The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-09
The NaTy-Secretary ThOmpsOn's Re-
mort.
MAsH1xcrnN. nccemh,

WASHINGTON. December -
THE annual report Of Secretary Thompson is
made public.
The total gross amount available for the year
was Sl4.5 6,6is, subject TO deduction by sur
plus fund warrant of 81, 99s, winch leaves the
net amo-nt ut Sl4904.64i. The expenditures
we're So, alG6}g. leaving balance unexpended
at the end of the year Of Sl,7SS,Ol5. To this,
however. should be added the net amount I'M
expended in the hands of pay officer. as shown
al the Office OF the Fourth Auditor, Si5Ab'.,
which shows the net expenditures rthe fiscal
year were S2Iti.6Ss less than the amount ap-
plicablt therefor.
The number of navy pensions on the rolls
June 20, loS0, was 5, $50, and the amount paid
during the year on account of pensions S'o-'-
IL. The total amount available for the opera
tons of the present fiscal year ending June
81, 1851. is SIj,OJ5 05l, and the total estimates
tor the fiscal year ending June 30, loSI are
$l59j3,76l.
The Secretary recommends the repeal of the
proviso TO the act of June II, ISIS, so as t. re-
store to the President authority to appoint ten
cadet midshipmen-atlarge annually.
Calling attention TO the growing commercial
importance of the Central and South Amert-
can States, whose trade is likely TO pass en-
tirely out of our hands if prompt and vigor-
Secretary continues: "All that the Navy De-
partment 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 or
those countries to understand that it is our
desire to cultivate with them the most am
ieable commercial relations, and that
both their own interest and ours would
be thereby promoted The products
of South America which reach the
Pacific coast caNonly reach this country by
way of San Francisco or the lsthmus OF Pan
anna. Consequently, l have also felt it my duty
TO inaugurate such steps as were calculated to
establish 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 extend beyond the location Of sta
tions at points where our vessels touch or may
be induced to touch, in order to promote COM
mercial intercourse where it is already estab-
Iished, or to invite it where il is not have,
therefore, caused steps to be taken for the es-
tablishment of coaling stations upon each side
of the iSthmuS, ut points emlnently SUIT
able, both as regards naval uses and
the commerce of that region. The one
on the east side is located at Chiriqui
Lagoon, in the Caribbean Sea, and in the i'm
mediate vicinity of veins of coal already
! opened; and that on the west at the Bay of
| Gofto, a part of the Gulf of Dulce on the
! Pacific. The distance between them IS less
| than 100 miles. The only two safe and suih-
GENTLY commodious harbors on the isthmus
! are at these points, and, although the Depart
nent did not before making the deposits of
| coal acquire title TO the lands occupied, yet it
1 M difficulty would he HkplV
| to arise on that score. Although it was not
anticipated that any political objection would
| be made to preliminary examination and
! survey of those waters with so useful an OBJ
! iect to those ports as well as TO this Govern
| ment in view, yet careful instructions were
| given to the commanders of vessels assigned
| to the performance of the 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 il might be made the subject of diplomat
ic negotiation. Inasmuch, however, as no OBJ
| stacle of this kind was encountered either al
! the Chiriqui Lagoon or Goltito, coal in sutii
| cicnt quantities was deposited at each haroor
| and now remains there for future use by oui
vessels whenever it may be needed Tit
question of acquiring title to a sufficient guam
lily OIL lilllu upon luCSt bOlo 10 hSSOoot1A ny
left for subsequent action Of the Government
The initlatory steps have also been taken tc
establish like station at Punta Arenas in
Costa Rica, and it is believed the Department
will be enabled to accomplish this before the
! expiration Of many months.
at would be greatly to the advantage OF
the United States, and contribute much
toward the economical management OF the
| Navy Department, if acquisitions similar 70
| those | have mentioned were made in other
/ parts of the world within the courses OF our
existing and contemplated commerce. The
strong maritime Powers of Europe employ
great vigilance in this particular, and we
| should not be behind them in doing what W.
Iegitimately and properly can to extend oW
maritime influence over the world
Concluding his report, Secretary Thompson
calls attention to the special relations De
tween the navy and the commerce OF tn
country. THE subject" he says, has gained
fresh importance by the constantly-increasing
surplus of our agricultural and manufactur
ing products now being sent by sea TO all part:
of the world. To this immense commerce the
navy is the necessary ally, and must at al
times be prepared TO furnish it protection. Il
is impossible to do this eTectually unless s
sufficient number of the right kind of vessel:
aIe constructed, not for cruisers merely, bu
for all purposes of war when an emergency
shall require it. The cruisers we now hav,
are constantly employed in various seas, anc
it is gratifying to know that our flag is muct
respected il all parts of the world.
VERY few instances have occurred whert
our merchant vessels have been interferet
with. But undoubtedly it is true that, wheth
er the navy be regarded rs a protector of on
commerce or as an essential means of defense
the number of vessels should be increas ed
and it is equally true that good policy require
the National Government to employ all It's lC
ultimate powers to increase the strength o
our mercantile marine, so that it may becom
commensurate with all tho wants and nece:
sites of our commerce. The increase of on
should De proportionate TO that Of the othel
Our material wealth is in large degree tn
product of our commerce upon the ocean. A
this is extended, so will our wealth be In
creased. and as at no time in the past has thi
wealth increased so rapidly as ut present, no
is a most oppOrtune time for us 10 extend to
the necessary degree of protection. This
conceded on all hands, but about the be;
method of doing it there are differences
opinion.
1T is not the province of Congress to bull
vessels for the merchant service, nor is 1t e.
pedient or possible to allow commercial art
cles to be transported upon vessels of war, bu
it undoubtedly is within its constitutions
powers to give the necessary protection to on
shipbuilding interests so rs to justify an IL
crease of our mercantile marine to such e.
tent as the necessities of our commerce sha
I require. 1t is entirely competent TO arrang
with private shipbulders with reference to tn
, extension of our postal service upon tn
ocean. and to require that vessels used fc
that purpose shall be so constructed this
J in the event of war they may be Ell
ployed Immediately for wa- purpose
> ! C,,,h ,-osSoIo h,,ilt both for strength an