The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-07

PPl improvements might De at
tended with serious consequences. If
such should appear to be the case a lust
bill relating to that subject would com
mabd my approval. This leads me to
offer a suggestion which l trust will
command itself to the wisdom of con
gress. 1t Is not desirable that grants of
considerable sums of money for diverse
and independent schemes of internal
improvement should be made the SUBJ
Ject OF separate and distinct legislative
enactments? 1t will scarcely be again
said even by those who favor the most
liberal expenditures for such purposes
as are sought to be accomplished by
what is commonly called the river and
haEbor bill, that The habit of grouping
In such bill appropriations for great
diversity OF objects, widely separated,
either in their nature, in the locality in
which they are concerned, or ia both, is
one which is much to be deprecated.
1t inevitably tends TO secure the
success of the bill us whole, though
many of the items if separately consid-
cred could scarcely fail of rejection. BY
the adoptionof the couese have recon-
mcnded, every member of congress,
whenever an opportunity should arise
for giving his influence and vote for
meritorious appropriations, would be en-
ab1ed so to do without being called upon
to sanction others undeseTving of his
approval. So, also, would the executive
be afforded thereby full opportunity
to exercise his constitutional prerogative
of opposing whatever appropriations
seemed TO him objectionable, without
imperiling the success of others which
commended themselves TO his judg-
ment. 1t may be urged in opposition
to these suggestions that the number of
works OF international improvement
which are justly entitled to govern
mental aid is so great as to render i'm
practicable separate appropriations
therefor, or even comparatively linn
tied number as to make no disposition
of large sums OF money. This objec-
tion may be we'll founded, and whether
it be or not, the advantages would be
likely to ensue from the adoption of the
course have recommended. 1t may, per
haps, be more effectually attained by
another which l respectfully submit TO
congress as an alternative, which is
provided for by the constitutions of four
teen of our states, that the executive may
disapprOve any item or items of bill
appropriating money, whereupon 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 ex-
ecutiVe. The states wherein some such
provision as the foregoing is part OF
the fundamental law, are Alabama, CAL
ifoFnia, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebras-
ka, New Jersey, New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Texas and West Virginia.
submit 10 your careful considera-
tion the question whether an amend
ment of the federal constitution in the
particular indicated would not afford
the best remedy for what is often a
grave embarrassment both to members
of congress and to the executive, and is
sometimes serious public mischief.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of The
navy states the movements of the vari
Gus squadrons during the year, in home
and foreign waters, where our officers
and seamep, with such ships as we pos
sess, have continued To illustrate the
high character and excellent discipline
of the naval organization. On the
second of December, 1881, information
was received that the exploring
STEAMER JEANETTE
| had been crushed and abandoned IN the
Artic ocean. The officers and crew at
| ter journey over the ice, embarked 10
| three boats for The coast of Siberia. One
| of the parties under the command OF
Chief Engineer Geo. w. Melville reached
the land, and, falling in with the natives
were saved; another. Lieutenant Com
mander DeLong, landed in q barren
region near the mouth of the Lena river
After six weeks had elapsed, all but two
of the number had died from fatigue and
starvation. No tidings have been re-
ceived from the parties in the third
boat under the command of Lieutenan'
Chip, but long and fruitless investiga,
| ton leaves little doubt that all its mem.
bers persisted at sea. AS slight tribute
| to their heFoism, We give in this CON
| munication the names of the gallant
men who sacrificed their lives in this
expedition: Lieutenant Commander
George w. DeLong, Surgeon James N
Amber, jerome J. Collins, Hans Hal
mer Erickson, Heinrich II. Kaacke
George w. Boyd, Walter Lee, Adolph
Dressler, Carl A. Gortz, Nelse Ivers0n
the cook; Sam AndecheiR Alexy
the missing boat were: Lieutenant
liam Dunbar, Alfred SWeetman, Walter
| Spartell, Albert G. Kuehne, Edwin Star
Henry d. Warren and Peter E. Johnson
Lieutenant Giles, B. Harder and the of
ficers and crew succeeded in escaping to
the shore. Lieutenant Berry and one oil
his officers, after making 9 search for
the Jeanette along the coast of Siberia,
fell in with Chief Engineer Melville's
party and returned home by way of Eu.
rope. The other officers aud the crew
of the Rodgers were brought from ST
Lawrence bay by the whaling steamer
North Star. Master Charles F. Putnam
who had been master, and William A
Schentzekesch are now bringing home
the remains of Lieut.. De Long and his
comrades in pursuance of the dIrec.
tions of congress.
THE RODGERS
was fitted out for the relief of the JEAN
nette in accordance with act of congress
of March 8, 1881, sailed from San Fran
cisco, June 18th under The command OF
Lieutenant Robert NJ. Berry On No,
vember Goth she was accidentally de-
stroyed by FIRE while In winter quarters
in st. Lawrence hay, but placed 10
charge of depot of supplies at Cape
SerdZe, returning to his post from St
Lawrence bay across the ice in blind.
ing storm, was carried out to sea and
lost, notwithstanding all efforts to rescue
him. "a
OUR AVAILABLE NAVAL PoRCE.
It appears by the secretarY's report
that the available naval force of the
| United States consists of thirty seven
cruisers, fourteen single-tuIreted moni
| tors, built during the rebellion, large
number of smooth bore guns and Par
rott rifles and eighiy-seven rified can
mons. The cruising vessels should be
gradually replaced by iron or steel ships
| the monitors by modern armored
| vessels and the armament by modern
rifled guns. The reconstruction of our
navy, which was recommended in my
last message, was begun by congress au-
| thorIzing in its recent act the constFuc-
ton of two large, unarmored steel yes
I sells of the character recommended by
the late navy advisory board, and sub
ject to the final approval of q new ad
visOry board to be organized as provided
by that act and call your attention to
the recommendation of the secretary
and the board that authority be given To
| construct two more cruisers of smaller
| dimensions, and one feet dispatch yes
sci and that appropriations be made fol
high-power rified cannon for the torpedo
service and for other harbor defenses
| Pending the consideration by congress
of the policy TO be hereafter adopted
in conducting the eight large navy
yards and their expensive establish.
| ment, the secretary advocated the reduc-
ton of expenditures He refers to the
lowest possible amounts for the purpose
! of affoTding the officers and seamen OF
the navy opportunities of exercise and
discipline in their profession under ap.
propriate control and direction.
LIGHT HOUSE SERVICE.
The secretary advises that the light
house service and coast survey be trans
ferred as now organized from the treas
ury to the navy department and he also
| suggests for the reasons which he as
signs that a similar transfer may be
wisely made of the cruising revenue
vessel. The secretary forcibly depicts
the ultimate connection and inter-de-
pendence of the navy and commercial
marine, and attracts attention TO the
continued Gecadence of the latter and