Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-12-07

AIMEA
conspicuous In qualities Of the present law may
be corrected before your final adjournment One
OF them Il specially referred to by the Secretary
NV, 81 =. NJ ~ ~ '1s ii me
which the Dutch standard Of color is adopted as
the tee. Of the s1ccharine strength Of sugars, Il
too obvious to require comment
From the report OF the Secretary OF War Il ap-
pears that the only outbreaks OF Indians during
the past YEAR occurred In AriEona and in the
South western part Of New Mexico. They were
piomptly quelied- and thr quiet which has pre-
valid in all other pafts Of the country has per-
mitted such An addition 10 ne made 70 the mil
itary fore in the .sion endangered by the Apa-
ches that there il little reason to apprehsnd
trouble Ia the future.
sEAcoAsT DEFKSsEs.
Those pRrts Of tbs ScSnetrys report which re-
late TO our seaeoast defen -es and their arma-
ment suggest the Eraye~t reflections. Our ex-
listing fortihcatiors arc notoriously inadequate
70 the defense OF the great harbots and cities
for whose rroteotion they were built; The ques-
tim OF providing an drnament suited to our
present ccessttg hss hon the subject OF con-
siderau,n bv a board whose report was trans
mitted u Congress Mt the last session. Pending
the consideration Of that report the War Depart
men has takea no steps for the manufacture or
conversion OF any heavy cannon, but the Secre-
tary expresses the hope that authority and
means TO begin that important work viii be
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 a bin
which seeks to supply the deficiencies Of existing
| laws Is now upon its calendar.
| The Secretary of War calls attention TO the
fact that an embarrassment is craving out of the
recent get OF Congress making tho retirement Of
| officers of the army compulsory at the are Of g.
The act of 1878 is still In force which limits 70
| 400 the number Of those who can be retired for
| disability or upon their own application.
Ihe acts, when construed together seem to
fori Id tue relieving, even for incapacty, Of OFF,
| GERS who do not fall within the purview Of the
latter stafue, save at such times as there chance
to be less than 400 on the retired list. TEere are
now 42O. IL is not likely that Congress intend
that the law ought to be amended.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR Btu.
The grounds that impelled me to withhold my
signature from the bill entitled, AN act making
appropriations for the construction, repair and
and harbors,- which became law
nesr the close OF your last session
froco me to express the hope that no similar
present session of Congress. Indeed, such q
measure would now be open to serious OBJ
| lection, In addition to that which was lately
urged upon your attention. am informed by
the Secretary OF War that the greater portion Of
| the sum appropriated for the various items
| speci led in that act rem3ins unexpended. OF
| the new works which /: authorized, expenses
have been incurred upon two only, for which the
| total appropriation was Sl1u,000. The present
| available balance is disclosed by the following
| liable:
Amount Ct appropriation by act of
August z, loH2.... SIS, 7SJ,S1b
Amount Of appropriation by act Of
June 10, 1887. .......................... 10000
Am mt of appropriation for payments
10 D. Is Eads; ........ ............... 30AOOO
UneXpended balance OF former appro-
| pflat1OnS A.139 lh3
TotaL...... .......................$ .$23, ,791, ,1sS
ury between July /, 1882, and No
Vember 10, 1882. 6,056, ,1sl
Total. .$l7, ,T34, ,9A
concerns most Of the iems to which the act Of
Congress of Aug. 2, 1882, relates, there can be
no mead Of further appropriations until after the
close of the present session. IT, however any
action should seem to be necessary in respect to
particular objects 1t will be entirely feasible TO
provide for those objects by appropriate legisa-
t1on. 1t 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
serious consequences. If such should appear to
be the case inst bill relating to that subject
leads me TO offer a suggestion which I
trust will commend itself to the wisdom
Of Congress. Is 1t not advisable that Rsaasts CT
considerable sums of money for diverse aud in
dependent schemes CT internal improvement
should be made tho subjects OF separate and dis
Enct legislative enactments2 It will scarcely be
gainsaid, even by those who favor the most lib
sral expenditures for such purposes as are
sought to be accomplished by what Is commonly
called the River and Harisor bill that the prac-
bice of grouping in such a bill appropriations
for great diversity Of objects widely separated.
In thesr ratlrss IN f0cality with which
they are cneerhed, or in both, Is one which
is to be deprecated Unless it is divisible it in
evitablv tends to, secure the success Of
the bill as whole, though many Of the
| Items, IL 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
iinense aud vote for merisorious appropriations,
called upon to sanction others undeserving his
aprr0val. SO, also, would the Executive be af-
forded thereby full opportunity to exercise his
CONSTITUTIONAL prcrOgat1ve or opposing whatever
appropriations seemed to him Objectionable,
without imperiling the success of others which
commend themselves to his Judgment. 1t may
be urged in opposition to these suggestions
that the number Of works of international im-
provements which are justly entitled to Govern
mental aid Ia so great as to render impracticabe
separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for
such comparatively limited number as make
disposition of large sums of money. This OBJ
| lection may he well founded, and, whether ii he
or not, the advantages which would be likely to
ensue from The adoption Of the course have
attained by smother, which / respectfully suh.
nit to Congress as an alternative proposition.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
| 1t IL provided BY the constitutions Of fourteen
| OF our States that the Executive may disapprcye
| any item or items OF a bill appropriating money!
whereupon the parts of the bill approved shall
be law, and the part dsapproved shall fail to
become law unless repassed, according to the
provisions prescribed for the passage of bills
| over the veto of the Executive The States
wherein some snch provision as the fore
going Is part OF tue fundamental law are Ala
Pama. CaliforGia Ta COLORADO Florida Georgia,
| New Jersey, New York, Pennsyyania.
Texas and West Virginia. / Commend
10 your careful consideration the question
whether an amendment OF the Federal constitu-
ton In the particular Indicated would not AFFORD
the best remedy for what is often a grave e,r,-
barrassment both to members of CONGRESS- and
public mischief. =
THE NAVAL soUADRoNs.
The rerort of the Secretary OF the Navy states
the movements of the various sQuadrons
during the year, In home and foreign waters
,whera our officers and seamen with such ships
high character and excellent discipline OF the
ntvat organization.
On he 2lst of December, 1881, information
was received that the exploring
STEAMER JEANNETTE
had been crushed and abandoned in the Arctfa
ocean. The officers and crew, after journey
over the ice, embarked in three boats FOR ths
coast OF Siberia: One Of the parties, under the
vile, reached the land and, falling In With ma
tives, was saved. Another, under Lieutenant
Commander DeLong, landed in a barren regior,
near the mouth OF the Lena river. After six
had died from fatipue and starvation No tid-
ings have been received from the
party in the third boat under the
command conn nd q ,r,,t,aas Lieut.. chinp, but