about 100,000. "A complete Civil Service Reform would have to deal directly with abuses connected with our elections, our legislation and our elective and partisan judiciary. A thorough Civil Service Reform, by leaving few offices to be filled by favor or to be won as spoils, would effectively suppress bribery at elections through the promises of places and appointments. It would also leave but little opportunity for Members of Congress or of Legis latures to barter places for votes, or to coerce executive appointments in their own interest. It would determine the bestowal of nearly all the official places which have been at once the capital of the partisan chieftain and the fuel of his machine. Though penal and prohibitory laws are in their nature but imperfect and inadequate agencies of reform, yet with reasonable support from public opinion, they may be made highly beneficial. Intrinsically, there is no reason why a wise law, in aid of a good administration, shall not be as effective as any of the numerous wise laws in aid of good morals."

President Madison held that "the wilful removal of officials known to be worthy and the wilful appointment of those known to be unworthy, for mere personal or partisan reasons, would justly subject an officer to impeachment;" and President Cleveland declared that "public office was a public trust.' Jackson declared in a message, that "Every citizen has an equal right to office;" but per contra Civil Service Reform proposes that he who is best qualified-who can and will serve the people most usefully-has the highest claim; and it is the duty of those having authority, to appoint or elect him rather than any other applicant. "Experience in official duties increases the capacity to perform them well; and, as a general rule, increases the probability that they will be best performed by the officer so long as his mental and physical abilities remain unimpaired. The right and interest of the people to have the public work well done are paramount to the claim of any citizen to an official place or of any party to have its favorites in office; and, therefore, any theory of short terms or rotation in office, which would turn out experienced and efficient public servants in order to make places for fresh claimants, is disastrous to the public interest. The man among the applicants having the highest claim to office can only be ascertained by his proper examination in comparison with others. To refuse that examination is to do injustice to the most meritorious."

THE Grand Army of the Republic was instituted and organized at the close of the Civil War, and is composed of soldiers, sailors and marines, who had been honorably discharged when hostilities were practically ended by the surrender of General Lee to General Grant at Appomattox. It is a fraternal and charitable association, and has numerous Posts in all parts of the United States. There is a National Encampment, and State Departments. The widows and children of deceased comrades who are in adverse circumstances are looked after and cared for by committees appointed by the respective Posts. The motto of the order is, "Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty." As a social organization the Grand Army have their camp-fires, and frequently give musical and literary entertainments, at which the wives and daughters of the members take a prominent part, and which are much enjoyed by the general public. In the halls of the Posts are displayed memorials of the war, such as weapons, tattered flags, etc. The custom of strewing the graves of deceased comrades on each annual occurrence of May 30 was first suggested, as stated, by General John A. Logan. The day is always marked by a parade of the G. A. R. Posts, escorted at times by the regular U. S. Army troops. At the various cemeteries musical exercises are held, and orations, depicting the valorous and self-sacrificing deeds of the departed warriors, delivered. In some cities business is entirely suspended on Decoration or Memorial Day as a mark of respect to both the surviving and dead soldiers who participated in what has been called "the little unpleasantness." The election of commanders and subordinates of departments is always entered into with much activity, interest and zeal.

Commander-in-Chief.

John Palmer, Albany, N. Y.

S.Vice-Com H. M. Duffield, Detroit, Mich. | Surgeon-Gen. B. F. Stevenson, Visalia, Ky. J. Vice-Com.T. S. Clarkson, Omaha, Neb. Chap.-in-Ch. S. B. Paine, St. Augustine, Fla.

OFFICIAL STAFF.

Adjutant-Gen F.Phisterer, Albany, NY. | Inspector-Gen...J. F. Pratt, E. Orange,N. J. Quartermaster-Gen. J. Taylor, Phila., Pa. | Judge Adv.-Gen..J. W. O'Neall, Lebanon,O. The National Council of Administration has 44 members, each department being represented by one member.

The first post of the Grand Army was organized at Decatur, Ill., April 6, 1866. The first department encampment was held at Springfield, Ill., July 12, 1866. The first national encampment was held at Indianapolis, November 20, 1866.

*For revisions and additions under this heading, up to the moment of going to press, see Addenda, preceding Index.

NATIONAL ENCAMPMENTS AND COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF.

COAST DEFENSES. *

AMONG the many valuable papers left by Hon. Samuel J. Tilden at his death at Graystone, Westchester Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1886, was a letter that he had written to Hon. John G. Carlisle, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in regard to the urgent necessity of liberal appropriations for such a system of coast defenses as would place the United States in a position of comparative safety against naval attack. It was the last important public document he ever wrote, and it elicited wide-spread and favorable comment from the press in all parts of the country. It precipitated the subsequent favorable action of Congress during the administration of President Cleveland, in making liberal appropriations for what is known as the " New Navy," and of which Mr. Whitney will always have the honor, as the one who saw the first cruiser (of the new navy) under his official position as Secretary of the Navy, launched upon the waters of the deep.

The coast defenses, however, that Mr. Tilden wanted, were land fortifications with their proper armament. An act of Congress was approved March 3, 1885, making provisions for fortifications and other works of defense, and for the armament thereof, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, and for other purposes, for the following ports recommended by the board appointed by the President: New York, San Francisco, Boston, the Lake ports, Hamp ton Roads, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Portland (Me.), Rhode Island, ports in Narragansett Bay, Key West, Charleston (S. C.), Mobile, New London, Savannahı, Galveston, Portland (Ore.), Pensacola (Fla.), Wilmington (N. C.), San Diego (Cal.), Portsmouth (N. H.), defenses of Cumberland Sound at Fort Clinch, defenses of ports of the Kannebec River at Fort Popham, New Bedford (Mass.), defenses of ports on the Penobscot River (Me.), at Fort Knox, and New Haven (Conn.).

Under the provisions of the recommendation by the board and the Act of Congress (1885) Senator Dolph, on December 15, 1891, introduced bill 871, asking for an appropriation of $100,000,000 for fortifications and their armament, to be made available as follows: For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $10,000,000; for each fiscal year thereafter, for the period of ten years, $9,000,000; all of said appropriation to be available until expended.

Section 6 provides that the guns shall be fabricated at the army gun factory, Watervliet Arsenal, New York, and at such other government gun factories as may be established under the authority of Congress. The material for guns and armor shall be purchased by contract, and for the purpose of providing the same the Secretary of War is hereby authorized, from time to time, as the same shall be required, to make contracts with responsible steel manufacturers for the supply of rough-bored, rough-turned, oil tempered and annealed steel, in forms suitable for heavy ordnance adapted to modern warfare, and steel finished, for armor and other army purposes, in quantities not less than 10,000 gross tons, in quality and dimensions conforming to specifications, subject to inspection and tests at each stage of manufacture, and including all the parts of each caliber specified.

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Coast Defenses. It was again reported by Senator Dolph, with amendments, January 12, 1892. An act to increase the Naval Establishment," and providing for floating batteries, torpedo boats, etc., was approved August 3, 1886.

In the Senate of the United States Mr. Squire, from the Committee on

* For most recent legislation on this subject, up to the moment of going to press, see Addenda, preceding Index.

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Coast Defenses, introduced, March 7, 1892, the following report, to accompany Senate Bill 537, introduced December 10, 1891, by Mr. Dolph, which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Coast Defenses, "to provide for the establishment of a gun factory for the finishing and assembling of heavy ordnance on the Pacific coast."

THE REPORT.

The Committee on Coast Defenses, having had under consideration the bill (S. 537) to provide for the establishment of a gun factory for the finishing and assembling of heavy ordnance on the Pacific coast, submit the following report:

The committee have carefully considered, in connection with this bill, the report of the Board on Fortifications or other Defenses, as well as that of the Board on Gun Factories and Steel Forgings for High-power Guns. For the purpose of securing the opinion of an expert of the War Department, the committee availed itself on two occasions of the services of Brig. Gen. Flagler, Chief of Ordnance of the Army, whose statement is herewith submitted and made a part of this report.

The Board on Fortifications or other Defenses, appointed under the act of March 3, 1885, recommended for twenty-seven principal ports of the United States 599 guns of from 8 to 16 inch caliber, and 700 12-inch mortars, making a total of 1,299 pieces of ordnance. Of this number about one-fourth of the guns and about one-fifth of the mortars will be required for the defense of three points only on the Pacific coast, namely: San Diego, San Francisco, and the mouth of the Columbia River. No provision was made in this report for the defense of Puget Sound, which has become of far greater importance than it was when the report was made, nor of Gray's Harbor, nor other ports on the Pacific coast. At least 510 guns and mortars will be required for the proper defense of the Pacific coast at the four principal points named; at least 200 guns and mortars being required for Puget Sound alone.

As will be seen, upon examination of his statement, Gen. Flagler unqualifiedly favors the establishment of another gun factory, to be located on the Pacific coast, for reasons which, to the committee, seem incontrovertible. The necessity for another gun factory and the advantages which would accrue from its location on the Pacific coast are manifest. Among others the advantage of having the factory near to the fortifications, a "military advantage," as it has been termed, is of great importance. Gen. Flagler on this point said:

"I would like to invite attention to, and lay great stress upon, one point that I make, and that is the very great advantage, amounting in some cases to something like a necessity, of having this establishment nearer to the fortifications than the Atlantic coast."

The saving in the cost of transportation which would result from the establishment of the proposed gun factory would be enormous, and would more than equalize whatever slight difference there might be in the cost of manufacturing the guns on the Pacific coast as compared with some eastern point. There is great doubt whether the larger guns, particularly the 16-inch, could be safely transported by rail across the continent; and the highest authorities question the practicability of such an undertaking.

The question has arisen whether it may not be preferable to double the capacity of the present factory at Watervliet, so as to provide for the manufacture there of the guns and mortars contemplated, which, it is estimated, could be done for $150,000 less than it would cost to build a new plant. It has not been in accordance with the policy of the government, nor would it seem wise, to locate both gun factories at the same point. By having them located at different points the disastrous results of great fires, whereby both might be destroyed, are averted; and the possibility, however remote, of a