ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR LAMONT

Daniel S. Lamont of McGrawville, N. Y.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, November 30, 1895.

DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

Annual Report of Secretary Daniel Lamont.

ARMY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

The Secretary Speaks In No Uncertain Terms of Our Weak Coast Defenses. Various Reforms Urged In the Army—Other Features.

   WASHINGTON, NOV. 30.—The annual report of Secretary of War Lamont has been submitted to the president. The total expenditures for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895, were $52,987,780.44. Appropriations for the coming year are $43,466,571.75. Estimates for the year ending June 30, 1897 are $51,945,643.45.

   The reports of the officers in command of the several geographical departments show that the year has been tranquil and undisturbed by Indian outbreaks, domestic violence or troubles on the border. Steady and general effort to improve the service has brought the troops everywhere to a highly satisfactory condition as to discipline, efficiency in military exercises and soldierly, patriotic spirit.  

   The army is better fed, clothed and housed than ever before, and the policy zealously pursued of promoting the personal comfort of the officers and men has resulted in a devotion to the service which is everywhere apparent. It can be said with confidence that never in its history has the present condition of the army been surpassed.

   Late in July, in compliance with the request of the secretary of the interior, prompted by dispatches from the governor of the state, a squadron of cavalry and a battalion of infantry were ordered to the Jacksons Hole country in Wyoming to prevent conflict between citizens and Indians, protect lives of settlers and return the Indians, chiefly of the Bannock tribe, to their reservations. None of the reports of conflicts largely published were verified, and upon the approach of the troops the Indians, who it transpired were engaged in hunting under their treaty rights, quietly retired to their reservations.

   The full strength of the army authorized by law is now: Officers of the line, 1,589; general and staff officers, 537; enlisted men, cavalry 6,170, artillery 4,025, infantry 13,125, engineers 500; total enlisted men, 25,706.

   For the last two years the department has steadily pursued the policy of restoring officers to their commands and reducing, wherever possible, the number of those on detached duty.

   Officers assigned to duty at Washington and at Department headquarters have been reduced from 67 to 35, and the officers on recruiting service have been reduced from 98 to 33. Those assigned as military instructors of the National Guard of the states and at military schools have been increased from 92 to 128 and those acting as Indian agents from 5 to 19.

   Changes established in the method of recruiting during the past two years have considerably reduced the cost of that service while perceptibly increasing the effective strength of the army.

   By the act of Aug. 1, 1894, enlistments were confined to citizens, or those who had declared their intentions to become such, not over 30 years of age, and able to speak, read and write the English language. This law has greatly improved the personnel of the army and has not impeded required enlistments.

   The operations of the quartermaster's department during the year, as well as for the whole period of the present quartermaster general's incumbency, about to close, have been conducted with marked economy and efficiency. Excellent progress during the year in the construction of new barracks and quarters.

   The health record of the army for the year is the best annual statement ever consolidated from the returns of the medical officers, for while the death rate is a fraction higher than the lowest ever recorded, the other rates are by far lower than they ever have been in the history of our service.

   The trials by general courtmartial for the year ended June 30,1895, were 1,728, compared with 2,189 for the previous year; of inferior courtmartial 10,997, compared with 15,086 last year, thus corroborating the reports from all officers of a noteworthy improvement in the morals and discipline of the army. Authority is again asked from congress to compel civilians to testify before general courtmartial when such evidence is necessary.

   The secretary concurs in the recommendation of the paymaster general that the entire amount of pay earned by each enlisted man be paid to him monthly; also in the further recommendations to the effect that there be established a uniform rate of commutation for subsistence and clothing of all retired enlisted men, and that credit sales of subsistence stores to enlisted men, except when serving in the field, be discontinued.

   A considerable reduction by congress of the estimates of the pay department, which failed to take into consideration various contingencies, and the enactment of extraordinary legislation increasing temporarily the demands upon the pay appropriation without making adequate provision therefor, left the paymaster general without sufficient funds to meet the army pay roll for the last month of the year.

   The situation threatened much hardship among officers and men, who usually rely upon their monthly salaries to pay current expenses. It was averted, however, by an unofficial arrangement under which the necessary amount was advanced to meet these accounts in full and the assignments of the same are held by the National City bank, New York, the secretary of war having assumed the personal responsibility of guaranteeing their payment. A deficiency appropriation of $24,000, or so much as may be necessary to extinguish the debt, is recommended.

   By far the most essential need of our army today is the adoption of the 3-battalion formation. The reasons for this change and a way to provide it were stated in the report of the department in 1894.

   The formation desired admits of rapid and great expansion to meet the exigencies of actual warfare and is especially adaptable to the small force constituting the peace establishment of the United States. Twelve years ago, before retiring from command, General Sherman pointed out the great advantage of the formation in enabling us to put a large and effective force in the field upon short notice, by merely enlisting a sufficient number of additional private soldiers, the officers and organization being always ready for this expansion.

   The secretary submits at some length a plan for the reorganization of staff officers to bring the army up to date in its organization.

   The policy of concentrating the army and abandoning unnecessary posts has not only won the approval of all those acquainted with the lines of progress which conditions have marked out for our army, but is approved by all thoughtful citizens. It has been shown that sufficient bodies of troops can be dispatched for service to any necessary point in shorter time and at less cost than under the old system, that the area under effective military protection is consequently much larger, and that all elements of expense have been perceptibly reduced.

   The superintendent of the military academy at West Point reports that the number of cadets on Sept. 1, 1895, including one foreigner admitted by special authority of congress, was 324, being 48 less than the full number authorized by law.

   It is highly desirable to keep this expensive plant in operation to its full capacity, and various methods to increase the number have been suggested. I renew the recommendation of my last report, that the president be authorized to name 10 cadets at large each year.

   The service schools at Fort Monroe, Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley continue the high grade of instruction for which they have been commended in previous reports.

   The efforts of recent years to bring the army into closer relations with the National Guard of the states may now be regarded as having established a permanent union between the two forces, advantageous to both.

   The conditions are favorable to the development of a volunteer force of upward of 100,000 men of the highest efficiency and prepared for any service. Legislation, however, is necessary to put to the best use the relations which have been established between the army and the troops of the states.

   The number of pupils at schools and colleges receiving military instructions from officers of the army has more than doubled within the last four years, and the steadily increasing interest of the youth of the land in military affairs is apparent.

   In reference to the seacoast defenses the secretary says:

   "Its inadequacy and impotency have been so evident that the intelligence of the country long since ceased to discuss that humiliating phase of the subject, but has addressed itself to the more practical undertaking of urging more rapid progress in the work of execution of the plan of defense devised by the Endicott board in 1886, with subsequent slight modifications.

   "The plan contemplated a system of fortifications at 27 ports (to which Puget sound was subsequently added), requiring 677 guns and 824 mortars of modern construction, at a cost of $97,782,800, excluding $28,595,000 for floating batteries. By an appropriation then of $21,500,000 and an annual appropriation of $9,000,000 thereafter, as then recommended, the system of land defenses could have been completed in 1895.

   "The original plan contemplated an expenditure of $97,782,800 by the end of the present year. The actual expenditures and appropriations for armament and emplacements have, however, been but $10, 631,000. The first appropriation for guns was made only seven years ago and the first appropriation for emplacements was made only five years ago. The average annual appropriations for these two objects has been less than $1,500,000. The work has therefore been conducted at about one-seventh the rate proposed.

   "If future appropriations for the manufacture of guns, mortars and carriages be no larger than the average authorized for the purpose since 1888, it will require 22 years more to supply the armament of the 18 important ports for which complete projects are approved.

   "If the appropriations for the engineer work are to continue at the rate of the annual appropriations since 1890, it will require 70 years to complete the emplacements and platforms for this armament for the ports referred to.

   "It rests with congress to determine by its appropriations the period which shall elapse before our coasts shall be put in a satisfactory condition of defense. The amount required for the 18 ports is about $82,000,000, and the entire work can be completed within 10 years. The rate of progress will be slower in proportion as appropriations are kept below the amount which can be advantageously expended.

   "The distribution of duty and responsibility under existing laws whereby authority to formulate plans and execute operations is lodged with separate and distinct bureaus as well as in a board established by statute, all without any harmonizing or central supervision, is in my judgment a mistake that should be speedily corrected.

   "To that end I recommend the appointment of a board of officers of the army, to be selected by the president without restriction as to rank or corps and without extra pay or emolument, subject to confirmation by the senate, if that be deemed wise, who should be relieved of all other service and charged solely with the task of directing and supervising the work in its entirety."

   The total number of dynamite guns now contemplated for the coast defense is six. Of this number three have been erected at Fort Hancock, New Jersey—two of 15-inch and one of 8-inch calibre. Three more dynamite guns, all of 15-inch calibre, are to be erected in connection with the defenses of San Francisco. One gun is nearly finished and will soon undergo trial.

   The report of the chief of engineers exhibits in detail the condition of the various river and harbor improvements ordered by congress. The total expenditures for these purposes during the year ended June 30 last, exclusive of those made by Mississippi and Missouri river commissions, were $15,440,904.97 and the unexpended balance of available appropriations on the 1st day of September last was $12,186,880.59.

   The report of the board appointed to investigate the effect of the Chicago drainage canal on lake-levels, which has been published, is appended.

   The secretary says in regard to military parks that it is important that congress should early adopt and consistently pursue a fixed policy in regard to the marking of the battle fields of the civil war. If the plan of creating battle field parks is to be impartially pursued on the scale adopted at Chickamauga and Gettysburg, it must embrace 50 places where important actions were fought, and will involve an expenditure of at least $20,000,000, with additional expenditures for maintenance that may reach $1,000,000 yearly.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Electricity From the Ocean Tides.

   From time to time this subject gets a bearing in the daily papers and the magazines, and none of them is long silent concerning it. It is tolerably certain that the beginning of the twentieth century will see the ocean tides harnessed and yielding power to operate the machinery of a whole city as well as to furnish light and fuel for it. It is only a question of the construction of a machine which shall be operated by the rise and fall of the breakers. This machine will generate electricity, a wire will carry the current wherever it is wanted, and there it can be easily transformed into light, heat or power.

   Mr. George E. Walsh thinks that instead of transmitting power by wire from Niagara to New York and Brooklyn it would not be a whit more expensive to tap the tides and get the electricity from their motion. He believes the current could be stored at the time the tides were highest and be kept to use when they were lowest. Plants of machinery on the water's edge in the vicinity of the two cities would in time do away with the need of any coal or steam. The carefully insulated electric wire, passing through a conduit under the street, would convey power to the machine shop and heat and light to the home. That is what all the cities may look forward to.

ROWE APPEAL CASE.

The Matter Referred Back to County Court by Judge Forbes.

   On Nov. 7 Charles Rowe was convicted of selling liquor without a license and was sentenced to pay a fine of $50 or be confined in jail until paid or for a period of not to exceed fifty days. Through his attorney, James Dougherty , the defendant made an application to Judge Eggleston for a stay of judgment and a certificate allowing an appeal to county court. Judge Eggleston declined to consider the appeal unless both sides should be heard in the matter. At this the defendant made an ex parte application of the same character to Judge Forbes who granted it.

   The People, through their attorney, I. H. Palmer, then made an ex parte application to Judge Forbes to vacate the stay and the certificate permitting the appeal with the suggestion that the matter be sent back to Judge Eggleston to be heard by him on the ground that the application had first been made before Judge Eggleston who had imposed the condition that both sides should be heard. Judge Forbes declined to vacate the stay and made an order to show cause. Through some oversight this was made returnable at Ithaca , when Judge Forbes really was holding court at Elmira at the time. Mr. Palmer then made application to Judge Forbes at Elmira for a modification of the order making it returnable at Canastota which was granted.

   Yesterday Attorneys Palmer and Dougherty appeared before Judge Forbes to argue the question of the vacation of the stay. Judge Forbes held that the certificate allowing the appeal having been made and served, all jurisdiction of the matter was transferred to the count y court where it must be heard, and that he had no jurisdiction and he declined to hear any argument on that ground.

   The appeal to count y court then stands. What steps, if any, will now be taken remain to be seen. Nothing is yet decided upon.

Police Court.

   Ed Haskell was arrested yesterday afternoon on the charge of selling liquor without a license. When brought before Justice Bull he pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $35.

   The case of the village against James Riley was this morning adjourned to Dec. 7.

   The case of The Village of Cortland against William J. Nash was called this morning. Defendant entered a demurrer and this afternoon a judgment for $102.20 was rendered in favor of the plaintiff.

   The case of The People against Will Donegan was adjourned to Dec. 5.

The Oldest Paper Yet.

   Dr. W. J. Moore has a copy of the New England Weekly Journal which for age far surpasses any paper that we have heard of in this vicinity. It was published in Boston, April 8, 1728. Some of the reading matter and some of the advertisements seem very queer indeed to us in modern times. One item says, "Burials in the town of Boston since our last, five whites, one black. Baptized in the several churches, nine." One advertisement reads, "Choice new coffee to be sold by Arthur Savage at this house in Brattle-st., Boston, for eight shillings per pound." Another advertisement reads, "A very likely negro woman who can do housework, and is fit either for town or country service, about 22 years of age to be sold. Inquire of the printer hereof." The paper is indeed a curiosity.

A Pleasant Birthday Party.

   Miss Grace Ryan entertained a number of her schoolmates and friends yesterday afternoon at her home on Park-st. from 2 until 5 P. M., the event being her tenth birthday. Miss Grace was assisted in receiving her guests by her cousin, Miss Alice Winslow. Many beautiful presents were received. Games of various kinds were indulged in and there was some dancing until 5 o'clock when refreshments were served after which all departed highly delighted with their afternoon.

   Those present were: Misses Josie O'Leary, Gentry Oakley, Maud Whitmarsh, Helen McCarthy, Gertrude Nix, Susie Quinn, Mabel Richards, Agnes Hoagen, Ina Barnes, Edith Swan, Nellie Swan, Kittie Conway. Florence Burns, Hannah Nixon, May Finn, Nellie Finn, Susie Hanon, Katie Garrity, Lena Norton, Alice Winslow, Louis Hammond, Lida Turner, Irene Sommers, Clarence Swan, Elmer T. McCarthy, Ray Turner, Thomas Burns and Ezra Smith.

BREVITIES.

   —Something interesting to the small boy can be seen in the south window of the City drug store.

   —Mr. B. B. Terry has purchased D. E. Kinney's hitching barn and taken possession and is making extensive repairs in the interior.

   —New advertisements to-day are—L. R. Hopkins, page 6; C. T. Albot,  page 8; C. F. Brown, page 6; G. J. Mager, page 7.

   —The turkey made its appearance on Thursday. Its disappearance was commenced on the same day, continued on Friday and will conclude with soup today.—Binghamton Republican.

   —Frank Cain, while practicing at football in the rear of the Normal building, Wednesday afternoon slipped and fell, breaking his right arm just above the wrist. Dr. Dana reduced the fracture.

   —The Central school football team defeated the Dryden team at the fair grounds yesterday afternoon by the score of 4 to 0. The Normal Juniors went to Groton to play the team of that place this afternoon.

   —Two full moons will come in December. Adventists say that this has not occurred since the coming of Christ, 1896 years ego, and from the coincidence argue his second coming during the approaching holidays.

    —The running time of the Empire State Express between New York and Buffalo will be lowered twenty-five minutes next Monday. This applies to both the east and west bound trains. Some other changes in time will also be made.

   —Fred A. Stout, colored, of Fitz-ave. was examined by Drs. P. M. Neary and W. J. Moore, Nov. 26, and declared insane. He was ordered committed to the Binghamton State hospital by County Judge J. E. Eggleston and was taken there Nov. 27.