The sun., 1883-12-05

.rlcts b oonsolidstsd, The rssult ha. been .S I.
reduction q one. .third,their number. which at
present is but eishfy-three.
r OUR ARMY.
From the report of tho Secretary Of War II
will be seen TINT in only a single instance has
there been any disturbance Ct the quiet quiet sondi,
into Arizona was made in March last by small
party OF Indians. which was pursued by Cen
had come. II is confidently horod that serious
outbreaks win not again occur and that the
dIstnrbed the West viii hereafter remain in
peaceful subm ission. .
condition Of our extended sea coast. ur,ohh
which arc so many large cities. whose wealth
and Importance TO the country would. IN rS Time
ships. against which our existing defensive
works could give. no. adequate protsction.
Of modern heavy ri1ed guns into maritime
warfare and h they arc not rnt in an efficient
alton by n hostile power greatly inferior 70 our.
selves. As gcru'ane to this subject. call your
"ens.I "ur s%bnapne m n ,orpaas dSenecs Tie board
by Se las, Congrsss re- to rsps9fft for rf%n tbn
manmaetppe rne pp Wc OF heavy ordnnnee adapted to
modern warfare has visited tho princLai iron
and s,oel works IN this country and IN Europ,e. ne,
aud that Congress will thcreupon be dispossd
10 provide suitable tacSii,ins and plan: for the
manufacture OF such guns rs are now fmpern-
On several occasions during the rast year
state authorities. visited their militia ,eeneamp,
ments for inspection Of tho troops. From lhe
pp pr'h the o' "sss Of he state militia
organizations bv tho national Govcrnmsht
be sT by D'fy SUDDEN
tho aid of large body Of volunteers. educated
in tho performance of military duties.
OUR NAVY.
| The Secretary of the Navy reports that under
| the authority of tho acts OF Aug. B. 1857 ana
| March g. 1888 tho work OF STRENGTHENING our
navy by the construction of N, modern vessels has
i5oo tons dIsrlacsmnsnt. and !,. !ho Boston and I'd
| built OF steel. with tho tensile strength and
| ductiity prescrih bed by law. and in the conbi-
nation Of speed endurance, and armament are
| expected 10 COMPARE fayo-hb = with the best
| unnrmorcd war vessels Of other nations.
fourth vessel the nonnim j. to be 1.S s9n 1o
as oa s" s" Gdssnrn bSn "s do%b
nirrc,cd mon nitors Puritan, Amphi,r,S. aud
| River. and contract has been made for tho
snpply Of their machinery, similar moni,or.
the Monndnock. has been launched in caiiior-
Tho Naval Advisory Board and tho Secretary
the constIuc,ion OF four cunloa's. and also of
three additional steel vessels like thu Chicngo.
Bnstor. and Dolphin As nm imnortnnt nl mems meas
| also tne immediate creation nj AN interior coast
!inc cf waterways across 'hn rrninsuln, =, OF FLOR
ida. nlo the coast from floriin TO Hampton
Eonis. between tho Chssnprak" Buy and the
Delaware River and through Cnpe Cod.
n. ths neeassy o of con,nusd % progress in
the reconslruciion Of thc nayy. Thn condition
Oft the nnhlc Treasury, as l have nirGndS intl. NIL
ma;gd. makes tho present an auspiclous time
OF Of oiiia hS',i aieasy. '''' u '''''' w. ' " WV
tain u navy nb!s u copc with that of tho other
great mowers Of tho world.
| We have no wish for foreign conquest ana
III" psnce which we have long enjoyed is in nc
scanning danger OF interruption.
But lhat our naval strength should be made
adequate for the defence OF our harbors; tht
protection Of our commercal interests. ana tlit
maintenance of our nationni honor. Is
proposition from which no patriotic citizen car
Withhold his assent.
THE POST oPiICEs.
The report of the Postmaster General con
tains gratifying exhibit o! the condition ah'
o ine i INK @nnse @nas OF 'h0 pup
1t appears that on June 30 1883. tho whol.
number OF Post onlces was 47.sG3. 'of whici
fiscal year. Thn number Of Offices oreratini
under the system of free delivery was l54.
alsr qtss tn q sum
ceeding by 81 .02l .S94O1 the entire cost OF thu
the rate OF postage on drop letters passing
through these offices is nov iiNed by law at twt
CENTS per half ounce ..o or fraction thereof /,
Established. the rate is only half a. large.
1t will be remembered that In 1868. when fre'
delivery Was first established by law. tho uni
} form single rate postage upon local letters wa
one cent. anu so it remained until 1872. wfel
in those cities where carrier service VIA
} established it was increased in order to defra
thu expense of such service.
II seems to me that the old ratio may nov
With propriety be restored. AMI that. too. eveI
ut the risk Of diminishing for "A time. at leusi
tho rce'pis from Hostage upon local letters.
OF mail matter should be held accountable 10
the, entire cost Of not only its own collection
all other cl,tssrs; and am confident. after fu!
consideration Of the subject that the reduction
} accession OF business rs to occasion but sigh
and temporary loss to tho revenues OF the Pos
Office.
The Pos! master General Gevotcs much Of hi
report to the consideration. in It's various rs
pecis. of the relations OF tho government to tn
telegraph Such reflection rs have been abb
to give to this subject since my last annua
, message has not led mo to change tho view
,, recommendation OF tho then Po~,nas;er. g en-
eral that the Government assume tho sam
control oyer the telegraph which it has alway
Admitting that its authority in the premise
Is as ample as has ever been claimed for 1t.
that authority to purchase or assume the con
tr2l of existing Telegraph lines. or to constrn'
7 competition with private enterprise
The "blretions which may be Justly urge
| against against any % system n, When wSSll req rsauire a
enormous increase in the civil service list. d
not. however. arIly 70 some OF the plans Thic
have lately provoked public comment and dis
russion. 1t has been claimed for example
! that Congress might wisely authoriz the Post
y master General TO contract with some privat
T persons or corporation for IN. transmiaslo
I Of messages. or of n certni In class OF messages
y a. Speciilrd rates and under Government su pei
vision. Various such schemes Of ths sam
o general nature. but wdry differing in the
srecial chnracIeristirs. have been suggested
tho public prints. and the arguments by whic
; they have been supported and opposed hn,
y doubtless attracted your attention. II Is Ike
8 that the whole subject will be considered /
!. you ut tho present session. In tho nnture
things, II involves 50 many questions Of dpta
:; that your deliberations would probably be aide
slightly, II nt all. BY any particular suggestion
: which might now submit. Iavow my b3e
however that the Government should be a,
j thorizad by law to exercise some sort OF supe
0 vision over intor-St telegraph cOmmunicl
o ion and express the hope that for attainr
. TINT end some measure may be devised viii,
u will receive your APPRECIATION
II THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
;. The Attorn ,y- General criticises In his repo
y the provisions Of existing law liking the fees
jurors and witnesses in the Federal court
r These provisions are chiefly contained in Il
o act of Feb. 26. 1858. though some OF the
3 were introduced into that act from statut
y which had been passed many years pTeviou
It. is manifest that such Compensation
10 might. when these laws were enacted ha
IA | lI.rn inst and reasonable WDull in many n