The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-12-08

/ III aCtureS, particularly tnose OF COT
ton, iroa and steel, and a substantial
reduction OF the duties upon those articles and
upon sugar, molasses, silk. wool and WOODEN
goods III a general revision of the tarin shall
/ he found To be impractcahse at this session.
| express the hope that at least some Of the more
conspicuous In qualities OF the present mw may
| he corrected before your final adjournment. One
of them IL specially referred TO by the Secretary.
/ In Wow OF the recent decision OF the Supreme
| Court, the necessity OF amending the law by
which the Dutch standard OF color ~ adopted a.
the test of the saccharine strength Of sugars, II
too obvious to require comment
THE INDIANS
| From the report OF the Secretary OF War IL APP
pears that the only outbreaks OF Indians during
| the past year occurred I'm arizona and In the
southwestern part OF New Mexico: They were
promptly queed, aud the quiet which has pre-
vailed I'm all other parts OF the country has per-
mitted such an addition To be made TO the mil
itary force in the region endangered by the Apa-
ches that there Is little reason TO apprehend
trouble In the future.
sEAcoAsT DEFENsEs
Those parts of the Secretrys report which re-
late 10 our seacoast defenses and their arIna-
ment sugg at the gravest reflections Our ex-
! listing Notifications are notoriously inadequate
70 the defense Of the great harbofs and cities
for whose protection they were built. The ques-
ton OF providing an armament suited 10 our
present ecessity has been the subject Of con-
siderati n b. board whose report was trans
United To Congress az the last session. Pending
| the consideration Of that report the War Depart
ment has takel no steps for the manufacture or
conversion OF any heavy cannon. but the Secre,
means to begin that important work will be
soon provided.
THE MILITIA.
Invite the attention of Congress to the pro-
priety of making more adequate provisions for
arming and equipping the militia than are af-
forded by the act OF 1906 which Is still upon the
statute books. The matter has already Been the
subject OF discussion in the Senate. and bill
which seeks to supply the deficiencies OF existing
laws IA now upon it's calendar.
The Secretary Of War calls attention TO tho
PnQhaYrnSamont craving
| recent get OF Congress making the retirement OF
officers Of the army compulsory at the age OF ca
| The act OF 1873 is still in force which limits to
400 the number OF those who can be retired FOR
disability or upon their own application.
The acts. when construed together. seem 20
forbid the relieving, for incapacity, OF OFF,
Gers who do not tall within the purview OF the
latter statute, at such times ~ there chanc
10 be less than 400 on the retired list There are
eel this result, and concur with the Secretary,
that the law ought to be amended
THE RIVER AND HARBoB BILL.
The grounds that impelled me TO withhold my
signature from the bill entitled, An act making
appropriations for the construction, repair and
preservation OF certain certain works on rivers ,
ner the close OF your last session
froce me to express the hope that no similar
measure will be deemed necessary during the
present ses sion OF Congress. Indeed. such a
measure would now be open 10 serious OBJ
lection, In addition 10 that which was lately
II ged upon 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 rem ms unexpended. Vi
the new works which 4, authorized. expenses
have been incurred upon two only, for which he
total appropriation was 81 400. The preSens
available balance is disclosed b. the following
able:
Amount of appropriation by act OF
=.
Amount of appropriation by act of
Am unit of appropriation for payments
to J. B. Eads ....................... 10000
Unexpended balance of former appro-
priations ......................... Abs 263
Total. .$2a, Ssl ,lss
Less amount drawn from treas
ury between July /, 1882, and No
vember 80, 1882 .................... e,o5e,lsi
Total. .......................sl 81, 734, si4
1t is apparent by this thibit that, so far as
concerns most of the items TO which the act OF
Congress of Aug. 2, 1882, relates, there can be
no need OF further appropriations until after the
close Of the present session IT, however any
action should seem 70 be necessary In respect to
particular objects IL will be entirely feasible to
provide for those objects by appropriate legisla-
ton. Ii Is possible, for example, that delay
until the assembling Of the next Congress TO
make additional provision for the Mississippi
river improvements might be attended with
he the case, just bill relating to that subject
would command my approval This
leads me to offer suggestion which
trust will commend itself TO the wisdom
of Congress. Is 1t not advisable that grants OF
| considerable sums Of money for diverse and in
dependent schemes Of internal improvement
should be made the subjects of separate and dis
tinct legislative enactments2 1t will scarcely be
gainsaid. even by those who favor the most lib
sought to be accomplished by what is commonly
called the River and Harbor BILL that the prac-
tice of grouping in such bill appropriations
for great diversity OF objects widely separated
either in their nature in the locality with which
! they are concerned, in both, Is one which
is to be deprecated Unless it is divisble, it in
the bill as a whole, though many of the
items, II separately considered, could scarcely
fail OF rejection. BY the adoption of the course
have recommended, every member of Congress,
when opportunity should arise for giving his in
fluence and vote for meritorious appropriations,
! would be enabled To do so without being
called upon to sanction others undeserving his
| approval. So, also, would the Executive be at
| forded thereby full opportunity to exercise his
constitutional prerogative OF opposing whatever
| appropriations seemed TO him Objectionable
| without imperiling the success of others which
commend themselves TO his judgment II may
be urged in opposition to these suggestions
| that the number OF works Of international inn
| provements which are Justly entitled TO Govern
mental aid IL great as TO render impracticable
separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for
hsuch comparatively limited number make
disposition OF large sums OF money. This OBJ
lection may be well founded, and, whether IL be
| or not, the advantages which would be likely to
cnsue from the adoption of the course have
| recommended may, Perhaps be more effeotually
attained by another, Which i respectfully sub
10 congress as an alternative proposition.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT To THE CONSTITUTION.
1t is provided by the constitutions OF fourteen
of our States that the Executive may disapprove
any item OF items of bill appropriatinR money,
| whereupon the parts Of the bill approved shall
| be a law, and the part disapproved shall fail to
become law unless repassed, according TO the
provisions prescribed for tho passage of bills
over the veto of the Executive. The States
wherein some such provision the fore
going IL a part OF the fundamental law Ala
bama. California, Colorado Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Texas and West VIRGINIA. commend
To- your careful consideration the question
whether an amendment nf the Federal constitu-
ton in the particular Indicated would not afford
the best remedy for what Is often a grave en-
barrassment both TO members of CONGRESS and
TO the Executive, and is sometimes q serious
public mischief.
THE NAVAL sQUADRoNs.
III rerort OF the Secretary OF the Navy states
the move nents of the various squadrons
during the year. In home and foreign waters
| where our officers and sezmen with such ships
a. we possess have continued TO illustrate tue
high character and excellent discipline OF the
n.val organization.
On n 2lst OF December. 1881, Information
was received that the exploring
STEAMER JEANETTE
had been crushed and abandoned in the A'c &c
| ocean. The Office and crow. after a journey
over the ice, embarked in three boats for the
| asst OF Siberia. One OF the pari les, under tire