Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-12-08

Is one VIII rh Is .nuen to BE- deprecatz1 unles
u !. ifremediabie, it inevitably tends to seeur
the success of the bill as whole, thong
many oil the items, ii separately considered
could scarcely Iail OF rejection by the adopiio
of the course ! have recommended: Ever
member OF Congress- vnen aE7 opportuTit
should srise for giving his influence and yot
for meritorious appropriations would b
enabled SO to do without being called upon 1
sanction others undeserying of his approval
SO also would the Executive lie afforded there
by tun opportunity TO exercise his constitu
tlonal prerogative Of opposing whatever aI
preparations seemed to him Objectionable
without fmper ling the success of other
which commended themselves TO his judg
ment 1t may be urged, in opposition to thes
suggestions, that the number OF works o
internal improvement which are justly en-
titled TO Government aid, is so great as u
render impract.cabh separate Appropriation
bills, or even for su,h a Comparatively limItel
number as make the disposition OF large sum
of money.
whether IL be or not, the advantages whiel
would be likely to ensue from the adoption o
the courre J i~commended may, perhaps
be more efTect.4l attained by another, whiel
l respect ully suLsct to Congress as an alter
native proposition.
1t is provided by the constitutions of four
teen of cur States that the Executive may dis
approve an item or items of bill sppropriat
ing money, whcreupon the part OF the bill ap
proved shall be law and the part d.sapprorec
shall fal to become law, unless repassed ac
cordlng TO the provisions prescribed 1or the
passage of bills over the veto OF the Executive
submit to your careful consideration the
question Whether an amendment Of the
Federal Constitution, ia the particular indi
Gated, would not AFFORD the best remedy fol
what Is often a grave cm arrassment botl
to membe of Coz gress and to the Executive
and is sometimes serious public mischief.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the NAVY
states tie movements @ the various squadrons
during the year in home and foreign waters
where our officers and seamen with such ships
as We possess, have continued 10 illustrate the
high character and excellent discipline OF the
naval organization.
fThe President here calls attention to the
cruise and loss the Jeannctte aud portion
of her crew in the ar, tic regions.
II appears by the Secretary's report that the
available naval force o, the United states con-
slsts of lhirty-seyen cruisers, fourteen single
turreied monitors built during the rebel on,
a la ge number of smooth bore guns and Par
rott rifles, and eighly-seven rined cannon. The
cruising vessels should be gradually replaced
by iron or steel ships, the monitors by modern
a mored vessels, aud the armament b. high
powered rined guns. The reconstruction OF
our navy, VIII ch was recommended In my last
message, was begun by Congress, authorizing
IN its recent act, the construction of two
large inarmored steel vessels OF he character
recommended by the late Navy ADVISORY Board,
and subject TO the dAal approval Of new
advisory board 10 be organized as provide by
that act call your attention 10 the recon-
mendation of the Secretary aud the boa d,
that authority TO be given TO construct two
more cruisers of smaller dimensions, and one
feet o dispatch vessels and that appropriations
be made for higl power rihel cannol for the
torpedo service and for OF Aer harbor defences.
Pend ng the consideration b Conge ess of
the policyto be hereafter adopted In conduct
ing the eight large navy yards aud their ex-
Gated the reduction of exi cnditures 10 the
lowest possible amounts. For the purpose OF
affol ding the officers aud seamen OF the navy
opportunities OF exercise and 'liscipi ne In
their profession under the appropriate cont ol
and q iection. the Secretary advises that the
lighthouse service and coast survey be trans
70 the Navy Department, andhc also suggests,
for the reasons which he assigns, that a sm-
ilar q anser may wisely be made Of the cIuis-
ing revenue vessels.
The Secretary forcibly depicts the intimate
and inief-dependence OF the navy
and the commercial marine, and attracts at
ter and tie corresponding trans er OF our
growing commerce to oieign batteries This
subject Is one Of the utmost importance 10 the
welfare. Methods o reyiylng Amer
ican ship-bu lding, Of restoring the United
states flag In the can carrying trade, should
receive the imIn' d ate attention OF Congress.
We have mechanical SKIN aud abundant ma
terial for the manufacture Of modern iron
steamships In fair competition with our COM
merclal rivals. Our disadvantage IN building
ships IL the greater cost Of labor and in rating
them higher, taxes and the greater interest on
h.. A..
by our formidable compel tors.
These obstacles should in some way be over
come, and for our rapid communication with
foreign lands, we shonld not continue to de
pend wholly upon vessels built In the yards OF
,ther countries and sailing under foreign
Tags. With no United states steamers on
he principal ocean lines for any foreign ports,
,ur facilities for extending our commerce are
greatly restricted, while the nations which
build an sail the ships and carry the mails
md passengers obtain thereby conspicuous
advantages for increasing their trade.
THE PosToFfIcE DErARrMErr.
The report OF the Postmaster General gives
,yidence Of the satisfactory condition OF that
department, and contains many valuable data
nd accompanying suggestions. which cannot !
all 10 be Of Interest. The iniormaiio1 viii h
{ affords that the receipts for the fiscal year
ave exceeded the expenditures must be very
gratifying to Congress and 20 the people Of
n
aim particular attention, refer you 90 hs
observation In reference 10 the advisability Of
hanging the present basis for fixing salaries
nd allowances, OF extending the money order
ystcm, of cnlargiug the finances OF the
ostal establishments 10 be under It's control,
he telegraph system OF the coantfy though
RON this last and most important fccommen
alton must withhold my concurrence.
II the last session of Congress several bills
rerc introduced into the House Of Reprcscn-
atives for the reduction OF letter postage 10
he rate Of two ce1ts per bali ounce. have |
'iven much study and reflection to this.
nd am thoroughly convinced that such action |
Tould be for the best interests Of the public. /
II has been the lolicy OF the Government /
rom its foundation TO defray, as Tar as pos /
ible, the expenses OF carrying the malls by 1
irect tax in the form OF postage. IL has
ever beea claimed, however, that this service
ught 10 be productive OF a net revenue. As
,aster General shows that there is nov = veiy /
su plus IN his department., and i
hat henceforfh the receipts are likely to In
reasc at q much Rtater ratio than the ex-
enditrres- Unless some change IL made In
1e existing laws, the profits OF the postai ser
nue. OF the Gorernmfnt many millions Of /
ollars. The time seems auspicious Tor some
.dnction in the rates Of postage in what /
ball that reduct on son<isfi A review Of the
R.slation which has been had upon this sub
ct during the L.st thirty years disclozes that
omestic letters constitute the only class O.
all matter which has never been favored by .
reduction Of rates. ] am con-
need that the burden Of mainta ming the
.rvice falls most unequsily upon that class.
nd that. more than any other. n Is entitled 70
le present relief. that such relief may be ex-
'ndcd without hurt TO other public fnterests-
III be discovered upon reviewing the results
former rcducfio1s-
Here follows review Of former rztes Of
1staRe.l
II Congress- sboull approve these euegr.
ons, II mzy be deemcd desirable 10 supply 70
'me extent the deficiency which must Tor
me result by increasing the charge Tor cary Il
z merchand ee- which Is nov only sixteen
nfs per pound But even Without such IN
crease an confident that the receipts under
'e diminisbei rates would equal the expend-
urrs after the larse Of three Or four ycafs-
DEFAK1NExT or SrsTICE- A.
The report Of the Department Of Justice
'Irfs anew TO your notice The neceee y o.
'1arRing the present system Of fedcrs! Juns-
-udence 20 ~ e1fecfuaIly 70 nnswcr the x-
1iremrnts Of the ever Increasing litigation
ith which It is called upon to deal The
reners the Suggestions Of
$ predecessor that In the interests of justice |
tier provision than the existing laws a1o-i
ou]d he made IN certain judicial di-fric<s for
ing the ices Of Witnesses and jurors In my
cssaee Of Decembcr last / referred to the /
'1dIns criminal uoccedlnzs growing cut Of |
e s'lcxed frauds in xbzf Il kDorn - The ]
n Route @crr &c Of the Fostol6cc Depart
ent- and advised Won that I he'd eni0Ine1
,on the Attorney General 1od as-ocizft