The Evening critic., 1882-12-04

recommended I'm my last message, was begun
by Congress authorizing, In It's recent act, tho
construction OF two largo unarmored steel YES
eols Of the character recommended by the late
Naval Advisory Board, aud subject 20 the iiual
approval OF a new advisory board to be organ
lied as provided by that act. 1call your atten.
tion to the recommendation OF the Secretary
and tho board, that authority DO given 70 con-
struct two more cruisers OF smalter dlm1n.
stone, and one fleet dispatch vessel, and That
appropriations be made for high-power rliled
cannon for tho torpedo service, ana Tor other
harbor dofenses.
"Tho Secretary forcibly depicts the ultimate
connection and Independence OF the Navy
and the commercial marine, and Invites at
tention to the continued decadence OF the
latter and the corresponding transfer OF our
growing commerce to foreign bottoms.
"This subject is one Of tho utmost import.
ance TO the National welfare. Methods OF re-
vlving American ship.building and OF restor-
Ing tho United States flag in the ocean carry
Ing trade should receive the immediate atten.
and abundant material for tho manufacture
OF modern iron steamships In fair competition
with our commercial rivals. Our dieadvan-
tage 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 by our formidable competitors.
These obstacles should In some way be over
come and for our rapid communication with
foreign lands wo should not continue to de.
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 for extending our commerce arc
greatly restricted, while the nations which
build and sail tho ships and carry the mails
and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous
advantages In increasing their trade"
The report of the Postmaster-General Is re-
ferred TO a length. The message recommends
tho reduction OF the rate OF letter postage to
tho rate OF two cents per half ounce. Unless
the experience OF past legislation In this
country and elsewhere goes for naught 1t moy
be safely predi9 ca ina, tho saim ra OF gu
would at once Increase the number OF letters
consigned to tho mails.
Ciyil-Service Reform.
The President reiterates the sentiments OK
pressed In his message to Congress In Decem-
Der last, and recommends Immediate action
for reform OF the civil service. In this connec-
tion the message says;
OF the Official lifo OF the subordinate employees
of the Government, 1t seems to BIO generally
agreed that whatever their extent or charac-
ter, the one should be definite and the other
stable, and that neither should be regulated
by zeal In the service OF party or fidelity to the
fortunes OF an individual.
SIT matters little to the people ut large what
competent person is at the head OF this depart
ment or that bureau, Il they feel assured that
the removal OF one and the accession OF another
will not involve the retirement OF honest aud
faithful subordinates, whose duties are purely
administrative and have no legitimate con.
necton with tho triumph of any political
principles or tho success OF any political party
or faction, II is TO this latter class OF officers
that the Senate bill, to which have already
referred, exclusively applies"
Political Assessments.
on this subject tho message says:
sin July last l authorized public an
nouncement that employees OF the Government
should regard themselves as at liberty TO OK
orcise their pleasure In making or refusing to
make political contributions, and that their
action In that regard would In no manner
| AFFECT their official status.
IT,. tl.la nt.,,a ant I'D n
view which had always maintained and still
maintain, that public onlcer should DO as ao.
| solutely free as any other citizen to give or to
withhold contribution for the aid OF the
| political party Of his choice. II has, however,
| been urged, and doubtless not without
| foundation In fact, that by solicitation OF
such contributions have at times
| been obtained from persons whose only mo
| tive for giving has been tho fear of what might
befall them IL they refused. 1t goes without
| saying that such contributions are not yoluu-
| tary, and in my judgment their collection
should BIO prohibited by. law. 4 bill which
| will efIectually suppress them VIII receive my
cordial approval"
District Interests.
The following are the references to District
matters:
may be the demands upon your attention the
Interests OF this District will not be forgotten
'sThe denial to its residents. of the grea
right OF suffrage In all its relation TO National
State and municipal action imposes upon Con
gress the duty OF afrording them the best nd
ministration which Its wisdom can devise.
| 'The report OF the District Commissioners
indicates certain measures whose adoption
would seem to be very desirable. instance
In particular those which relate TO arrears o
taxes, to steam railroads and to assessments o
real properly"
Tho Message concludes as follows:
"The closing year has been replete witt
blessings for which we owe TO the Oliver of al
Good our reverent acknowledgment. For tn,
uninterrupted harmony OF our foreign re
lations, for the decay OF sectional animosities
for the exuberance OF our harvests and tn
triumphs OF our mining and MANUFACTURING
industries, for the prevalence of health
tho spread OF intelligence and the cor
servation Of the public credit, for tn
growth OF the csuntry in all the elements o
National greatness--for these and counties
other blessings-we should rejoice and b
glad. / trust that under the inspiration Q
this great prosperity our counsels may b
harmonious, and that tho dictates of pru
dence, patriotism, Tjustice and economy ma
lead to the adoption OF measures In which tn
Congress and the Executive may hearth
unite. .-.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 1882.
To COnsumptives.