The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-12-07
THE ARMY.

encampments for the Inspection of the
troops. From the reports OF these officers
/ ann induced to believe that the encourage
mellt Of the State militia organization by The
national government would be followed by
very gratifying results and would afford in
sudden emergencies, the aid OF n large body
OF volunteers educated in the performance
OF military duties.
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The Secretary of the Navy reports that,
under the authority of the acts of Aug. D
1882, and March 3, 1883, the work OF strength
ening our navy by the construction of mod.
ern vessels has been auspiciOusy begun
Three cruisers are i'm progress of cOnstruc
tl0n-thc Chicago, of 1890 tons displacement.
and the Boston and Atlanta, each of 2,5Ot
tons. They are to be built of steel, with the
tensile strength and ductility prescribed by
law, and, in combination of speed, enduI>
ance and armament, are expected to com
pare favOrably with the best unarmored wal
vessels of other nations. A fourth vessel,
the Dolphin Is To be constructed of similar
material, and is intended to serve as Il fleet
dispatch boat. The double turretcd moni.
tors, Puritan, Amplerite and Terror, have
been launched on the Delaware river, and o
contract has been made for the supply OF
Monadnock, has been launched in Calf0r
mia. The Naval Advisory Board and the
Secretary recommend the completion of the
monitors, the construction of four gunboats.
and also of three additional steel vessels,
like the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin, as an
important measure of material defense.
INTERNAL WATERWAYS.
The Secretary urges, also, the immediate
creation of an internal fast line of water
ways across the peninsular of Florida,
along the coast from Florida to Hampton
Roads, between the Chesapeake bay and
Delaware river and through Cape Cod.
feel bound to impress upon the attention
of Congress the necessity of continued pro
gress in the reconstruction of the Navy.
The condition of the public treasury, as i
have already intimated, makes the present
an suspicious time for putting this branch
OF the service in state of efficiency. 1t Is
no part of our policy to create and maintain
navy able to cope with that of the other
great powers of the world. We have no
wish for foreign conquest, and the peace
which we have long enjoyed is in no SEEM
ing danger of interruption. But that our
fence of our harbOrs, the protection of our
commercial interests and the maintenance
of our national honor, is a proposition from
which no patriotic citizen can withhold his
assent
POSTAL MATTERS.
The report of the Postmaster General
contains gratifying exhibit of the cOndi-
ton and prospects of the Interesting branch
of the public service entrusted to his care.
1t appears that on Juue 30, 1885, the whole
number of postoiceS w;si 1859, Of which
l,G2 were established during the previous
fiscal year. The number of offices opera
ting under the system of free delivery was
l54. At these latter Offices the postage on
local matter amounted to S4,lc,,, 230.52, a
sum exceeding by .>l.02l ,S9i.Ol the entire
cost o! tl' carrier Servic" to the country.
The rat? ut postage on drop letters IL now
fixed ly law ut two cents per halt ounce or
fraction thereof. In offices where the car
10
rate Is one half as large. 1t will be remem-
bered that in 1865, when free delivery was
first established by law, the uniform single
rate postage upon local letters was one cent,
and SO it remained until 1872, when in those
cities where carrier service was established
1t was increased, TO defray the expense of
such service. 1t seems to me that the old
rate may now with propriety be restored,
and that, too, even at the risk Of diminish
ing, for u time at least, the receipts from
postage upon local letters: l can see no
reason why that particular class of mail
entire cost of not only its own collection
and delivery but the collection and deliv-
cry of all other classes, and am confident
after full consideration of the subject, that
the reduction of the rate would be followed
by such q growing accession of business as
to occasion but slight and temporary loss to
the revenues of the postoffice.
POSTAL TELEGnAPHY.
The Postmaster General devotes much of
his report to the consideration, in its vari-
Gus aspects, of the relations of the Govern
ment to the telegraph. Such reflections as
l have been able to give to this subject since
my last annual message has not led me to
change the view which there expressed i'm
dissenting from the recommendation OF the
Postmaster General, that the government
assume the same control over the telegraph
that It has always exercised over the mail.
Admitting that its authority i'm the premises
Is as ample as has ever been claimed for 1t,
it would not, in my judgment, be wise use
of that authority. to purchase or assume the
control OF existing telegraph lines, or to
construct others with view of entering in
to general competition with private enter
urged against either of these projects, and,
indeed, against any system which would re-
quire an enormous increase in the civil ser
vice list, do not, however apply to some of
the plans which have lately provoked pub
lie comment and discussion. 1t has been
wisely authorize the Postmaster General to
contract with some private person or corpO-
ration for the transmission OF messages at |
specified rates and under government super |
vision. Various such schemes of the same |
general nature, but widely differing in their |
special characteristics, have been suggested |
In the public prints, and the arguments by |
which they have been supported and OPP |
posed have doubtless attracted your atten- |
ton. 1t is likely that the whole subject will |
be considered by you at this session. In the |
nature of things, it involves SO many ques- |
lions of detail that your deliberations would |
probably be aided slightly, if ut all, by any par.
ticular suggestions which might now sub
nit. avOw my belief, however, that the |
government should be authorized by law to
exercise some sort of supervision over inter-
State telegraph communication, and / ex-
press the hope that for attaining that end
some measure may be devised which will
receive your appreciation.
JURORS AND WITNESSES IN FEDERAL
COURTS.
The Attorney General criticises, in his re-
port, the provisions of the existing law fix
ing the fees of jurors and witnesses In the
Federal courts. The provisions are chiefly
I'm the act OF Feb. 26, 1858, though
some Of them were introduced into that sec
ion from statutes that had been passed
many years previous. II is manifest that
such compensation as might, when these
laws were enacted, have been Just and rea-
,0nable, would in many instances be justly
regarded at the present day as inadequate.
concur with the Attorney General In the
belief that the statutes should be revised by
A. "a 1