Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-08
Rrrra .xn u.ppn. ELL.


RIVER AND HARBoR BILLS.
The grounds that induced me to withhold my
signature from the bill entitled aAn act max
ing appropriations for the construction, repair
and preservation of certain works on rivers and
harbors, which became law near the close Of
your session, prompt me TO express the opinion
that no similar measure viii be deemed necessary
during the present session of congress. Indeed
such measure would now be open to a serious
objection In addition to that which was lately
urged on your attention ] am informed by the
secretary OF war that the greater portion OF the
sum appropriated for the various items specified
In that act remains unexpended- The new
works, for which authorized expenses have been
incurred, are only two, for which the total ap-
preparation was S21o 600. The present available
balance is disclosed by the following tables:
Amount of appropriation by
act of August 2, 1882. 1000. SIS, 73S, SIS
Amount of appropriation by act
of June 10. 1882. .......... 10, Geo
Amount Of appropriation for
payments to ]. B. Eads... s04, OOa
Unexpendea balance of former
appropriation. ............ 4,73s, 263
Total. ...,.....:......... 1871, 1sS
l. IS amount drawn from treas
ury between July 1, 1882, ard
November 80, 1852. ~ 6,056 1871
Total. Observation-Disclosures. 17,7S4. ga
1t is apparent BY this exhibit that So far -
concerns most of the items 10 which the act . f
August End, 1882 relates, there can be no need Of
further appropriations until after the close of Il
present session. If, however any action should
be Necessary in respects to particular objects il
would be entirely feasible TO provide for those OBJ
jects by appropriate legislation, 1t is possible
Ter example, that delay until the assembling OF
the next congress to make additional
provision, for the Mississippi river improve
ment might be attended with serious con-
sequences. If such should appear to b. the
case, just bill relating to that subject would
command my approval. This leads me to offer
a suggestion which trust viii commend itself ts
the wisdom of congress. Is il not advisable that
the grants of large sums of m ney for divers and
independent schen.s of internal improvement
should be male the subjects of separate and dis
tinct legislative enactments. It will hardly be
gainsald even ~ hose who favor the most liberal
expenditures for such purposes as are sough to
be accomplish hy what is commonly called the
river and hal Der bill that tie practice OF group
ing in such hil appropriations for a great d.
versty OF objects widely separated either in their
nature or the locality with which they are con-
cerned, or IN both, one which is much to be
deprecated: as its inevitable tendency is secure
the success of the bill as whole, though many
of the items if separately considered could scarce
~ fail of rejection. BY the adoption of the
have recommended, every member of congress
when an opportunity should arise for giving his
influence and vote for meritorious appropriations,
would be enabled so to do without being called
upon 20 sanction others undeserving of his ap-
proval. So, also, would the executive be afforded
full opportunity to exercise his constitutional pre-
rogative of opposing whatever appropriations
seemed to him objectionable, without iHperil!ing
the success of others which commended themselves
to his judgment. 1t may be urged in opposition
to these suggo stions that the ndmbcr of works of
internal improvement which are justly entitled o
governmental aid is so great as to render imprac
ticable separate apr priation bills therefor al
even for sach comparatively limited number as
make disposition OF large sums of money, This
;bjection may be well founded, and whether 1t he
OF not, the advantages that would be likely to
ensue by the adoption of the course 1 have
commended may perhaps be mere efectually az
tanned by another which l respectfully submit t"
congress as an alternative proposition.
1t is provided by the constitutions of II of our
states that the executive may disapprove am
item or items of bill appropriating money
WhereHpcn part of the bill approved shall be law
and the part diSapproved shall fail to bee enc
law, unless repas-ed, according to the provision
prescribed for the passage Of bills Cver the veto
Of the executive The states wherein some such
law, are Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,
louisiana NJ ss,rlri. Nebraska, New jersey
New York, Pen wanna and West Virginia.
THE NAVY.
The report Of the secretary Of the navy states
he movements of the various squadrons dur
my the year, in me- aad foreign waters where
officers aud seamsn. with such ships as we
p)'Sess, have Continued to Illus rate the high
'haracter and excellent discipline of the naval
gan 2ation
TIE JEANETTE.
On the 12st of Decembe 1881, information was
resolved ;ha the exploring steamer Jeanette
had been crushed and abandoned in the arctic
ocean. The officers and crew, afce, journey
H. l.. - Il. L
coasts of Siberia. One of the parties under the
cJmmand of Chief Engineer George W. Melville,
reached the land and falling in with natives was
saved. Another under Lieutenant Commander
DeLong, landed in barren egion near the
mouth Of the Lena river. After six weeks had
elapsed, alfbut two of the number had died from
fatigue and starvation. No lidi lgs have been re-
cciyed from the patty in the third boat under the
co nmand of Lieut.. Chip, but long and fruitless
investigation, leaves little doubt that all its num-
be- persisted IN he sea. As slight tribute to
their heroism give in this communication the
names Of the gallant men who sacrificed their
hvrs in the expedition:
Lieut. CON- Geo. w. Delong; Sargeon J. NJ.
Amber; j. j. Collins, Hans II. Erickson, Her
wyck Kaacli, Geo. A. Bride, Walter Lee, Adolph
Driscoll, Carl A. Gortz, Nelse Syerton, H. L.
Cook, A. II: saetan and the Indian
ing beat were: Lieutenant Chas. w. Chip,
commanding; VIM. Keerbar, Alfred WatkinSon
Wall. Shutbell, Albert C. kulhne, Edwin Star.
Henry Warren and Peter E. johnson. Lieut..
Giles D. HARDER and Master W. II. Scheutskisch
are now bringing home the remains of Lieut.. d.
Long and his comrades.
In pursuance OF the direction of cong,ess the
Rodgers, fitted out for the relief of the jeanette
in accordance with the act of congress of March
Sd, 1881, sailed from San Francisco June l6 un-
der the command of Lieut.. Robert NJ. Berry. On
Nov goth she was accidentally destroyed by fire
while il winter quarters of St. Lawrence Bay but
lceIs and crew succeeded in escapingTto the laad.
Lieutenant Berry and one of his officers after
making a search for the Jeanette along the
coast of Siberia, fell in with Chef Engineer
Melville's party, and returned home 10y way OF
Europe. Tho other officers and crew of tie
Rodgers were brought f.om st. Lawrence Bay bv
the whaling steamer North Star. M. CT : ~
Rulman, who had been placed in charge of de-
pot Of supplies at Cape Zerdare, returning TO his
post from st. Lawrence Bay in binding now
storm, was carried out to sea and losJ notwith-
standing all efforts to rescue him.
1t appears by the secretary's report that the
THE NAVY AND THE coMMERcIAL MARINE,
and invites attention to the continued decadence
Of the latter aud the corresponding transfer of
nur growing commerce to foreign bottoms. This
subject is one of the utmost Importance to the
rational welfare. Methods of reviving American
chip building and of restoring the United States
Nag on the ocean carrying trade should receive
me immediate attention of congress. We have
skill and abunda ut material for the
manufacture of modern iron steamships in fair }
with our commercial rivals. Our dis
advantage in building ships is the greater cost of
labor and sailing them, high tax and greater in
crest on capital. While the ocean highways are
already monopolized by cur forlnid-
able competitors, these obstacles should
IN some way be overcome, and for rapid commu-
nication with foreign lands should not continue
to depend wholly on vessels built in the yards of
nther countries and sailing I'm der foreign flags.
With no United States steamer on the principal
ccan lines, or for any foreign parts. our facili-
lies tor extending cur commerce are greatly re-
'iricted, while the nations which build the ships
md carry the mail and passengers, obtain there
~ conspicuous advantages in increasing . heir
rade.
THE PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the postmaster general gives evil
icnce of the satisfactory condition of that depart
cent, and contains many valuable data and sug-