The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07

| ~ ouC W do ON
fire while In winter quarters in st
Lawrence bay, but the officers and
crew succeeded in escaping to the
shore. Lieutenant Barry and one OF
his officers, after making search fol
the Jeanette along the coast of Sibe-
ria fell in with Chief Engineer Mel
yllle's party and returned home by
way of Europe The other officers
and the crew of the Roger were
brought from st. Lawrence by the
whaling steamer North Star. Master
j. Pullman, who had been placed in
charge of supplies at Cape Serge, re-
turned to his post from st. Lawrence
bay across the ocean in a binding
snow storm, and was carried out TO
sea notwithstanding all efforts to rec
cue him.
1t appears by the secretary's report
that the available naval force of the
United States consists of thirty-seven
cruisers, fourteen single turreted mon
itors, built during the rebel
lion, a large number of
smooth-bore guns and Parrot rifles
and 81 rified cannon. The cruising YES
sells should be gradually replaced by
iron or steel ships, the monitors by
armOred vessels and the armament by
high power rifled guns. The recon-
struction of our navy, which was re-
commended by me in my last mes
sage, was begun by congress authoriz-
ing in its recent act the construction
of two large unarmed steel vessels of
the character recommended by the
late naval advisory board, and of a
new advisory board to be provided as
by that act. call your attention to
the recommendation of the secretary
and the board that authority be given
for the building of two or more YES
sells of smaller dimensions and one
| fleet dispatch vessel, and that appro-
| priation be made for high power rifed
cannon for the torpedo boats and for
other harbor defenses. Pending the
consideration by congress of the policy
to be hereafter adopted in conducting
| the eight large navy yards and the eX-
pensive establishments, the reduction
| of expenditures therefor to the lowest
possible amounts for the purpose of
| affording the officers and seamen of
| the navy opportunities for exercise
and discipline in their profession I'M
| der appropriate control and direction.
The secretary advises that the light
house and coast survey be transferred
as now from the treasury to the navy
department and he also suggests for
the reasons which he assigns that a
similar transfer may wisely be made
of cruising revenue vessels. The
secretary forcibiy depicts init
mate connection and independence
of the navy and the commercial ma
rine, and invites attention to the con-
tinued decadence of the latter and the
corresponding transfer of our growing
commerce to foreign countries. This
subject IS one of the utmost import
ance to the national welfare and of
the reviving of American ship build
ing, and of restoring the United States
| flag in the ocean carrying trade, and
should receive the immediate atten-
ton of congress. We have mechan-
ical skill and abundant material for
the manufacture of iron steamships
in fair competition with our CONNER
cial rivals. Our disadvantage in build
| ing ships is the greater cost of labor
greater interest on capital, while the
monopolized by our formidable
competitors. These obstacles should
in some way be overcome and for our
our rapid communications with for
eign lands we should not continue to
depend wholly on 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 facil-
tiles for extending our commerce are
| generally restrained, while the nations
which built and sail ships and carry
mails and passengers obtain these con-
| spicuous advantages increasing their
trade.
| THE MAIL SERVICE.
The report of the postmaster gene
raj gives evidence of the satisfactory
condition of that department and con-
tains many valuable data and accom-
panying suggestions which can
not fail to be of interest.
The information which it affords that
the receipts for the fiscal year have
exceeded expenditures must be very
gratifying to congress and to the peO-
pie of the country. AS matters which
may fairly claim particular attention,
/ refer you to his observations in ref
erence to the ACCESSIBILITY of changing
the present basis for fixing the salary
and allowances for the money order
system, and for charging the functions
of the postal establishment so as to
put under its control the telegraph
system of the country, though from
| this last and most important recon-
mendatiOn l must withhold my con-
| currence. AT the last session of con-
gress several bills were introduced into
the house of representatives for the
reduction of letter postage to a rate of
two cents for one-half ounce. / have
given much study and reflection to
| this subject and am thoroughly per-
Suaded that such a reduction will be
for the best interests of the public. 1t
has been the policy of the govern
ment from its foundation to defray as
far as possible the expenses of carry
ing the mails by direct tax in the
form of postage. 1t has never been
claimed, however, that it's services
ought to be productive of net reve-
nue.. AS has been stated already the
report of the postmaster general shows
that there is now very considerable
surplus in the department, and that
henceforth the receipts are likely
to increase at a much greater ratio
than the primary expenditures. I'm
less some change is made in the laws
the profits of the postal service will in
a few years swell the revenues of the
government many millions of dollars.
The time seems suspicious, therefore,
for some reduction in the rates of
postage. In what shall that reduction
consist? A review of the legislation
which has been enacted upon this sub
ject during the last thirty years dis
closes the fact that domestic letters
constitute the only class of mail matter
which has never been favored by
a substantial reduction of rates.
l am convinced that the burden of
maintaining the service falls most un-
equally upon that class, and that more
than any other it is entitled to present
relief, and that such relief may be ex-
tended without detriment to other
public interests will be discovered
upon receiving the results of former
reductions. Immediately prior to the
act of 1845 the postage on a letter,
composed of single sheet, was as fol-
lows: If conveyed thirty miles or less
six cents, between thirty and eighty
miles ten cents, between eighty and
150 miles twelve and onerhalf cents,
between $50 and 400 miles eighteen
and three-quarter cents, over
400 miles twenty-five cents.
By the act of 1916 the postage upon
single letter conveyed for any distance
under 300 miles was fixed at five cents
and for any greater distance at ten
cents. By the act of 1851 it was pro-
vided that single letter. if prepaid,
should be carried any distance not ex-
ceeding 300 miles for three cents, and
any greater distance for six cents. 1t