Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-06

THE WAR DEPARTMENT
From the report Of the secretary OF war 1t APP
peafs that the only outbreak OF Indians during the
past year occurred In Arizona and in the south
western part Of New Mexico. They were promptly
quelled and the quiet which has prevailed in all
other parts Of the country has permitted such an
addition to be made to the military force In the
region endangered by the Apaches that there Is
little reason to apprehend trouble In the future
Those parts Of the secretarys report which relate
to sea coast defences and their armatures suR-
gest the gravest reflections, Our existing fortfi-
cations VIGOROUSLY. inadequate to the defence
Of the great harbors and cities for whose protec-
ton they were built The question Of providing
an armament suited to our present necessities has
been the subject Of consideration by a board
whose report was transmitted to Congress at the
last session. Pending the consideration OF that
report the war department has taken no steps for
the manufacture or conversion Of any heavy can
non. But the secretary expresses the hope that
authority and means to begin that important work
will be soon provided. ! invite the attention Of
congress to the proprety Of making more adj
equate provision for arming and equipping the
militia than Is afforded by the act Of 1906, which
IL still upon the statute books. The matter has
already been the ject Of discussion in thesenate,
| and bill which seeks to supply the deficiencies
Of existing laws IL now upon Its calendar, The
secretary OF calls attention to the fact that an
embarrassment growing out of the recent act OF
congress- makes the retirement OF officers Of the
| army compulsory at the age of Ga The act OF
1870 Is still in force, which limits to 400 the num-
Der OF those who be retired for disability or up
on their own application. The two acts, when con-
strued together seem TO forbid the relieving, even
for absolute nCapacity, Of officers who do not fall
within the purview OF the latter statute, save at
such times as there chance to be less than 400
names on the retired list. There are now 40 IL
IL not likely that congress intended this result.
| concur with the secretary that the law ought to
be amended
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
| The grounds that impelled me to withhold my
signature from the bill entitled " An act making
appropriations for the construction, repair and
preservation OF certain works on rivers and har-
bors." which became a law near the close OF your
last session. prompts me to express the hope that
no similar measure will be deemed necessary dur
ing the present session of congress. Indeed such
n measure would now be open to serious obiec-
| ton In addition to that which was lately urged
upon your attention am informed by the sec
rotary of that the greater portion OF the sum
| appropriated for the various items specified
| In that act remains unexpeuded. OF the new
works which 1t authorized expenses have been in
Cured upon two only, for which the total appro-
priation was $4,000 The present available
/ balance Is disclosed by the following: Amount OF
appropriation by act Of August, 1882 SIS, 73S 500;
| amount of appropriation by act Of June 10, 1852
$1,000 amount OF appropriation for payments TO
| j. b. Eads 1904 600; unexpended balance OF for
| mer appropriations, 81, 1888 1853 Total, S23 49,
| 1888 Less amount drawn from treasury between
| July |, 1882 and November 80 1882, S6,056, 1874
Total, SIT ,74, 9i4. 1t is apparent by this exhibit
that far as concerns most OF the items to which
the act OF August 1882, relates, there can be no
| need Of further appropriations until after the
/ close OF the present session. IL, however, any
action should seem TO be necessary in respect TO
| particular objects, 1t will be entirely feasible to
| provide for these objects by appropriate legisla-
| ton. 1t Is possible, for example, that delay
until the assembling Of the next congress to make
| additional provision for the Mississippi River i'm
provements might be attended with serious con-
sequences. II such should appear to be the case,
just bill relating to that subject would command
| my approval. This leads me to offer a sugges-
| ton, which | trust will commend itself to the
| wisdom OF congress- 1t is not advisable that
| grants of considerable sums Of money for diverse
and independent schemes of internal improve
| ment should be made the subjects OF separate
and distinct legislative enactments 1t will
scarcely be gainsaid even by those who favor the
most liberal expenditures for such purposes as
| are sought to be accomplished by what IL COM
monty called the river and ha1bor bill, that the
practice OF grouping in such bill appropriations
| for great diversity OF objects, widely separated
either in their nature in the locality with which
| they are concerned or In both, is one which is
much to be deprecated unless it is ilremediabe.
| II inevitably tends to secure the success OF the
bill ~ a whole, though many of the items II sepa-
rately 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 influence and vote for
meritorious appropriations would be enabled so
to do without being called upon to sanction
| others undeserying his approval. So, also, would
|
nifty to exercise his constitutional prerogative of
| opposing whatever appropriations seemed to him
| Objectionable without impering the success OF
others which commended themselves to his jndg-
ment 1t may be urged in opposition TO these
suggestions that the number of works of internal
| improvement which are justly entitled to govern
mental aid Is so great as to render impracticable
separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for
| such comparatively limited number as make dis
position of large sums Of money. This objection
may be well founded, and whether 1t be or not,
| the advantages which would be likely to ensue
| from the adoption Of the course have recon-
| mended may perhaps be more effectually attained
| by another which respectfully submit to con.
| gress as an alternative proposition II Is provided
| by the constitutions OF fourteen OF our states
that the executive may disapprove any item or
| items OF a bill appropiiating money, wherenpon
the part OF the bill approved shall be law and the
| part disapproved shall fail to become law unless
| repassed according to the provisions prescribed
for the passage of bills over the veto of the
| utive The states wherein some such provision as
the foregoing is part Of the Fundamental law hro
Alabama, California, Colorado. Florida, Georgia,
| Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska New
| Jersey, New York, Pennysylvania, Texas and
| West Virginia ! commend to your careful con-
sideratiOn the question whether amendment Of
the federal constitution In the particular indicated
| would not afford the best remedy for what is
often grave embarrassment both to members Of
congress and to the executive, and is sometimes
| serious public mischief.
| OUR NAVAL FORCE.
| 1t appears by the secretary's report that the
available naval force of the United States consists
OF thirtyseven cruisers, fourteen single turreted
| monitors built during the rebellion, n large nun
| Der OF smooth bore guns and Parrott rifles and
| eghy-seven rifed cannon. The cruising vessels
| should be gradually replaced by iron or steel
| ships, the monitors by modern armored vessels,
| and the armament by high power rfed guns
| The reconstruction OF our navy, which was rec
| commended in my last message, was begun by
| congress authorizing in its recent act the con-
struction OF two large unaTmored steel vessels of
| the character recommended by the late Naval Ad-
| visory board, and subject to the final approval
| OF new Advisory Board, to be organized as
provided by that act. ! call your attention to the
| recommendation OF the secretary OF the board
that authority be given to construct two more
cruisers OF smaller dimensions, and one fleet dis
patch vessel and that appropriations be made for
| high power rifled cannon for the torpedo service
and for other harbor defences, pending the con-
sideraion by congress of the policy to be hereaf-
ter adopted In conducting the eight Navy Yards
and their expensive establishments the secretary
advocates the reduction Of expenditures therefor
| to the lowest possible amount.
AMERICAN COMMERCE.
This subject is one Of the utmost Importance
| to the national welfare Methods OF reviying
| American shipbudng and of restoring the
| United States flag In the ocean carrying trade
should receive the immediate attention OF con-
| gress. We have mechanical skill and abundant
material for the manufacture of modern iron
|
cial 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 monopo-
lied by our formidable competitors, these obsta-
Giles should some way be overcome. and for our
rapid communication with fore ign lands we should
not continue to depend wholly upon vessels built
In the yards of other countries and sailing under
foreign flags. With no United States steamers
on the principal ocean lines in any foreign
ports our facilities for extending our commerce
are greatly restricted, while the nations which
build and sail the ships and carry the mails and
passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advan-
tages in increasing their trade.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the postmaster-genera gives evil
dence OF the satisfactory condition of that de-
partment, and contains much valuable data and
accompanying suggestions which cannot fail to
be Of interest. The information which 1t affords
that the receipts for the fiscal year have exceeded
the expenditures must be very gratifying to con-
gress and to the people of the country. As mat
tiers which may fairly claim particular attention,
refer you to his observation in reference 10 the
adyisabiity OF changing the present basis for fix
Ing salaries and allowances, of extending the
money order system and of enargng the func-
tons OF the postal establishment so as TO put
under Its control the telegraph system OF the coun-
try, though from this last and most important
recommendation ! must withhold my concur
renee.
REDUCTION OF LITTER POSTAGE ADVISED.
At the last session of congress several bills were
introduced into the house OF representatives fol
the reduction Of letter postage TO the rate OF two
: cents per half ounce, | have given much study
and reflection to this subject and am thoroughly
lal. l..N