Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
It is hardly necessary to recall the fact that in obedience to the
commands of the Constitution and the laws, and for the purpose of
protecting the property of the United States, aiding the process of
Federal courts, and removing lawless obstructions to the performance by
the Government of its legitimate functions, it became necessary in
various localities during the year to employ a considerable portion of
the regular troops. The duty was discharged promptly, courageously, and
with marked discretion by the officers and men, and the most gratifying
proof was thus afforded that the Army deserves that complete confidence
in its efficiency and discipline which the country has at all times
manifested.
The year has been free from disturbances by Indians, and the chances of
further depredations on their part are constantly becoming more remote
and improbable.
The total .expenditures for the War Department for the year ended June
30, 1894, amounted to $56,039,009.34. Of this sum $2,000,614.99 was for
salaries and contingent expenses, $23,665,156.16 for the support of the
military establishment, $5,001,682.23 for miscellaneous objects, and
$25,371,555.96 for public works. This latter sum includes
$19,494,037.49 for river and harbor improvements and $3,947,863.56 for
fortifications and other works of defense. The appropriations for the
current year aggregate $52,429,112.78, and the estimates submitted by
the Secretary of War for the next fiscal year call for appropriations
amounting to $52,318,629.55.
The skill and industry of our ordnance officers and inventors have, it
is believed, overcome the mechanical obstacles which have heretofore
delayed the armament of our coasts, and this great national undertaking
upon which we have entered may now proceed as rapidly as Congress shall
determine. With a supply of finished guns of large caliber already on
hand, to which additions should now rapidly follow, the wisdom of
providing carriages and emplacements for their mount can not be too
strongly urged.
The total enrollment of the militia of the several States is 117,533
officers and enlisted men, an increase of 5,343 over the number
reported at the close of the previous year. The reports of militia
inspections by Regular Army officers show a marked increase in interest
and efficiency among the State organizations, and I strongly recommend
a continuance of the policy of affording every practical encouragement
possible to this important auxiliary of our military establishment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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