Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-12-14


Dor bill, that the practice of grouping in such
bill appropriations for great diversity OF
objects widely separated either in their nature
or in the locality with which they are concern
ed, or in both, is one which is much to be
deprecated unless it is unremediable. 1t
inevitably tends to secure the success or the
bill as a whole, though many of the items II
separately considered should not fail of re-
lection. BY the adoption of the course have
recommended, every member of Congress,
whenever the opportunity should arise Tor
giving his influence and vote for merltorlous
preparations, would be enabled so to DO With
out being called upon to sanction others un-
deserving his approval. So would the Execu-
tive be afforded thereby full opportunity to
exercise his constitutional prerogative of OPP
posing whatever appropriation seemed to him
Objectionable, without imperilling the success
of others which commended themselves to his
Judgment 1t may be urged in opposition to
these suggestions, that the number OF WORKS
of internal improvement which are justly en-
titled to governmental aid is so great as to
render impracticable separate appropriation
bills therefor, even for such comparatively
limited number as make disposition of large
sums of money. This objection may be well
founded, and whether it be or not. the ad-
vantages which would be likely to ensue from
the adoption of the course have recommend
ed will perhaps he more effectually attained
by another, which l respectfully submit to
Congress as an alternative proposition. 1t IS
provided by the Constitutions of fourteen OF
our States that the Executive may disapprove
any item or items of bill appropriatng mon
ey, whereupon the part Of the bill approved
shall fail to become law unless repassed ac-
cording to the provisions prescribed for the
passage of bills over the veto of the President.
The States wherein such provision as the
foregoing is part of the fundamental law are
Alabama. California, Colorado, Florida. Geor-
gia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebras-
ka, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Texas and West Virginia. 1 commend to
your careful consideration the question wheth-
er an amendment of the Federal Constitution
in the particular indicated would not offer
the best remedy for what is often grave en-
barrassment both to members of Congress and
to the Executive, and is sometimes serious
public mischief.
THE NAVY.
AS tribute to the heroiSm of those who
lost their lives on the jeanette expedition, the
President gives their names The available
naval force consists of 81 cruisers, and IA sin
gle-turretted monitors built during the war.
The President says:
The cruising vessels should be gradually re-
placed by iron and steel ships, the monitors by
modern armed vessels and the armament high
power rifle guns. The building OF two crul-
sers lin addition to those authorized last ses-
sion) and of one dispatch boat is recommended.
The secretary advises that the lighthouse SER
vice and coast survey and the cruising revenue
vessels be transferred to the navy department.
Mr.. Chandler also depicts the intimate con-
nection and interdependence of the navy and
the commercial marine, and invites the atten-
tion to the continued decadence of the latter
and the corresponding transfer of our growing
commerce to foreign bottoms. The President
says This subject is one of the utmost i'm
portance to the National welfare. Methods
of reviving American shipbuilding and of re-
storing the United States flag in the ocean
carrying trade should receive the immediate
attention of Congress. We have mechanical
skill and abundant material for the manufac-
ture of modern iron steamships in fair compe-
tition with our commercial rivals. Our disad-
vantage in building ships is the greater cost of
labor and in sailing them, higher taxes and
greater interest on capital, while the ocean
highways are already monopolized hy our for
midable competitors. These obstacles should,
in some way, be overcome, and for our rapid
communication with foreign lands we Should
not continue to depend wholly upon vessels
built in the yards of other countries and sail
ing under foreign flags. Without United
States steamers on the principal ocean lines or
in any foreign ports our facilities for extend
ing our commerce are greatly restricted, while
the nations which build and sail the Ships and
carry the mails and passengers obtain thereby
conspicuous advantages in increasing their
trade.
THE PosToFFICE.
The President shows that the receipts of the
postotfice department for the fiscal year have
exceeded the expenditures. From the post
master-general'S recommendation that the tel
egraph system be put under the control of the
pOstotfce the President dssents. The Presi-
dent is thoroughly in favor of the reduction
of letter postage to two cents, as domestic let
ters are the only class of mail matter which
has not had substantial reduction of rates
in the last thirty years. In every case of re-
ducton hitherto, temporary loss Of revenue
has been followed by a large increase of busi-
ness. The deficiency in the first year, at the
two cent rate, would not exceed three million
dollars. This can be met by increasing the
charge for carrying merchandise.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The President says The report Of the de-
partment Of justice brings anew to your no
tice the necessity of enlarging the present sys-
tenn of Federal jurisprudence so lis effectually
to answer the requirements of the everncreas-
ing litigation with which it is called upon to
deal. The attorney general renews the sug-
gestions of his predecessor that in the interests
of Justice better provisions than the existing
laws afford should lie made in certain judicial
districts for fixing the fees of witnesses and
Jurors In my message of December referred
to pending criminal proceedings growing out
of alleged frauds in what is known as the
STAR ROUTE SERVICE
Of the postotlice department, and advised you
that had enjoined upon the attOrney-gener-
al and associate counsel to whom the interests
of the Government are intrusted the duty of
prosecuting with the utmost vigor Of the law
all persons who might be found chargeable
with those offenses. a trial of one of these
cases has since occurred. 1t occupied for
many weeks the attention Of the Supreme
Court of this District, and was conducted
with zeal and ability. 1t resulted in a disa-
greement of the jury, but the cause has been
again placed on the calendar and will shortly
be retired. If any guilty persons shall finally
escape punishment for the offenses it will not
be for lack of diligent and earnest efforts OH
the part of the prosecution.
BANKRUPT LAW.
trust that some agreement may be reached
which will speedily enable Congress, with the
concurrence of the Executive, to afford the
commercial community the benefits of a ma
tional bankrupt law.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The President renews his recommendation
for extending to the Indians the protection of
the law, allotting land in severalty to such as
deserve it, and making suitable provisions fol
the education Of youth.