Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
LContin,..d Eronl First Pare. l

[ContiHued from First PGge.l
placed in charge OF depot of supplies at
Cape Serdze, returning to his post from 81
snow storm, was carrie i out to sea and lost,
Notwithstanding all efforts to rescue him
NAVAL RECONSTRUCTION.
1t appears by the Secretary's report that the
available naval force of the United states
consists of thirty-seYen cruisers, fourteen
single turreted monitors, built during the re-
Dellion, a large number OF smooth bore guns
ana parrot rides, and eighty seven rihed
cannon. The cruising vessels should be gradu-
ally replaced by iron or steel ships, the mont
tors by modern armored vessels, and the ar
mament by high power rifed guns The re-
construction OF our navy which was recon-
mended in my last message, was begun by
Congress authorizing, in its recent act, the
construction of two large unarmored steel
vessels of the character recommended by the
late navy advisory board and subject to the
final approval of a new advisory board, TO be
organized as provided by that act. call
your attention to the recommendation of the
Secretary and the board, that authority be
smaller dimensions, and one feet dispatch
vessel, and that appropriations be made Tor
high power rihed cannon, for the torpedo
service, and for other harbor defenseS.
Pending the consideration by Congress OF
the policy to be hereafter adopted in con
ductiHg the eight large navy yards ana Itheir
expensive establishments, the Secretary ad-
vOcates the reduction of expenditures there
for to the lowest possible amounts.
For the purpose of affording the officers and
seaInen OF the navy opportunities OF exercise
and discipline in their profession under ap
advises that the Iight-h house Service and
Coast Survey be transferred, as now organ
lied, from the Treasury TO the Navy Depart
ment and he also suggests, for the reasons
which he assigns, that similar transfer may
wisely be made OF the cruising revenue yes
sells. The Secretary fOrcibly depicts the init
mate connection and interdependence of the
navy and the commercial marine and attracts
attention to the continued decadence of the
latter and the corresponding transfer OF our
growing commerce TO foreign batteries. This
subject is one of the utmost Importance to
the national welfare.
METHODS OF REVIVING AMERICAN SHIP
BUILDING,
and of restoring the United States flag in the
ocean carrying trade, should receive the i'm
mediate attention of Congress- We have me-
chanical skill and abundant material for the
manufacture of modern iron steamships in
fair competition with our commercial rivals.
Our disadvantage 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 mOnop
Lied by our formidable 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 9th
er countries and sailing under foreign flags
With no United States steamers on the prin
f ~ any III oiIi POI 70 III re-
clIltles Tor extending our commerce are
greatly restricted, while the nations which
build and sail the ships and carry the mails
ana passengers obtain thereby conspicuous
advantages in increasing their trade.
THE POST OFFICE.
The report of the Postmaster General gives
department. and contains many valuable
data and accompanying suggestions which
ton which It affords that the receipts for
the fiscal year have exceeded the expendi-
lures must be very gratifying to Congress
and to the people OF the country: AS
matters which may fairly claim particular
attention, refer you to his observation in
reference to the adVisabilitv of Changing the
present basis for fixing the salaries and al
lowanceS; OF extending the money order SYS
tenn; OF enlarging the functions of the pc stall
nj Gn ~ IN hrin Tor re n0T1
troll the telegraph system of the country,
though from this last and most important
recommendation must withhold my concur
renee.
POSTAGE REDUCTION.
At the last session of Congress several bills
were introduced into the House of Represen-
the rate of two cents per half ounce. / have
given much study ana reflection to this sub
Ject and am thoroughly persuaded that such
the public. Itbas been the policy of the Gov
eminent from Its foundation to defray as far
as possible the expenses of carrying the mails
by Il direct tax in the form of postage. It-has
never been claimed, however, that this service
ought to be productive of n net revenue. AS
has been stated already, the report of the
postmaster General shows that there Is now
a very considerable surplus in his depart
ment, and that henceforth the receipts are
likely to increase at a much greater ratio
than the necessary expenditures Unless
some change is made in the existing laws, the
profits of the postal service will, in q very
few years swell the revenues of the Govern
menu many millions OF dollars. The Citue
seems auspiciOus, therefore, for some reduc-
that reduction consist? A review of the legis-
Iation which has been had upon this subject
during the last thirty years discloses that do
mestic letters constitute the only class OF
mail matter which has never been favored bV
substantial reduction of rates. 1 am con
WINGED that the burden of maintaining the
service falls most unequally upon that class
and that more than any other it is entitled to
present relief. That such relief may be ex-
tended without doubt to other public inter
ests Will be discovered upon reviewing the re-
suits of former reductions. Immediately
prior to the act of 1915 the postage II pom n LEFT
ter composed OF single sheet was as follows
II conveyed 80 miles or less, six cents; be-
tW cen 30 and so miles, ten cents between 81
and $50 miles, twelve and one half cents; be.
tween 100 and 400 miles, eighteen and three
tourths cents; over 400 miles, twenty five
cents. By the act of 1915, the postage upon q
single letter conveyed for any distance under
300 miles was fixed at five cents AMI tor any
greater distance at ten cents.
By the act of 1851 it was provided that q sin
gle letter, II prepaid, should be carried any
distance not exceeding 3, 900 miles for 3 cents
and any greater distance for cents. 1t will
be noticed that both these reductions were Of
radical character, and relatively quite a.
important as that which is now proposed. II
SS S-Si O"SO onoto ouS1eu temporary loss o
revenue, but sudden and large influx o
business substantially repaired thatloss with
in three years Unless the experience of pas
Legislation in this country and elsewhere goe
for naught. it may be safely predicted tina
the stimulus of 80 per cent reduction in ia!
for carriage would ut once increase the mum
Der of letters consigned to the mails. The adj
vantage of secrecy would lead to a very gen
eral substitution of sealed packets for posta
cards and open circulars, and in divers Othe
ways the volume of firSt-class matter woulC
be enormously augmented. Such increas,
amounted in England in the first year afte
the adoption of the penny postage to more
than l25 per cent AS result of careful esti
mates. the details of which can not be bu
convincing, the deficiency for the first yea
after the proposed reduction would not eX
coed per cent of the expenditure, or s., 600,
600, while the deficiency after the reduction o
1915 was more than IA per cent, and after tina
of 1881 was p per cent. Another interestin;
comparison is afforded by the statistics fur
niShed me by the Post Office Department
The act of lS45 was passed in face of the fac
that there existed a deficiency of more tllaI
$4,000; that of 1851 was encouraged by tn
slight surplus of $l32, 900. The excess of rev
enue in the next nscal year Is likely to bI
$3,50Q.0Ol.
If Congress should approve these sugges
tions it may be deemed advisable to suppl
to some extent the deficiency which must 70
time result by increasing the charge for car
rying merchandise which is now only sixteen
cents per pound. But even without such a
increase am confident that the receipts I'M
der the diminished rates would equal the ex
years.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. -
The report of the Department. of Justic
brings anew to your notice the necessity O
charging the present system of Federal juris
prudence, so as eHectually to answer the re
quirements of the ever-increasing litigation
with which 1t is called upon to deal.
ttonS OF his predecessor, that, in the interest
OF justice, better provision than the existing
law affords should be made in certain judicial
districts for fixing the fees of witnesses AM