Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-12-13
Less amount drawn from treasury be-


18S2..:.. :. 6,056,19
Iota. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ......$l7,734,944
It is apparent by this exhibit that so far as
concerns most of the items to which the act of
August 2, 1882, relates, there can be no need
of further appropriations until after the close
of the present session. II, however, any &C..
ton should seem to be necessary in respect to
particular objects, it will be enti1 ely feasable
to provide for those objects by appropriate leg
islatio aa 1t is possible, for example, that
the a aey con %n the To mafs saaop Of
provision for the Mississippi River Improvement
might be attended with serious consequences.
If such should appear to be the case, Just
bill relating to that subject would. command
my approval. This leads me to offer the sug
Sestion, which trust will commend itself to
that grants of considerable sums of money for
diverse and independent schemes of interna-
tional improvement should be made the sub
jects Of separate and distinct legislative
enactments?. It will scarcely be gainsaid
even by those who favor the most liberal ex
penditures for such purposes as DIRE sought to
be accomplished by what is commonly called
the river and harbor bill, that the practice of
grouping in such a bill appropriations for
great diversity of objects widely separated,
either in their nature, in the locality with
which they are concerned, or in both, is enc
which is much to be deprecated. Unless it is
irremediable it ls inevitably tending to secure
the success Of the bill as whole, though many
of the terms if separately considered, could
scarcely fail of rejection; by the adoption
l. of the course have recommended
every member of congress whenever opportu-
! nifty should arise for requiring his influence
and vote for meritorious appropriations would
sanction others undeserving of his approval $50
also would the executive be afforded thereby a
full opportunity to exercise his constitutional
prerogative OF opposing whatever appropria-
tons seemed to him Objectionable without i'm
periling the success of others which COM
It may be urged in opposition to
these suggestions that the number of works of
internal improvem ent which are justly entitled
to governmental aid is SO great as to render
! impracticable separate appropriation bills
therefor, and even for such comparatively linn
tied number as make disposition Of large sums
of money. This subject may be we'll founded,
and whether it be Or not the advantages which,
would be likely to ensue from the adoption of
the course have recommended may perhaps
be more effectually attained by another which
respectfully submit to congress as an alterna-
tive proposition.
It is provided by the constitutions OF four
teen of our states that the executive may dis
approve any item or items OF a bill appropriate
ing money, whereupon the part Of the bill ap-
proved shall be law and the part disapproved
shall fail to become law unless repassed. ac-
cording to the provisions prescribed for the
passage of bills over the veto of the execu-
tive. The states wherein some such provis-
ions as the foregoing is funda-
mental law are: Alabama, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota. Mis-
souri,, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, PENN
sylvania and West Virginia. + commend to
your careful consideration the question
whether the amendment Of the federal consti-
tuition in the particular indicated would not af-
embarrassment both to members Of congress
and to the executive and is sometimes serious
public mischief. n e..
The Navy.
The report of the secretary of the navy states
the movements of the various squadrons dur
during the year in home and foreign waters,
where our officers and seamen, with such ships
as we possess, have continued to illustrate the
high character and excellent discipline of the
naval organization. On the 21st Of December,
1881, information was received that
the exploring steamer Jeannette had
Ocean. The officers and crew, after. journey
over the ice. embarked in three boats for the
coasts of Siberia. One of the parties, under
the command of Chief Engineer George W.
Melville, reached the land, and falling in with
natives was saved. Another under Lieutenant
Commander De Long, landed in barren
region near the mouth of the Lena River
After SIX weeks had elapsed all but two Of the
number had died from fatigue and starvation
No tidings have been received from
the party in the third boat under the
command of Lieutenant Chip, but long and
fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that
all its members persisted at sea. As slight
tribute to their heroism give in this com
munication the names of the gallant men who
sacrificed their lives on the expeditions: Lieut..
Commander Geo. W. De Long, Surgeon James
M. Amber, Jerome J. Collins, Hans Halter
Erickson, Heinrich Kaackl, Leo A. Bryde,
Walter Lee, Adolph Dressler, Carl A. Gortz,
the Indian Atexy. The officers and
men in the missing boat were Lieut.. Chas. W.
Chip, commanding. VIM. Dunbar. Alfred
Sweetman. Walter Sharteil, Albert C. Kuehne,
Edwin Star. Henry Warren and Peter E. john
son. Lieut.. Giles B. Harder and Master VIM.
H. SchentZekisch are now bringing home the
remains of Lieut.. De Long and his comrades.
Rodgers fitted out for the relief of the JEAN
nette in accordance with the act Of congress of
March g. 1881, sailed from San Francisco June
16, under the command Of Lieut.. Robt. NJ.
Berry. On November 80, she WAS accidentally
destroyed by fire while in st. Lawrence Bay,
but the officers and crew succeeded in escaping
to the land. Lieut.. Berry and one of his Of
Jeanette along the coast Of Siberia,
| fell in with Chief Engineer Melville's
party and returned home by way of Europe
The other officers and crew of the Rodgers
we're brought from st. Lawrence Bay by the
whaling steamer North Star. Mr.. Chas. F.
Putnam, who has been placed in charge of a
depot Of supplies at Cape Serdze, returning to
his post from st. Lawrence Bay, in binding
snow storm, was carried out to sea and lost,
notwithstanding all efforts to rescue.
1t appears by the secretary's report that the
available naval force of the United States con-
sists, of thirty7seven cruisers, fourteen single
| turreted monitors built during the rebellion, a
Ilarge NUMBER of smooth-bore guns and parrot
Erifes and eighty-seven rihed cannon. The
cruising vessels should be gradually replaced
[3by iron or steel ships. the monitors by modern
Earmored vessels and the armament by. high
power lifted guns. The reconstruction of our
navy which was recommended in the last mes
sage was begun by congress authorizing in it's
recent act the construction of two large I'M
armored steel vessels of the character RECON-
| mended by the late navy advisory board and
| subject to the final approval of new advisory
board to be organized as provided by that act.
| call your attention to the recommendation
of the secretary. Of, the board & that
authority be given to construct two more
! cruisers Of smaller dimensions and one fleet
! dispatch vessel, and that appropriations be
made for high power rifed cannon, for torpedo
service and for other harbor defenses. Pend
ing the consideration by congress OF the policy
| to be hereafter adopted in conducting the eight
large navy yards and their expensive estab-
| lishments, the secretary advocated a reduc-
ton of expenditures therefor to the lowest
possible amounts. mi :; n,;.G 49, o..
For the purpose Of atfording the officers and
seamen Of the navy opportunities Of exercise
| and discipline in their profession. under ap.
| propriate control and directions. the ;secre
lstary advises that the light house service and
coast survey be transferred as now organized
from the treasury to the navy department and
he also suggests for the reason which he as
signs that similar transfer may. wisely be
made of the cruising revenue vessels. ii.
The secretary forcibly depicts the intimate
and the commercial marine, and invites atten-
ton to the continued" decadence of the latter
| and the corresponding transfer OF. our growing
commerce to foreign bottoms. This subject is
one of the utmost Importance to the national
welfare. The methods of reviying American
ship building and of restoring the United
States fiag on; the ocean carrying
| trade should receive the i, immediate at
tentions of. congress-. Wenhave mechanical
skin and abundant material for. the rnanufac-
ture of modern iron, steamships III fair compe;
tition, with our commercial rivals. Our disad,
vantage in building ships is the greater cost OF
labor and sailing them higher taxes and