Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1910-12-10
war SECRETARY
STRONGLY
FLYING MACHINES
Continued from page u

should indicate the disposition to
be made of the wreck upon. compile
ton of the work of removal.
Little more can be done than al
ready has been done in the very i'm
portant' work of instruction of the
organized militia until some provis-
lon is made by congress which will
allow the department to assign Of
ficers on the active list of the army
to duty with the militia, which is
now impossible owing to the press
Ing need of officers for regimental
service.
Success has attended the efforts
OF the department to secure one
half of the personnel necessary for
manning the coast Notifications,
from the militia of the seaboard
states. All of the coast states have
provided for these coast artillery re-
serves except New Jersey, Delaware
and Louisiana, and it is hoped that
these states will fall in line next
year.
Unfortunately, the secretary
points out. the existing law does
not declare distinctly the exact ex-
tent to which the militia can be
employed in the service of the
United States and legislation should
be had that would enable the war
department to determine in advance
Just what officers and troops of the
militia can be depended upon for
service. and their suitability. The
present law was built up piece meal
during and since the Spanish-Amer-
lean war and is at best only a tenn
porary measure.
The secretary says that compre-
hensive act providing for the organ
isatfon of a volunteer army only
after congress has made declara-
ton of war would be of inestim-
able value If the country ever again
Is confronted with a foreign war.
Such legislation would permit of
the preparation in time of peace OF
all the necessary plans for the or
ganization, equipment and supply of
Q volunteer army and the selection
OF places for mobilization, thus
avoiding delays that might be, al
most fatal to defense The nation,
he insists, should be ready with a
complete system for passing from
peace to a war establishment in
order to avoid the waste insepar-
able from going to war without full
preparation.
me total estimates for military
purposes for the next year aggre-
gate $139,674,27S, which is So
Io1,SO4 less than the appropria-
tons for the current fiscal year.
tne decrease being due to the fact
That the department is asking for
less money for incidental expenses,
post exchanges, transportation and
supplies, public works at posts.
clothing and camp equipage, arms,
and expenses at the military acad-
envy On the other hand slightly
increased appropriations are asked
for Notifications and other works
Of defense.
The secretary refers to his recent
trip to the Philippines and declares
that the result of the first years
application of the new tariff more
than justified the prediction that
the Increase of customs revenue
would not be great and would be
satisfactorily met by an increase of
internal revenue. The pressing
need In Porto Rico was an improve
ment in health conditions and he
recommended the establishment of
an efficient health department in
the islands.
The report concluded with a
strong recommendation based upon
personal observation and the re-
ports of the chiefs of all the bu-
reaus In the war department that