Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-04

gust 3 1892 relates there can be no need OF further
session If. however, any action should seem to
De necessary in respect to particular objects, 1t
VIII be entirely feasible to provide for those OBJ
for example, that delay until the assembling OF
the next Congress to make additional provision
LOT .ne alssls5ippi River Improvements might De
should appear to be the case. just bill relating
to that subject would command my approval
trust will commend itself to the wisdom OF Con-
gress Is it not advisable that grants of consider
able sums of money for diverse and independent
schemes OF internal improvement should be made
the subjects of separate and distinct legislative
enactments? 1t will scarcely be gainsaid even by
those who favor the most liberal expenditures for
such purposes as are sought to be accomplished
by what Is commonly called the river and harbor
appropriations for a great diversity of objects,
widely separated, either In their nature In the
locality with which they are concerned, or in
both, Is one which IS much to be deprecated
unless 1t Is irremediable. 1t inevitably tends to
secure the success Of the bill as whole, though
many of the items, If separately considered, could
scarcely fail OF rejection BY the adoption Of the
course l have recommended, every member OF
congress, whenever opportunity should arise for
giving his influence and vote for meritoriouS ap-
preparations, would be enabled so to do without
being called upon to sanction others undeserving
his approval So also would the Executive be
afforded thereby full opportunity to exercise his
constitutional prerOgative OF opposing whatever
appropriations seemed to him Objectionable, with
out fmperillng the success Of others which COM
mended themselves to his Judgment
1t may be urged in opposition 10 these sugges-
tons that the number OF works of internal I'M
pr0veInent which are justly entitled to govern
mental aid IS so great as to render impractiCable
separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for
such comparatively limited number make dis
position or large sums OF money. This objection
may be wei. founded and, whether it be or not.
The advantages which would be likely to ensue
from the adoption or the course have recon-
mendsd may perhaps be more effectually attained
oy another, which | respectfully submit to Con-
greSs as an alternative proposition.
V "a tut or four Of
our states that the Executive may dlsappr0ve any
item or items of bill appropr1atng money;
law, and the part disapproved shall fail to become
law, unless repaSSed according to the provisions
preGFloed for the passsge OF bills over the veto OF
provision as the foregoing Is part OF the funda-
mental law are Alabama, California, Colorado.
Fl0rldl, Georgia, louisiana Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Texas, AMI West Virginia. l commend TO your
CAREFUL consideration the question whether an
amendment OF the Federal Constitution in the
particular Indicated would not afford the best
remedy for what is often grave embarrassment
both to members OF Congress and to the Execu-
tive, and is sometimes serious public mischief
The report OF the Secretary or the Navy states
the movements or the various squldronS during
the year, In home and foreign waters, where our
officers and Seamen, with such ships as we pos
se5s have continued to Illustrate the high char
acter and excellent discipline of the naval organl
cation.
On the 21st or December, 1881, information was
received that the exploring steamer Jeanette had
been crushed and abandoned in the Arctic ocean.
Inc officers and crew, a1Cnr journey the ice
embarked in three boats for the coast OF Siberia.
one OF the parties, under the command OF chief
Engineer George w. Melville reached the land
ana, falling in with the natives, was saved An
other under Lieutenant-C Commander De Long,
!aheed IN barren region near the mouth OF the
Lena River. After six weeks had elapsed all but
two or the number had died from fatigue and
starvation. No tidngS have been received from
the party in the third boat, under the command OF
Lieutenant Chlpp, but long AMI frultless tnyesti
EaJlon leaves little doubt that all its members
per shed at sea. As slight tribute to their hero
ism give in this communication the names OF the
gallant men who sacrificed their lives on this ex-
petition: Lielten3nt-Commander George ". De
L ING, Surgeon James NJ. Amber jerome ]. Col
Inns, Huns Halmer Erickson, Heinrich III. Kaacke
Gorge ". Boyd. Walter Lee, Adolph Dres5ler,
carr A. Gortz, Nelse Iyerson, the cook All sam
The missing boat were Lieut.. CHARLES ". Chr C6pn
commanding; William Dunbar, Alfred Sweetman
Walter Sharvell, Albert c. Kuehne, Edward Star,
Henry ID. Warren, and Peter E. johnson.
Lsst. Giles b. Harder and Master William H.
ScheutZe are now bringing home the remains of
Lieutenant De Long and his comrades, i'll pur-
Suance OF the directions OF Congress.
The Rodgers fitted out Tor the relief OF the jean
nfttF, IN accordance with the act OF Congress of
March 3 1881, sailed from San Francisco June It.
under the command OF Lieut.. Robert NJ. Berry. On
November 30 she was accidentally destroyed by
mr., while In winter quarters In St Lawrence Bay.
bat the officers and crew succeeded In escaping to
the shore. Lieut.. Berry and one OF his officers
after making search for the Jeannette along the
coast OF Siberia, fell In with CHIEF Engineer Mel
ylle'S party, and returned home by way of Europe
The other officers AMI the crew OF the Rodgers
were brought from st. Lawrence Bay by the wilal-
nam. who had been placed in charge OF a depot Of
supplies at Cape Serd re, returning TO his post
from ST. Lawrence Bay across the ice in a binding
5n0W-St0rin, was carried out to sea and lost, not
wlthStanding all efforts to rescue him.
IL appears by the Secretary'S report that the
available naval force of the United States consists
OF thirty-seven cruisers fourteen single-turreted
monitors, built during the rebellion, large num-
Der OF snoota-bore guns and Parrott rifles, and
V-Gt -
The cruising vessels should be gradually re-
placed by iron or steel ships, the monitors by
modern armOred vessels and the armament nv
hgh-Dower rifed guns.
The reconstruction OF our Navy, which was rec.
olnmended In my last message, was begun by
congress authorizing, In its recent act, the con-
structon OF two large unarmored steel vessels OF
the character recommended by the late Naval
Advisory Board, and subject to the f1nal approval
OF a new advisory board to be organizad az nro a.
Vlied by that Act call your attention to the
recommendation OF the Secretary and the Board
cruisers OF smaller dimensions, and one fleet dis
patch vessel, and that appropriations be made for
ana Tor other harbor defenses.
PENDING the consideration by Congress OF the
policy TO DE hereafter ado pied in conducting the
eight large navy yards and their expensive est lb
hshments the Secretary advocates the reduction
OF expenditures therefor to the lowest possible
amounts.
For the purpose of afrordlng the officers and
scaInen OF the Navy opportunities for exercise AMI
discipline in their profession, under appropriate
the Lighthouse Service and Coast Survey be
transferred, as now organized, from the Treasury
10 the Navy Departments; and he also suggests for
the reasons which he assigns, that siml ar trans
Ter may wisely be made OF the cruising revenue
vessels.
The Secretary forcibly depicts the intimate con-
nectlJn and interdependence OF the Navy and the
commercial marine, and invites attention to the
cont decadence OF the latter and correspond
ing transfer or our growing commerce to foreign
bottoms.
This subject Is one of the utmost Importance to
the national welfare. Methods OF revivlng Ameri-
can ship building and OF restoring the United
states nag In the ocean carrying trade should re-
celve the Immediate attention of Congress We
nave mechanical skill and abundant material for
the manufacture OF modern iron steamships I'm fair
competition with our commercial rivals. Our dis
advantage In building ships Is the greater cost OF
labor. and in sailing them, higher taxes and
greater interest on capital, while the ocean high
ways are already mOnOpOliZed by our formidable
be overcome and for our rapid communication
pend wholly upon vessels built in the yards Of
other countries and sailing under foreign flags
with no United States steamers ON the principal
ocean lines or In any foreign ports, our facilities
1or extending our commerce are greatly restricted
while the nations Which build and sail the ships nd
carry the mails and passengers obtain thereb by
conspicuous advantages in increasing their trade
The report OF the Postmaster General gives evil
dence or the satisfactory condition OF that Depart
ment, and contains many valuable data and ac-