Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-03

lirst comptroller of the treasury, has jus
completed his annual report, giving in de
tail the transactions of his Office during tn,
fiscal year. In referring to the statute re.
gsrding perjury, Judge Lawrence says
There may be some doubt whether the ex
isting statute defining perjury is sufficiently
broad to include all cases of corrupt false
swearing in afidaviis used for various pur-
poses in the treasury department. Affida-
Wits are of necessity used for great variety Oi
purposes and il is of the utmost importance
that all who make them should be amenable
to punishment in case deserving it respect
fully submit that the subject is worthy OF
consideration by Congress" II is recon-
mended that if no radical char nge Is made IN
the existing statute relative to lost and de-
stroyed bonds, authority ought at least to be
given to require more than two securities to
the bond of indemnity.
SECRETARY TEoMPsoN's REPORT.
The annual report of Secretary Thompson
IS made public. The total gross amount
available for the year was $14, ,7C6,642, sub.
iect to deduction by g surplus fund war
want of 81 1898 which leaves the net amount
at 81, 4,704,644. The expenditures were
Sl2,9l4,639, leaving a balance unexpended
ct the end of the year of $2,77e,C04. 10
this, however, should be added the net
amount unexpended in the hands of pay off,
cers, es shown st the Office Of the fourth
auditor. $358,677, which shows the
net expenditures for the fiscal year were
S2,141, ,682 less than the amount applicable
therefor. The number of navy pensions on
the rolls, Juns 80, 1880, was $3.50, and the
amount paid during the year on account of
pensions. S752,771. The total amount
available for operations of the present fiscal
year, ending June 80, 1881. is Sl5,095,O6l,
and the total estimates for the fiscal year,
ending June 30, 1882, are $15,953,76 The
secretary recommends the repeal of the pro-
v1so to the act of jane 18th, 1873, SO IS to
restore to the President authority to appoint
ten cadet midshipmen at large annually.
Calling attention to the growing COM
mercial importance of the Central and South
American states, whose trade is lIkelyto pass
entirely out of our hands if prompt and
vigorous measures sre not taken to secure it,
the secretary continues: "All that the navy
department can properly do to this end has
been done. have deemed it an imperative
public duty TO send our ships of war into as
many of their ports as possible, with view
of enabling the authorities and people Of
those countries to understand that 1t is our
desire to cultivate with them the most
amicable commercial relations, and that
both their own interest and ours would be
thereby promoted. The products CT South
America which reach the Pacific coast can
only reach this country by way of San Fran
cisco or the Isthmus of Panama and conse-
H. o1o faik Ut fo
rate such steps as were calculated to estab-
lish more intimate relations with the states
and people upon each side of that isthmus.
The authority of the secretary of the navy
is limited upon this subject and does not ex-
tend beyond the location of stations at
points where our vessels touch or may be
induced to touch in order to promote COM
mercial intercourse where it is already es-
.ablisbed, or to invite it where it is
not. ] have therefore caused steps to be
taken for the establishment of coaling sta
tion upon each side of the Isthmus as perma-
nently suitable both as regards naval uses
and the commerce of that region
The one on the east side is located at Chiri-
qui lagoon in the Caribbean sea and in the
immediate vicinity of veins of coal already
opened, and that on the west at the bay of
Galfito, part of the gulf Of Dulce on the
Pacific. The distance between them is less
than 100 miles. Tie only two safe and suf-
ficiently commodioas harbors on the Isthmus
are at these points, and although the depart
ment did not, before making deposits
OF coal, acquire title to the lands occupied,
yet it assured itself that no difficulty would
be likely to arise on that score. Although it
was not anticipated that any political objec-
tion would be made TO a preliminary exam
ination md survey Of those waters, with SO
useful an object to those ports, as we'll as to
this government, in view, yet careful instruc-
tions we're given to the commanders of ves-
sells assigned TO the performance of that
duty, to the effect that if either government
interposed any objection to the movement
they should Immediately suspend operations
and report the matter to the department., in
order that it might be made subject of di-
plomatic negotiation. Iusomuch, however, as
no obstacle of this kind was encountered
either at ChiriGui Lagoon or Galito, coal
iu sufficient quantities, was deposited al
each harbor, and now remains there for fu
ture use by our vessels, whenever it may be
needed. The question of acquiring title to 6
sufficient quantity of land upon these har
bors is necessarily left for the subsequen
action of the government. The initiator1
steps have also been taken to establish like
station at Puepta Arenos in Costa Rico
and it is believed the department viii
be enabled to accomplish this before tie ex
piration of many months.
1t would be greatly to the advantage o
the United States, and contribute much to
wards the economical management of the
navy department if acquisitions similar tt
those I have mentioned were made in othe
parts of the world, within the course of ou
existing and contemplated commerce. Th
strong maritime powers of Europe emplo,
great vigilence in this particular and VI
should not be behind them-in doing which
We legitimately and properly extent
our maritime influence over the world.
Concluding his report Secretary Thomp
son calls attention to the special relation
between the navy and commerce of the coun
try. "The subject he says, "has game
fresh Importance by the constantly increas
ing surplus of our agricultural and manufac
turing products now being sent by sea to a.
ports of the world. To this immense com
merce the ravy is a necessary ally and mus
at all times be prepared to furnish it protee
. tiop. It is impossible to do this effectuall
unless a sufficient number Of the right kin
of vessels are constructed, Lot for cruiser
merely, but for all purposes of war whe
an emergency shall require il
The cruisers we now have az
constantly employed in various seas and it
gratifying to know that our flag is SO muc
= L. AZ