The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-03
Last Nights Dispatches.
Secretary rhompsoa's Annual Report.

WASHINGTON. Dec 2.-The annual re
port of Secretary Thompson is mad
public. The total gross amount for tn
year was $l4,706. .642. subject to a deduc
ton by surplus fund warrant of 81 ,996
which leaves the net amount $l4, ,7O4. .544
Expenditures were $I2, 2,9l6,639, leaving
balance unexpended at the end of tn
year of $l,787.905. To this, however
should be added the net amount unexpend
ed IN tie hands of pay officers, as show
at the office of the Fourth Auditor
1888 677 which shows that the net expen
ditures for the fiscal year were $2,l41, 68.
less than the amount applicable therefor
The number Of navy pensioners on th(
rolls June 80. 1880, was $780, and th,
amount paid during the year on account
OF pension $752.77l. Total amount
available for operations the present fsca
year ending June 30;h. 1881, il. SIS. .095 ,O6l
and the total estimates for fiscal year end,
ing j June 80. 1882. are $l5.953,76 The
Secretary recommends the repeal of tht
proyiSo to the act Of June IT, 1878. SO a.
to restore to the President authority t.
appoint ten cadet mldshipmen at large
annually.
COMMERCE WITH SOUTH AMERICA.
Calling attention to the growing com.
merciai importance Of the Central and
South American States, whose trade il
likely to pass entirely out of our hands il
prompt and vigorous measures are no,
taken to secure 10, the Secretary continues
All that the navy department. can pro-
perry do to to this end, has been done,
SUBSIDIES TO SHIP BUILDERS.
1t is entirely competent to arrange with
private ship builders with reference to
the extension OF our postal service upon
the ocean aud to require that vessels used
for that purpose shall be So constructed
that in tha event Of war they may be em
pIoyed Immediately Tor var purposes.
Such vessels built both for strength and
speed would adj most materially, in case
of necessity to our meas o. rationa
defense ard the increase ol eur nava! force
hy this means, would soon enable us e
compete upon the oc AN with the strongest
naval powers in tie world
ENGLAND's POLICY.
E8gland owes her present naval supcri
ority to this policy. and it serves no vaIu
able purpose to contrast our condition
with hers unless VS. shall profit by her
example So long as her merchant vessels
built under her protection and patronage,
are allowed annually to draw from our
wealth about 500, 100000 as compensa
ton for treighting our comm cree, jast so
long will our inferiority exist. Whenever
our own com N cree stall be carried on in
vessels owned and bail; By our own
people, capable of being turned Into ships
of war when necessary, then We sdall reach a
point of equality With her and be prepared
when necessity shall arise to test with her
the question of superiority upon the sea.
Before the war we had nearly succeeded
n running British vessels FROM the ocean,
and since the war VIC have contented
ourselves with uttering complaints agaiust t
England for her agency in destroying ours
while the war was in progress The time
for active aud energetic measures has now
arrived, and every future year Of neglect
will add TO our inferiority.
NAVY AND MERCHANTMEN
Continuing bis report, Secretary
Thompson calls attention to the special
relations between the navy and the cou =.
merce; of the country. This subject, be
says, has gained Trash importance by the
constantly increasing surplus of our asri-
cultural and manufactUring products, now
being sent by sea to all parts of the world,
To this immense com merce the navy is a
necessary ally and must at all tunes be
prepared to furnish it protection. L is
impossible to do this efectuaIly unless a
sufficient number of the right kind Of
vessels are constructed, not for ouiserS
merely, but for all purposes of war whe n
the emergency shall require it. The
cruisers we now have are constantly
employed 10 various seas, and it is
gratifying 10 know that our flag is as
much respected in ali parts Of the world
that very few Instances have occurred
where our merchant vessels have been
iDterfered with. But undoubtedly it Is
true that whether the navy be regarded as
she protector OF ou- commerce, or as an
essential means of defeEce. the nun Der of
vessels should be increased. and it is
equally true that good policy requires
the National Government to increase the
strength of our mercantile marine so that
it may become commensurate with ALT
wants aud necessities of our commerce.
The Increase of one should beproportionate
to that of the othsr, Our material wealth
IL 10 large dsgree the product of our
comm erce on the ocean. As this Is ex
tended, so will our wealth increase, and
as at no time in the past has this wealth
increased so rapidly rs a present, now is
a most oppoftune time for US TO extend 10
it the necessary aid 1t would be greatly
TO the advantage cf the United States, aud
contribute much towards the tcouuuICai
management Of the navy drpartmcnt. 1t
ACQUISITIONS similar to those | have tncn,
toned were made as in other parts OF Il Q
world within the coures OF our existing
and coatem pl ated commerce The strong
maritime powers OF Europe employ great
vigilance in this particular. aud wc should
not be behind them in doing wha; We legi
timately and properly can to extend oUr
maratime influence over the world.
Gan Eyile~.