Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-13


tricts of the country, and suggests tha, tn,
President be vested with such power il
relation thereto as is now given him as tt
collectors Of Internal Revenue BY section
3l4l of the Revised Statutes. The sta
tstics OH this subject which are contained
in his report furnish of themselves strong
argument in defence of his views. At the
adjournment of Congress the number of In
ternal Revenue collection districts was l26
BY Executive order dated June %, 1888.
directed that certain of these districts be
consolidated The result has been reduc-
ton of one third their number, which ut
present is but eighty-three.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT
From the report of the Secretary Of War
it will be seen that in only single in
stance has there been any disturbance of
the quiet condition of our Indian tribes,
a raid from Mexico into Arizona by a
small party of Indians which was pursued
by General Crook into the mountain re-
gions from which it had come. 1t is con-
tidently hoped that serious outbreaks will
not again occur, and that the Indian tribes
which have for so many years disturbed
the West, will hereafter remain in peace
able submission.
| again call your attention to the present
condition of our extended sea coast, upon
which are so many large cities whose
wealth and Importance to the country
would in time of war invite attack from
modern armored ships against which our
existing defensive works could give no ad-
equate protection. Those works were built
before the introduction of modern heavy
rfled guns into maritime warfare, and ii
they are not put in an efficient condition,
we may easily be subjected to humiliation
| by hostile power greatly inferior to our
selves. AS germane to this subject, | call
your attention to the Importance of per-
fecting our submarine torpedo defences.
| The board authorized by the last Congress
to report on the methods which should be
adopted for the manufacture of heavy
ordnance, adapted to modern warfare has
visited the principal iron and shell works
in this country and in Europe. 1t is hoped
| that its report will soon be made, and that
| Congress will thereupon be disposed to
provide suitable facilities and plans for the
manufacture of such guns as are now i'm
/ peratvely needed.
On several occasions during the past
/ year officers of the army have, at the re-
| quest of the State authorities, visited their
military encampments for inspection of the
/ troops. From the reports of these officers
! | am induced to believe that the encourage
ment of the State militia organizations by
I the National Government, would be fol-
lowed BY very gratifying results, and would
afford it, in sudden emergencies, the aid of
a large body Of volunteers educated in the
/ performance of military duties.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The Secretary of the Navy reports that
under the authority of the acts of August
), 1882, and March g. 1888, the work of
strengthening our navy by the construction
of modern vessels has been auspiciously be-
gun. Three cruisers are in process Of con-
structon. The Chicago. of 1900 tons dis
displacement and the Boston and Atlanta,
each of 2,5O0 tons. They are to be built of
steel with the tensile strength and ductilty
prescribed by law, and in combination of
speed, endurance and armament are expect
ed to compare favorably with the best un-
armored war vessels of other nations.
\ fourth vessel. the Dolphin, is to be
/ constructed of similar material and it is in
tended to serve as fleet despatch boat.
The double turreted monitors, Puritan,
Amphtrite and Terror have been launched
on the Delaware river, and contract has
been made for the supply of their machin-
cry.
\ similar monitor, the Monadnock, has
been launched in California. The naval
advisory board and the Secretary recon-
mend the completion of the monitors, the
construction Of four gunboats and also
Of the three additional steel vessels, like
the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin, as an
important measure of material defence.
The Secretary urges also the immediate
creation of an interior coas, line Of water
WAYS across the Peninsula of Florida,
along the coast from Florida to Hampton
Roads, between the Chesapeake Bay and
the Delaware river, and through Cape Cod.
feel bound to impress upon the attention
ofCcngress the necessity of continued pro-
gre>s in the reconstruction of the navy.
The condition of the public treasury as
have already intmated, makes the present
an auspicious time for putting this branch Of
the service in a state of efficiency. 1t is no
part Of our policy to create and maintain u
navy able TO cope with that of the other
.
wish for foreign conquest, and the peace
which We have long enjoyed is in no seeming
danger Of interruption, but that our naval
strength should be made adequate for the
defence Of our harbors, the protection of
our commercial interests, and the mainten-
ancc Of our national honor, is proposition
from which no patriotic citizen can withhold
I his assent
THE Po>ToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Postmaster General
contains a gratifying EXHIBIT of the condi
ton and prospects of the interesting
branch of the public service committed to
his care. 1t appears that on June 30, 1888,
the who'll. number Of post offices was A.,
S63. Of which | ,632 were established dur
inc the previous fiscal wear. Ihc number
Of offices operating under the system OF
free delivery WAS ISL. At these latter otii-
ces the postage on local matter amounted
10 S4.l9j, ,23O.j2, a sum exceeding by 81
U2l S94Ol the entire cost Of the carrier
service of the country. The rate of post
age on drop letters passing through these
offices is now fixed by law at two cent,
per halt ounce, on fraction thereof. In Of
fees where the carrier system ha, not been
} tStaDIISUtu llle ldle II Olllt ntII ds idrnt.
1t will be remembered that in 1868 when
free delivery was first established by law,
the uniform single rate of postage upon
loca! letters was one cent and it
NAMED until 1872, when in those cities
where the carrier service was established.
it was increased in order to deiiay the cx-
pense of such service. Ii seems to ME that
the old rate mas now with propriety be
restored and that too even at the risk of
diminishing for time at least, the receipts
from postage upon local letters.
can see no reason why that particular
class of mail matter should be held account
able for the entire cost of not only its own
collection and delivery but the collection
and delivery Of all other classes, and am
confident, after full consideration of the
subject, that the reduction of rate would
be followed by such growing accession of
the business as to occasion but slight and
temporary loss to the revenues of the post