Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-12-13
Less amount drawn from treasury be-
tween June /, 1882, and November 81,


tween June l, 1882, and November 81,
1882. 6,O56,l94
Total Observation-Disclosures. SIT, 1924
It is apparent by this exhibit that SO far az
concerns most of the items to which the act of
August 2, 1882 relates, there can be no need
of further appropriations until after the close
of the present session. II, however, any &C
ton should seem to be necessary i'll respect to
particular objects, it will be entirely feasiable
islation: 1t is possible, for example, that
a delay until the assembling of
the next congress to make additional
provision for the Mississippi River improvement
might be attended with serious consequences.
If such should appear to be the case, a just
bill relating to that subject would command
my approval. This leads me to offer the sug-
gestion. which 1 trust will commend itself to
the wisdom Of congress- Is it not advisable
that grants of considerable sums Of money for
diverse and independent schemes Of interna-
! tional improvement should be made the SUBJ
jects of separate and distinct legislative
enactments? It will scarcely be gainsaid
even by those who favor the most liberal ex
penditures for such purposes as are sought to
be accomplished by what is commonly called
the river and harbor BILL that the practice of
grouping in such bill appropriations for a
! great diversity of objects widely separated,
either III their nature, IN the LOCALITY with
which is much to be deprecated. Unless it s
! irremediable it ls inevitably tending to secure
the success of the bill as whole, though many
of the terms if separately considered, could
scarcely fail of rejection; by the adoption
of the course have recommended
every member Of congress whenever opportu-
nifty should arise for requiring his influence
! and vote for meritorious appropriations would
be enabled so to dowlthout being called upon to
sanction others undeserving Of bis appcoval;s
also would the executive be afforded thereby a
full opportunity to exercise his constitutional
prerogative of opposing whatever appropria-
tons seemed to him Objectionable without I'M
periling the success Of others which COM
meuded themselves to his Judgment.
1t may be urged in opposition to
these suggestions that the number of works Of
internal improvem ent which are justly entitled
impracticable separate appropriation bills
therefor, and even for such comparatively lin
| tied number as make disposition of large sums
of money. This subject may be we'll founded,
and whether it be or not the advantages which,
would be likely to ensue from the adoption of
| the course have recommended may perhaps
| be more etfectualy attained by another which
respectfully submit to congress as an atcrna-
| tive proposition.
1t is provided by the constitutions OF four
teen Of our states that the executive may dis
approve any item or items OF a bill appropriate
| lllS H1Oucy, NutIcupOII Cut pat "a tuC D1ll Ap-
proved shall be law and the part disapproved
shall fail to become law unless repassed, &C
cording to the provisions prescribed for the
passage Of bills over the veto of the execu.
tive. The states wherein some such provis-
ions as the foregoing Is funda-
mental law are: Alabama, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana. Minnesota. Mis-
souri,. Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, PENN
sylvania and West Virginia. 1 commend to
| your careful consideration the question
whether the amendment Of the federal consti-
tuition in the particular indicated would not af-
ford the best remedy for what is often a grave
embarrassment both to members OF congress
and to the executive and is sometimes a serious
! public mischief.
| The Navy.
The report of the secretary of the navy states
the movements of the various squadrons dur
| during the year in home and foreign waters,
where our officers and scamen. with such ships
as we possess. have continued to illustrate the
high character and excellent discipline of the
naval organization. On the Dist OF December,
1851, information was received that
the exploring steamer Jeanette had
been crushed and abandoned in the Arctic
| Ocean. The officers and crew, after journey
over the ice. embarked in three boats for the
coasts of Siberia. One of the parties. under
the command of Chief Engineer George ".
Melville, reached the land and falling in with
natives was saved. Another under Lieutenant
Commander De Long, landed in q barren
region near the mouth of the Lena River.
number had died from fatigue and starvation.
No tiding7 have been received from
the party i'll the third boat under the
command of Lieutenant Chipp but long and
fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that
all it's members persisted at sea. As slight
tribute to their heroisn1 give in this com
munication the names of the gallant men who
sacrificed their lives on the expedition: Lieut..
Commander Geo. w. De Long, Surgeon James
M. Amber, Jerome ;. Collins, Hans Halter
Erickson, Heinrich Kaackl, Leo A. Bryde,
Walter Lee, Adolnh Dressler, Carl A. Gortz,
the Indian Atexy. The officers and
men in the missing boat were Lieut. Chas. W.
Chipp, commanding. VIM. Dunbar. Alfred
Swectman. Walter Sharteil, Albert c. Kuehne,
Edwin Star. Henry Warren and Peter f. John
son. LIEUT. Giles 3. Harder aud Master VIM.
Fl. Scheutzekisch are now bringing home the
remains of Lieut. De Long and his comrades.
In pursuance of the direction of congress the
Rodgers fitted out for the relief OF the Jean.
nette in accordance with the act of congress OF
March 5. 1881, sailed from San Francisco June
Is, under the command Of Lieut.. Robt. NJ.
Berry. On November 80, she was accidentally
destroyed by fire while III st. Lawrence Bay,
but the officers and crew succeeded in escaping
to the land. Lieut.. Berry and one of his Of
ticers, after making search for the
Jeanette along the coast Of Siberia
fell in with Chief Engineer Melville's
party and returned home by way Of Europe.
The other officers and crew of the Rodgers
whaling steamer North Star. MIR. Chas. F.
Putnam, who has been placed IN charge of q
depot of supplies at Cape SerdZc, returning tt
his post from st. Lawrence Bay, in binding
snow storm, was carried out to sea and lost,
notwithstanding all efforts to rescue.
r. A.,
available naval force Of the United States con
slsts of thirty-seven cruisers, fourteen single
trrretcd monitors built during the rebellion,
large NUMBER of smoOth-bore guns and parro
rifles and eighty-seven rif1ed cannon. TIT
cruising vessels should be gradually replaced
by IRON or steel ships. the monitors by modern
armOred vessels and the armament by. higl
power lifted guns. The reconstruction Of ou
navy which was recommended in the last mes
sage was begun by congress authorizing in it,
recent act the construction of two large TN
armored steel vessels of the character recon
mended by the late navy advisory board ant
subject to the final approval of new advisor,
board to be organized as provided by that act
call your attention to the recommendation
of the secretary of the board tina
authority be given to construct two NOR.
cruisers Of smaller dimensions and one fee
dispatch vessel, and that appropriations b.
made for highpower ritled cannon, for TORPEDO
|
ing the consideration by congress OF the polio,
to be hereafter adopted in conducting the eish
large navy, yards and their expensive estab
lishmcnts, the secretary advocated a reduc
ton of expenditures therefor to the loves
possible amounts.
For the purpose of affording the officers anl
seamen of the navy opportunities of exercise
and discipline in their profession, under ap
propriate control and directions the score
tary advises that the light house service ant
coast survey be transferred as now organized
from the treasury to the navy department ant
he also suggests for the reason which he as
signs that similar transfer may wisely b.
made OF the cruising. revenue vessels.
The secretary forcibly depicts the intimate
connection and interdependence Of the nav,
and the commercial marine, and invites atten
ton to the continued decadence of the latter
and the corresponding transfer of our growing
commerce to foreign bottoms. This subject ii
one of the utmost Importance to the nationa
welfare. The methods OF reyiving American
ship building and of restoring the United
States flag on the ocean carrying
trade should receive the immediate az
tention of congress. We have mechanical
skill and abundant material for the manufac.
tr,re OF. modern iron steamships III fair compe
tition with our commercial rivals. Our disad
vantagein building ships is the greater cost Of
| loh on1 coilinr them hityhnr foYnr auG