system than now exists, acting promptly and directly everywhere, and constantly operating by preventive means to shield our country from the invasion of disease, and at the same time having due regard to the rights and duties of local agencies, would, I believe, add greatly to the safety of our people.

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 expenditures of the Department for the year ending the 30th June, 1893, amounting to 51,966,074 dol. 89 c. Of this sum 1,992,581 dol. 95 c. was for salaries and contingent expenses 23,377,828 dol. 35 c. for the support of the military establishment, 6,077,033 dol. 18 c. for miscellaneous objects, and 20,518,631 dol. 41 c. for public works. This latter sum includes 15,296,876 dol. 46 c. for river and harbour improvements, and 3,266,141 dol. 20 c. for fortifications and other works of defence.

men.

The total enrolment of the militia of the several States was, on the 31st October of the current year, 112,597 officers and enlisted The officers of the army detailed for the inspection and instruction of this reserve of our military force report that increased interest and marked progress are apparent in the discipline and efficiency of the organization.

Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic violence have called the army into 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 operation of wise laws and the influences of civilization constantly tending to relieve the country from the dangers of Indian hostilities, together with the increasing ability of the States, through the efficiency of the National Guard organizations, to protect their citizens from domestic violence, lead to the suggestion that the time is fast approaching when there should be a reorganization of our army on the lines of the present necessities of the country. This change contemplates neither increase in number nor added expense, but a redistribution of the force and an encouragement 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 accessible stations, all promise to promote the usefulness of the army. In the judgment of army officers, with but few exceptions, the operation of the law forbidding the re-enlistment 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 experience of the year constrains me to join in the recommendation for its repeal.

It is gratifying to note that we have begun to attain completed results in the comprehensive scheme of sea-coast defence 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 ordnance. At the end of the current calendar year the War Department will have nine 12-inch, twenty 10-inch, and thirty-four 8-inch guns, ready to be mounted on gun lifts and carriages, and seventy-five 12-inch mortars. In addition to the product of the Army Gun Factory, now completed at Watervliet, the Government has contracted with private parties for the purchase of 109 guns of these calibres, the first of which should be delivered to the Department for test before the 1st July, 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 provide for the uninterrupted prosecution of this necessary work.

After much preliminary work and exhaustive examination 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 labours during the last year, and the work of manufacture is now in progress at the National Armoury at Springfield. It is confidently expected that by the end of 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 Chickamaunga and Chattanooga National Military Park has been prosecuted with zeal and judgment, and its opening will be celebrated during the coming year. Over 9 square miles of the Chickamaunga battlefield have been acquired, 25 miles of roadway have been constructed, and permanent 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 satisfactory 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 the education of the army and a commendable ambition

among its officers to excel in the military profession and to fit themselves for the highest service to the country.

Under the supervision of Adjutant-General Robert Williams, lately retired, the Bureau of Military Information has become 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 pertaining 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 with certain recommendations as to needed legislation on various subjects. I cannot too heartily indorse the proposition that the fee system as applicable 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 thus creates a conflict between a proper execution of the law and private gain, which cannot fail to be dangerous to the rights and freedom of the citizen and an irresistible temptation to the unjustifiable expenditure of public funds. If in addition to this reform another was inaugurated which would give to United States Commissioners the final disposition of petty offences within the grade of misdemeanours, especially those coming under the internal revenue laws, a great advance would be made towards a more decent administration of the criminal law.

In my first Message to Congress, dated the 8th December, 1885, I 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 the expense attending it have enormously increased. The number of criminal prosecutions pending in the Circuit and District Courts of the United States on the 1st day of July, 1885, was 3,808, of which 1,884 were for violations of the internal revenue laws; while the number of such prosecutions pending on the 1st day of July, 1893, was 9,500, of which 4,200 were for violations of the internal revenue laws. The expense of the United States' Courts, exclusive of Judges' salaries, for the year ending the 1st July, 1885, was 2,874,733 dol. 11 c., and for the year ending the 1st July, 1893, 4,528,676 dol. 87 c.

It is therefore apparent that the reasons given in 1885 for a [1892-93. LXXXV.]

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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 recommending legis lation fixing degrees of the crime of murder within Federal jurisdietion, as has been done in many of the States; authorizing writs of error on behalf of the Government in cases where final judgment is rendered against the sufficiency of an indictment or against the Government upon any other question arising before actual trial; limiting the right of review in cases of felony punishable only by fine and imprisonment to the Circuit Court of Appeals, and making speedy provision for the construction of such prisons and reformatories as may be necessary for the confinement of United States' convicts.

The Report of the Postmaster-General contains a detailed statement of the operations of the Post Office Department during the last fiscal year and much interesting information touching tis important branch of the public service.

The business of the mails indicates with absolute certainty the condition of the business of the country, and depression in financial affairs inevitably and quickly reduces the postal revenues. Therefore a larger discrepancy than usual between the post-office receipts and expenditures is the expected and unavoidable result of the distressing stringency which has prevailed throughout the country during much of the time covered by the Postmaster-General's Report. At a date when better times were anticipated it was estimated by his predecessor that the deficiency on the 30th day of June, 1893, would be but a little over 1,500,000 dollars. It amounted, however, to more than 5,000,000. At the same time, and under the influence of like anticipations, estimates were made for the current fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1894, which exhibited a surplus of revenue over expenditures of 872,245 dol. 71 c.; but now, in view of the actual receipts and expenditures during that part of the current fiscal year already expired, the present PostmasterGeneral estimates that at its close instead of a surplus there will be a deficiency of nearly 8,000,000 dollars.

The post-office receipts for the last fiscal year amounted to 75,896,933 dol. 16 c. and its expenditures to 81,074,104 dol. 90 e. This post-office deficiency would disappear or be immensely decreased if less matter was carried free through the mails, an item of which is upward of 300 tons of seeds and grain from the Agriculturs. Department.

The total number of post offices in the United States on the 30th day of June, 1893, was 68,403, an increase of 1,284 over the preceding year. Of these 3,360 were Presidential, an increase I that class of 204 over the preceding year.

Forty-two free-delivery offices were added during the year to those already existing, making a total of 610 cities and towns provided with free delivery on the 30th June, 1893. Ninety-three other cities and towns are now entitled to this service under the law, but it has not been accorded them on account of insufficient funds to meet the expense of its establishment.

I am decidedly of the opinion that the provisions of the present law permit as general an introduction of this feature of mail service as is necessary or justifiable, and that it ought not to be extended to smaller communities than are now designated.

The expense of free delivery for the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1894, will be more than 11,000,000 dollars, and under legislation now existing there must be a constant increase in this item of expenditure.

There were 6,401 additions to the domestic money-order offices during the last fiscal year, being the largest increase in any year since the inauguration of the system. The total number of these offices at the close of the year was 18,434. There were 13,309,735 money orders issued from these offices, being an increase over the preceding year of 1,240,293, and the value of these orders amounted to 127,576,433 dol. 65 c., an increase of 7,509,632 dol. 58 c. There were also issued during the year postal notes amounting to 12,903,076 dol. 73 c.

During the year 195 international money-order offices were added to those already provided, making a total of 2,407 in operation on the 30th June, 1893. The number of international money orders issued during the year was 1,055,999, an increase over the preceding year of 72,525, and their value was 16,341,837 dol. 86 c., an increase of 1,221,506 dol. 31 c. The number of orders paid was 300,917, an increase over the preceding year of 13,503, and their value was 5,283,375 dol. 70 c., an increase of 94,094 dol. 83 c.

From the foregoing statements it appears that the total issue of money orders and postal notes for the year amounted to 156,821,348 dol. 24 c.

The number of letters and packages mailed during the year for special delivery was 3,375,693, an increase over the preceding year of nearly 22 per cent. The special delivery stamps used upon these letters and packages amounted to 337,569 dol. 30 c., and the messengers' fees paid for their delivery amounted to 256,592 dol. 71 c., leaving a profit to the Government of 80,976 dol. 59 c.

The Railway Mail Service not only adds to the promptness of mail delivery at all offices, but it is the especial instrumentality which puts the smaller and way places in the service on an equality in that regard with the larger and terminal offices. This branch of the postal service has therefore received much attention from the