Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1878 — Report of the Secretary of War. [ARTICLE]

Report of the Secretary of War.

The report of the Secretary of War Is a lengthy document, the main features of Which are hero summarized: According to the latest report of tho General of the Army,The enlisted men 111 the Military Service number 24.761- The aggregate of desertions during the fiscal year was I,67B—beitfg 838 less than for the preceding fiscal year. Nothwjthstandlng Ihe improvement, tho Secretary says the crime of desertion is still alarmingly frequent and an evil of no ordinary magnitude. The Seeretary.dtscnKses the question of Indian hostilities and expresses the opinion that permanent peace in the Indian country can only he maintained by the exhibition of force sufficient to overawe and keep in snbjeetion the more warlike ana aangerons savages. In short, tta policy of the Government toward Ihe should be designed lo enforce those two propositions: , 1. Fair and just treatment of the Indians, including the faithful performance on our part of every promise; and 2. The prompt aud effectual punishment of all acts of war on their part, and to this end the employment of a sufficient military force in the Indian country to act with vigor and success w hen occasion requires, and prevent Ihe possibility ol the defeat or massucro of small detachments of our troops, by which Indian wars have been sooften in the past encouraged and prolonged. The experiment of enlisting Indian scouts has, In the opinion of the Secretary, proved successful, and he recommends ail increase in the number ol such scout", and that Congress declare them r. fore.-in addition to the number of enlisted men unth Prized for the army proper.-——4— lie. McCrary quotes and commends the law directing the establishment of schools tor the benefit of enlisted men on garrison duty, and recommends that Congress increase the extra per diem of soldier teachers front thirty-live to fitly cents. In respect to the increase of onr force "u the 'BtoTfnihtle, the Secretary says the following of the more viaorous policy at present in vogue has greatlv diminished the number of Mexican raids, and renders Ihe Texans comparatively free from disturbances. - The Secretary refers to the section of the act of Congress forbidding Ihe use of any purt of tho army as a posse romitatns, and adds: In uiy judgment, it is important either that this prov ision be repealed, or that tile number of cases ill w hich the nso of the army shall lie -expresrlv authorized* he very much enlarged. In many* portions of our Western Territories, and even* In some portions of the newer States, a resolute desperado, with a few followers, can defy Hie o livers of the law and any local posse that can be or.uiiizcd." As emphasizing thi" leconimendai urn. lie refers to the numerous attacks on mullroaches 111 New Mexico and Arizona, and says that so long a« the section - remains, Ihc hands of the army officers are practically tied. He is clearly of He-‘.pinion that ihe President should he left free to ciiiplov tlte National forces In aid of the process of the Federal Courts w henever he shad tloom it. iieeessrrv; but if such tu is lo be llmited to cases e. iu-ie. es declared by Hie act above quoted, it “Is r.-ejauthorized by the Constitution or bv act of t tmgress." then it is respectfully submittedlhat Congress should give very careful attention to the M ineral ion and specification if the eases in a IHeli such use of troops is to he permitted. Mr. McCrary details ihe action had in the supply of tents, medicines and provisions tor the relict ot the yellow-lever sufferers, and asks that Congress puss a joint resolution approving and legalizing ills issues. He also reeommqpds to Congress the careful consideration of the question whether such emergencies in ihe future may not be provided for hv law by coulerriug authority do act upon Hie President. If it be practicable, the law should he so framed us never lo leave au Executive officer under the necessity of acting outside of the statUl, nSe expenditures of the War Department for the vear were $4-324 734-54 less than those of the ‘preceding vear. His estimates for the year ending June 30, 1880, are $40,387,718.33. which amount is only 91,810,882.15 iu excess oi the aggregate appropriations for 1878- The estimates for the mintary establishment are 928-335,727.-33: for public works, $7,670,881,80, and the remainder for miscellaneous expenditures. The operations of the Quurtcrintister-General s office are detailed at considerable length. The Department moved dnriuglho year 78.200 passengers, 11,400 beasts and 108,261 tons of military materials. The Secretary further states that operations of the Department are embarrassed by the action of Congress relating to laml-m-ant railroads, lo none of which can money be paid until the conclusion of a suit before the courts. As the principles and clulms involved have been finally acted on by the Supreme Court, aud judgment In favor of the reads, npon the rates heretofore fixed by the War Department, has been given In every case finally decided. It has been thought that It would he wise and Just to repeal this restrictive legislation, and allow the railroad accounts to he settled as other accounts for military service, without imposing upon the companies the delay and expenses or formal suits, which hereafter can involve only principles already decided iu their favor. Mr. McCrary advise s that the Executive lie authorized to purchase sites for forts in Texas, Instead of leasing them, us at present. In regard to work on the sea-coast defenses, ho states that It has bedh limited to the care and preservation of the works. The Engineer Corps should. In bis opinion, be Increased to 500 enlisted men. The work of river and harbor improvement lius satisfactorily progressed during the year. , The snrvey of the Mississippi River and the territory west of the 100th meridian bus. also been satisfactorily prosecuted. The area, surveyed and mapped since Ihe beginning of the survey has aggregated more than 300.000 square miles. He Misk* the favorable consideration of Congress upon the Engineer estimates. —The alls utii/n of Congress is-ealfed again -to-Hre-conslderatlon of the problem how best to Improve the navigation of the Mississippi River. The Improvements at the mouth of that stream persecuted by Mr. Eads are described, and the statement made that, after the close of the present fiscal year, there remained a practical channel 21-7 feet deep, which the Secretary thinks Is ample for the present needs of commerce. Three payment* had been made to Mr. Eads under his contract. In discussing the report of the Ordnance Department, the Secretary-emphasizes and Indorses the request of the Chief of Ordnance for au Increase In the appropriation for Ine manufacture of' small military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., established under the act of 1874, * now in snecesSfrtl operation. The officers assigned to duty with It are competent and falthlW In the discharge of their duties, and the convict* are proiierly governed and employed, while, at the same time, they are treated with humanity and kindness. On Oct. 25, there were 878 military convictq confined iu this prison. All the shoes required for issue tuthe troops are now fabricated by the convicts at the prison, and aawnf excellent quality Indeed- U It

told 6? many officers that Wfi Have never before had as good so article In our army, sad aa aoon aa the additional shops now In procea* of erection an completed many other article* now purchased from citizens can. It la believed, be manufactured to better advantage (here. At the same time, a large number of menwould he Instructed In useful mechanical occupation* that woold tend to make them better qualified for self-support and better citizen* when they are discharged. the Surgeon General report* the total number of death* In the Army daring the year from all cause* at 258, or about twelve to 1,000. Of these m died or disease, and 185 of wounds, accident* and has maintained, during the tear, 147 Signal Stations to fill the systems of stations of observation from which reports are deemed necessary to ensbl# proper warnings to be given of Ibe approach and force of atoms, and of other meteoric changes tor the benefit of agricultural and commotcltl Interests.