The Morning herald., 1875-12-08

tIOn OF Ln0 ncrOmcn Of 1cXaB. l00 pTt
ceedings of the joint commission under tn
Convention between the Unites States an
Mexico on the 4th of July, 1868, on the sui
ject of claims will soon be brought to
close. The result of these proceedings vii
then be communicated to Congress.
THE VENEZUELA AFFAIR.
I am happy to announce that the Govern
ment of Venezuela has, upon further con
sideration, practically abandoned IT
objection to pay to the United States tina
share of its revenue which some years sine
1t allotted towards the extinguishment o
the claims of foreigners generally
THE TREATY WITH BELGIUM.
Since my last message, the exchange hal
been made of the ratification of treaty O
commerce and navigation with Belgium
and of. conventions with the Mexican
Republic for the further extension OF thu
Joint Commission respecting claims with
the Hawaiian Islands for commercial re-
ciprocity, and with the Ottoman Empire fol
extradition, all Of which have been duly
proclaimed.
PuRIFIcATIoN OF CLAIMS.
I will suggest or mention another subject
bearing upon the problem of how to enable
the Secretary of the Treasury to accumu
late balance: "It is to devise some better
method of verifying claims against the
Government than at present exists through
the court of claims, especially those claims
growing out of the late war.
Nothing is mora certain than that very
large percentage of the amounts passed and
paid are either wholly fraudulent or are fol-
in excess of the real losses sustained.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR,
accompanying this message, gives detsiled
account of army operations for the yea
,ust passed, expenses for maintenance, etc.
wish recommendations for legislation to W hich
respectfully invite your attention:
First, The necessity of making $500, 900
Of the appropriation for the Subsistence
Department available before the beginning
of the next fscal year, Without this pro-
visions troops at points distant from supply
and production must either 60 without
food, or existing laws must he violated. Ii
is not attended with cost to the Treasury.
Second. His recommendation for the
enactment of system of bounties for the
families of deceased officers by voluntary
deductions from the monthly pay of off,
GERS.
Fourth. The trial with torpedoes under
the corps of Engineers and appropriation
for the same. Should war ever occur be-
tween the United States and any marine
power, torpedoes will be among, If not the
most effective and cheapest auxiliary for the
defence Of harbors, and, also, in aggressive
operations, that we can have. Hence it is
advisable to learn by experiment their best
as well as effect.
THE CONDITION OF OUR NAVY
at this time is subject of satisfaction. 1t
loes not contain, 1t is true, any Of the pow
erful cruising iron-clads which make 80
much of the maritime strength of some
other nations, but neither our continental
situation or our foreign policy requires that
we should h I'VE large number of ships Of
Ibis character, while this situation and the
nature of our ports combine to make those
Of other nations little dangerous to us under
any circumstances.
THE MONITORS.
Our navy does contain, however, consid
erable number Of iron-clads Of the monitor
class, which, though not properly cruisers,
are powerful and effective for harbor defense
and for operations near our own shores OF
these all the single turretted ones, fifteen in
number, have been substantially rebuilt
their rotten, wooden beams repair ed with
iron, their pulls strengthened, and their en-
gines and machinery thoroughly repaired,
so that they are now in the most efficient
condition, and ready for sea, as soon as they
can be manned and put in commission.
Tho fyo 6nuh1o roto1 iron o1oda ho
longing to our navy, by far the most pow
erfll of our ships for fighting purposes,
are also in hand undergoing complete re-
pairs, and could be ready for sea in periods
varying from four to six months. With
those completed according to the present
design, and our two torpedo boats now
ready, our iron-clad fleet will be, for the
purposes of defense at home, equal to any
foe that can readily be brought against it..
OF our wooden navy also, cruisers Of
various sizes, to the NUN Der of about forty,
including those now In commission, are in
the Atlantic and could be ready for duty as
fast as men could be enlisted for those not
already in commission.
OF these one-third are In effect new ships,
and though some OF, the remainder need
considerable repairs to their boilers and
machinery they all are or can be made, effec-
live. This constitutes feet of more than
fifty war ships of which fifteen are iron-
lads now in hand on the Atlantic coast.
The navy has been brought to this condi-
ion by judicious and practical applica-
ion OF what could be spared from the cur
rent appropriations of the last few years,
md from that made to meet the possible
emergency of two years ago.
1t has been done quietly and without pro-
,lamation or display, and though it has ne
,essarily Strengthened the department in its
ordinary expeditions, and as far as the iron
lads are concerned has added nothing to
he cruising force of the navy. Yet the re-
ult is not the less satisfactory, because it is
o be found in great increase of real, or
ather than apparent force.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of the General Land Office
;hows that there were 2,459,6Ol acres less
disposed Of during this than during the last
,ear. More than one-half of this decrease
vas in lands disposed Of under the home
tead and timber culture laws. The causes
# this decrease 10 supposed to he found in
he grasshopper scourge and the droughts
which prevailed so extensively in some of
he frontier States and Territories during