
1899, are s60,177 1888. and the estimate
for that period, combined with those
for the next fiscal year, reach a total
OF S255, 427 ,917.
The secretary endorses the recon-
nendation for an increase of the num-
Der of West Point cadets by 20 an
nually, TO be appointed by the presi-
dent land one by each senator to sup
ply the officers needed for the army 0.
the future.
Of the adjutant generals recommen-
dations, the secretary says they are ju-
dicious and merit the favorable con-
sideration of congress. Instead of in
crease of pay for officers serving in
the West Indies and Philippines to the
next higher grade, as recommended b,
the adjutant general, the secretary
thinks that the pay of those officers, as
we'll as those in Alaska, should be in
creased 80 per cent. while they are
serving, Because of the additional ex-
pense they are put to. He says the
question of payment for damages to
farms and other property by move
ment of troops will be made the sub
ject ola special communication to con-
gress.f He recommends that $50, in
stead Of $40 should be allowed for the
apprehension of deserter.
Treating of the quartermaster gen
erals report the secretary shows that
the government purchased $500
horses and mules, 5,179 wagons, $50
ambulances, and S3,07S tons of coal
and chartered X vessels and purchased
sixteen steamships. The use of the
Missouri was generously donated to the
United States, with the services of her
captain and her crew, by her owner.
B. N. Baker of Baltimore, and is a val
liable hospital ship. The cost of trans
porting the Spanish prisoners to Spain
was s1,513,SSO. The graves of the sol
diers at Santiago, in Porto Rico and
the Philippines have been marked and
these remains will be brought home as
soon as the plans are completed.
In the subsistence department the
secretary finds an urgent need for a
regimental cocnmissary and also for a
commissary sergeant for each regi-
ment.
Discussing the surgeon generals re-
port he says it was mistake to detail
regimental surgeons to large hospitals
but this could not have been avoided
and division and general hospitals.
which were Indispensable, maintained.
Ample provisions should be made to
supply the places of surgeons who fall
sick. One of the great mercies of the
campaign was the women nurses The
report says that until one has had eX-
perience or made careful observation
he cannot realize the work that those
noble women did for our sick soldiers
in the hospitals; but they cannot be
we'll employed at regiCnental hospitals
in campaign. Both the division and
general hospitals are absolutely neces-
sary in the opinion of the secretary,
but the general hospital should be pro-
vided with separate wards for each reg
iment so that comrades could be kept
together
The secretary says the Red Cross and
Mt hQr ralinf a trib ,+ I'D
in very large degree to the care and
comforts of our sick soldiers and
should receive the grateful thanks of
the nation. The secretary calls atten-
ton to Surgeon General Sternberg's
circular of instructions TO the army,
issued April %, and says had it been
strictly followed, less sickness would
have resulted.
He feels that force of practical en-
gineers skilled in electricity, should
be provided and that large number Of
engineers should be educated at West
Point, so that an officer can be placed
permanently with each river and har-
Dor project. These projects should
also receive the recommendation of a
board of skilled engineers before APP
preparations are made Tor them.
The manufacture of the Krag-JOr-
gensen, or a similar magazine gun,
should continue until we have, at an
early date, at least 100000 OF these
arms in our arsenals with a full sup
ply of ammunition.
The entire report of the secretary of
war forms one of the most voluminous
documents of the kind ever issued from
the war department..