Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-05

commanding.W VIM. Dunbar, Alfred sweetman Wal
Henry b. warren and Peter C. johnson.
, 1t. Giles B. HARDER and Master VIM D. scneue
Lieut.. DeLong and his comrades in pursuance
of directions OF Congress The Rogers, htteo y
the act Of Congress of March 5, 1881, sailed
from san Francisco, June 10th. under the commAhe
of Lieut. Robert NJ. Berry, on November Sotn sne
quarters in st. La wrence bay, but the onceTssn n
Berry and one of hisoficers, after making a search
for the Jeanette along the coast of Siberia. ieIIa
with C~hief-Kngineer Melville,s party. ana esnl snd
crew Of the Rogers were brought from 81 iiss ~
renee bay by the whaling steamer North star. mas
ter Charles F. Putnam, who had been placed IN
charge of adepot of supplies at Cape Sero.e.aS
the ice in a binding snow-storm. was carried out
to sea and lost, Notwithstanding all efforts e res.
cue him. 1t appears by the secretary's reportInS1
THE AVAILABLE NAVAL FORCE
of the United States consists of thirty-seyen ernis-
ers, four being single-turreted monitors built our
ing the rebellion; a large number OF smo9ta-oore
mons. The cruising vessels should be gradually
replaced by iron or steel ships: the monitors by
high power rihed guns The reconstruction OF our
navy, which was recommended in my last messy
was begun by Congress authorizing IN us recent
act the construction of two large unarmoreo stSam
vessels of the character recommended by the as9
Naval Advisory Board and subject 10 the LUZ!
approval of a new advisory board, TO pc aaYlseo
as provided ~ that act / cal your nd a' tse board =
that authority, be given to construct Two 40, MOS dise
cruisers Of smaller dimenslon5, and one m mss for
higher power rihed eannons, for the torpedo ser
vice and for other harbor defenses.
Pending the consideration by Congress. OF the
policy to be hereafter adopted in conducting te
eight large nsyy-yards and their expensive esta0,
lshments, the secretary advocated the reduction
OF expenditures therefor TO the lowest possloIe
amounts.
For the purpose of affording the officers and sea-
men of the navy opportunities of exercise ana
discipline in their profession under appropriate
control and direction, the secretary advises that
the Light House Service and Coast Survey be
menfi and he ss s ISn s2egests for the reasops which
he assigns. that a similar transfer may wisely De
isaa io 81 fss ef ae5icsss t sse intfm Sesse Connection aas seS and
Independence of the navy and the commerce.
ascsdence Of the matter and corresponding trans
subject Is one 81 offT Tbs rfhd e toTeiss 9ossSHt to t h,s
I national welfare.
REUXING AMERICAN SHIP
-
and of restoring the United States flag in the ocean,
carrying trade should receive the immediate atten,
ton of Congress. We have mechanical skill and
abundant material Tor the manufacture OF modern
iron steamships in fair competition with our com
mercial rivals. Our disadvantage in bulding
s tbePm Is Si hae eT ssNes s e9st s1Fd s TERN Interest on capital,
while the ocean highways are already monopo-
iissa by oar formidable Competitors. These OBJ
stacles should in some way be overcome, and io5
not continue to depend wholly upon vessels built
in the yards of other countries and sailing under
the principal ocean lines or any foreign ports our
facilities Tor extending our ommerce are greatly
ChAIlClCu WlAAC II IaNiOAo MIL OdALa eA4
the ships and carry the mails and passengers oo-
tain thereby conspicuous advantages increasing
their trade
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL
gives evidence of the satisfactory condition OF that
department, and contains many valuable ddtd anu
accompanying suggestions which cannot fail to be
of interest. The Information which ii affords:
that the receipts for the fiscal year have exceeded
the expenditures, must be very gratifying TO Con
gress and TO the people Of the country. AS mat
tiers which may fairly claim particular attention.
refer you TO his observation In reference 10 tne au-
1 visibility OF changing the present basis 1Or liking
salaries and allowances OF extending the money
order system, of charging the functions of the
postal establishments, and placing under its con-
troll the telegraph system OF the country though
from this last and most important recommenda-
ton l must withhold my concurrense.
Atthe last session of Congress several bills were
reduction of letter postage to the rate OF two cents
per half ounce. 1 have given much study and re-
suaded that such a reduction would be for the
best interests of the public It has been the policy
of the government from its foundation to defray,
as far as possible, the expenses of carrying the
mails by a direct tax in the form of postage. 1t has
never been claimed, however, that this seryics
ought to be productive of a net revenue. AS has
been stated already, the report OF the Postmaster
General shows that there is now a very consider
able surplus in his department, and that hence
forth the receipts are likely to increase at a much
greater ratio than the necessary expenditures
Unless some change is made in the existing laws,
the profits of the postal service viii in a very few
years swell the revenues of The government many
millions OF dollars. The time seems suspicious,
therefore, for some
REDUCTION IN THE RATES OF OSTAGE.
Ana IN what snail IDaL reQucIlOu CONSIST! a IT,
view of the legislation which has been had upon
this subject during the last thirty years discloses
that domestic letters constitute the only class OF
mail matter which has never been favored by a
substantial reduction of rates. l am convinced
most unequaIiy on that class. and thai, more than
any other, it is emit led to relief. That such relief
Interests, will be discovered upon reviewing the
results of former reductions. Immediately prior
TO the act OF 1915, the postage upon a letter COM
posed of a single sheet was as follows: If con-
veyed thirty miles or less, six cents; between
thirty and eighty mllRg ten PantS. hplVppn RIghtV 4
and 150 miles, twelve and one-half cents; between
$50 and 400 miles, eighteen cents; oyer 400 miles,
upon a single letter conveyed for any distance IN
any greater distance at ten cents. BY the act OF |
1851 it was provided that a single letter, If pre-
pal :. shou d be carried any distance 4 ot exceed
lug 5000 miles for three cents, and aoy greater dis |
lance for six cents. 1t viii be noticed that both
relatively qnite as important as that which is now
proposed. In each case there ensued q temporary |
bu iness, which substantially repaired that loss
within three years. Unless the experience of past |
legislation in this country and elsewhere goes for
naught, it may be safely predicted that the stimu-
lus OF fifty per centum reduction in tax for car
rage would at once increase the number
of letters consigned to the mails. The adj
~vantages of secrecy would lead to a very
postal cards and open circulars, and in diverse
other ways, The volume of first-class matter would
amounted in England in the first year after the
adoption of penny-postage to more than 1875 per
cent. AS a rule OF careful estimates the details of
which cannot be here set out, / have become con-
WINGED that the deficiency for the first year after
per cent. OF the expenditures, or IS. 600, OO1; while
the deficiency after the reduction of Is45 was more
twenty seven per cent. Another interesting com
parison is afforded by statistics furnished me by
the Postofiee Department. The act of 1915 was
passed in face of the fact that there existed a de-
iciency of more than $50, 900; that of 1851 was en-
couraged by the slight surplus of SlS2. coo. The
excess of revenue for the next fiscal year is likely
t. be IS o,000. If Congress should approve these
su gestions, 1t may be deemed desirable to su pply
to some extent the deficiency which must for a
time result by increasing the charge for carrying
pound weight. But even without such increase, 1
an confident that the receipts under the dimin-
ished rates would equal the expenditures after the
lapse of three or four years.
The report of the Department of Justice brings
anew to your notice the necessity of e~nlsrging the
present system of Federal Jurisprudence, so as to
effeetually answer the 7 squirements of the ever
litigation with which 1t is called upon
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
renews the suggestion of his predecessor, that in
exis inoSfi laws 81 ai aSTdG Should SsIder be &adde in 'n eerta ahe
judicial districts for fixing the fees of witnesses
referred TO the pending criminal proceedings
growing out of the allege1 frauds in what is
Department and advised you that 1 had epjoined
upon the Attorney-General and associate counsel,
Entrusted. the duty of prosecuting with the utmost
OF the law, any persons who might be found
these cases has since occurred. 1t occupied for
many weeks the attention of the Supreme Court
VI lDlbD lStIlCl anu ISSulLeu N 4 disbursement OF l
the jury, but the cause has been again placed
upon the calendar and will shortly be retired. If
any guilty persons shall finally escape punishment
for their ofensesi it will not be for lack of diIigent
and earnest efforts on the part of the prosecution.
L trust that some agr, ement may be reached
which will speedily enable Congress, with the con-
,urrence of the executive. to afford the CONNER
,ial community the benefits OF a national bank
law.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR,
With its accompanying INT presents a full
tatemeQt OF the various operations of that DEPART /
nent. In respect to Indian affairs, nothing has
which has changed or seriously modified
he views TO which / devoted much space in a
recommendations therein contained as TO extend
ng to the Indian the protection of the law, allot-
ing land in seyeralty to such as deserve 1t, and
making sDltaole provision for the education of
outh. Such provision, as the secretary forcibly
will prove unavailing unless broad
nough 10 include those who are able and
elely relate to intellectual training, but also to {
III such manual labor and simple IN '
AmOnS other i'm pOrtent subjects which are in I
within the secretary's report, and which :
Till doubtless furnish occasion ( r congressional :
ction, may be mentioned the neglect of the rail- l
Dad compapies 10 which large grants of land were 9
lade, by the act of 1862 and 1864, to make title .
hereby, and their consequent inequitable exemp- =
arisl condition can fail to suggest inquiries as to
ne moral and intellectual progress of our people.
The census returns disco
AN ALARMING TAI OF IITERACY o
4 certain portions OF the country where the pro- t
ision for schools is grossly inadequate. 1t is a /
neither immediate substantial aid should be ex- n
,nded by the general government for supplement- i
lg the efforts of private beneheence and of State I
nd Territorial legislation in behalf OF education. o
The regulation of ?
INTERSTATE COMMERCE j
as already been the subject of your deliberations. 9