CONGRESS. (THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



1G5 



The Secretary of War reports that the strength of 

 the army on the 30th day of September last was 25,- 

 778 enlisted men and 2,144 officers. The total ex- 

 penditures of the department for the year ending 

 June 30, 1893, amounted to $51,966,074.89. Of this 

 sum, $1,992,551.51 was for salaries and contingent ex- 

 penses. $23,377,828.35 for the support of the military 

 establishment, $6,077,033.18 for miscellaneous objects, 

 and $20,518,631.41 for public works. This latter sum 

 includes $15,296,876.46 for river and harbor improve- 

 ments, and $326,266,141.20 for fortifications and other 

 works of defense. The total enrollment of the militia 

 of the several States was, on the 31st of October of the 

 current year, 112,597 officers and enlisted men. The 

 officers of the army detained for the inspection and 

 instruction of this reserve of our military force report 

 that increased interest and marked progress are ap- 

 parent in the discipline and efficiency of the organi- 

 zation. 



Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic violence 

 have called the army info service during the year, 

 and the only active military duty required of it has 

 been in the department of Texas, where violations of 

 the neutrality laws of the United States and Mexico 

 were promptly and efficiently dealt with by the 

 troops, eliciting the warm approval of the civil and 

 military authorities of both countries. The opera- 

 tion of wise laws and the influence of civilization 

 constantly tending to relieve the country from the 

 dangers of Indian hostilities, together with the in- 

 creasing ability of the States, through the efficiency 

 of the N ational Guard organizations, to protect their 

 citizens from domestic violence, lead to the sugges- 

 tion that the time is fast approaching when there 

 should be a reorganization of our army on the lines 

 of the present necessity of the country. This change 

 contemplates neither increase in number nor added 

 expense, but a redistribution of the force and an en- 

 couragement of measures tending to greater efficiency 

 among the men and improvement of the service. 



The adoption of battalion formations for infantry 

 regiments, the strengthening of the artillery force, 

 the abandonment of smaller and unnecessary posts, 

 and the massing of the troops at important and ac- 

 cessible stations, all promise to promote the useful- 

 ness of the army. 



In the judgment of army officers, with but few ex- 

 ceptions, the operation of .the law forbidding the re- 

 enlistrnent of men after ten years' service has not 

 proved its wisdom, and while the arguments that 

 led to its adoption were not without merit, the expe- 

 rience of the year constrains me to join in the recom- 

 mendation for its repeal. 



It is gratifying to note that we have begun to attain 

 completed results in the comprehensive scheme of 

 seacoast defense and fortification, entered upon eight 

 years ago. A large sum has been already expended, 

 but the cost of maintenance will be inconsiderable as 

 compared with the expense of construction and ord- 

 nance. At the end of the current calendar year the 

 War Department will have 9 12-inch guns, 20 10-inch 

 guns, and 34 8-inch guns ready to be mounted on gun 

 lifts and carriages, and 75 12-inch mortars. In addi- 

 tion to the product of the army gun factory, now 

 completed at Watervliet, the Government has con- 

 tracted with private parties for the purchase of 100 

 guns of these calibers, the first of which should be 

 delivered to the department for test before July 1, 

 1894. The manufacture of heavy ordnance keeps 

 pace with current needs ; but to render these guns 

 available for the purposes they are designed to meet, 

 emplacements must be prepared for them. Progress 

 has been made in this direction, and it is desirable 

 that Congress, by adequate appropriations, should pro- 

 vide for the uninterrupted prosecution of this neces- 

 sary work. 



After much preliminary work and exhaustive ex- 

 amination in accordance with the requirements of the 

 law, the board appointed to select a magazine rifle of 

 modern type, with which to replace the obsolete 

 Springfield rifle of the infantry service, completed its 



labors during the last year, and the work of manufac- 

 ture is now in progress at the national armory at 

 Springfield. It is confidently expected that by the 

 end ot the current year our infantry will be supplied 

 with a weapon equal to that of the most progressive 

 armies of the world. 



The work on the projected Chickamauga and Chat- 

 tanooga National Military Park has been prosecuted 

 with zeal and judgment, and its opening will be cele- 

 brated during the coming year. Over 9 square miles 

 of the Chickamauga battlefield have been acquired, 25 

 miles of roadway have been constructed, and perma- 

 nent tablets have been placed at many historical 

 points, while the invitation to the States to mark the 

 positions of their troops participating in the battle 

 has been very generally accepted. 



The work of locating and preserving the lines of 

 battle at the Gettysburg battlefield is making satis- 

 factory progress on the plans directed by the last 

 Congress. 



The reports of the Military Academy at West Point 

 and the several schools for special instruction of 

 officers, show marked advance in education of the 

 army and a commendable ambition among its officers 

 to excel in the military profession and to fit them- 

 selves for the highest service to the country. Under 

 the supervision of Adjt.-Gen. Kobert Williams, lately 

 retired, the Bureau of Military Information has be- 

 come well established, and is performing a service 

 that will put in possession of the Government in time 

 of war most valuable information, and at all times 

 serve a purpose of great utility in keeping the army 

 advised of the world's progress in all matters pertain- 

 ing to the art of war. 



The report of the Attorney-General contains the 

 usual summary of the affairs and proceedings of the 

 Department of Justice for the past year, together 

 witn certain recommendations as to needed legisla- 

 tion on various subjects. I can not too heartily in- 

 dorse the proposition that the fee system, as applica- 

 ble to the compensation of United States attorneys, 

 marshals, clerks of Federal courts, and United States 

 commissioners, should be abolished with as little 

 delay as possible. It is clearly in the interest of the 

 community that the business of the courts, both civil 

 and criminal, shall be as small and as inexpensively 

 transacted as the ends of justice will allow. The 

 system is therefore thoroughly vicious which makes 

 the compensation of court officials depend upon the 

 volume of such business, and this creates a conflict 

 between a proper execution of the law and private 

 gain, which can not fail to be dangerous to the rights 

 and freedom of the citizens, and an irresistible temp- 

 tation to the unjustifiable expenditure of public funds. 



If, in addition to this reform, another was inaugu- 

 rated which would give to United States commission- 

 ers the final disposition of petty offenses within the 

 grade of misdemeanors, especially those coming under 

 the internal-revenue laws, a great advance would be 

 made toward a more decent administration of the 

 criminal law. 



In my first message to Congress, dated Dec. 8,1885, 

 ]. strongly recommended these changes, and referred 

 somewhat at length to the evils of the present system. 

 Since that time the criminal business of the Federal 

 courts and expense attending it have enormously in- 

 creased. 



The number of criminal prosecutions pending in 

 the circuit and district courts of the United States on 

 July 1, 1885, was 3,808, of which 1,884 were for viola- 

 tions of the internal-revenue laws, while the number 

 of such prosecutions pending on July 1, 1893, was 

 9,500, of which 4,200 were for violation of internal- 

 revenue laws. The expense of the United States 

 courts, exclusive of judges' salaries, for the year end- 

 ing July 1, 1885, was $2,874,733.11, and for the year 

 ending July 1, 1893, $4,528,676.87. It is therefore 

 apparent that the reasons given in 1885 for a change 

 in the manner of enforcing the Federal criminal law 

 have gained cogency and strength by lapse of time. 



I also heartily join the Attorney-General in recom- 



