The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-12-12

| lot tue iDGuul&CthFC Va SUN 4hA
as are now imperative.y needed.
THE NAVY.
feel bound to impress upon the
attention of the congress the neces-
sity of contipued progress in the
reconstruction of the navy. The
condition of the public treasury, az
L have already intimated, makes the
present an suspicious time for put
ting this branch of the service in &
state of efficiedcy. 1t is no part o.
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 con
quest, and the peace which we have
long enjoyed is in no seeming dan
ger of interruption, but, that oul
naval strength should be made
adequate fer the defense of on
harbors, the protection Of our com
mercial interest and the mainten
ance of our national honor, is 8
proposition from which no patriotic
citizen can Withhold his assent.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
1t will be remembered that in
1868, when free delivery was first
established by law, the uniform sin
gle rate upon local letters was one
cent, and 20 remained until 1872
when in those cities where carrier
services was established, it was in
creased in order to defray the ex.
pense of such service. IL seems to
me that the old rate may now with
propriety be restored, and that, too
even Mt the risd of diminishing, for
4 time at least, thereceipts for post
age upon local letters | can see nc
reason why that particular class Of
mail matter should be held account
able for the entire cost of not only
it's own collection and delivery, but
the collection and delivery of all
other classes, and / am confident
after full consideration of the sub
iect, that the reduction citrate would
be followed by such growing aces
sion be bushes as to occasion but
slight and temporary loss to the
revenue of the postoffice.
THE TELEGRAPH.
The postmaster-genera devotes
much of his report to the considera-
ton in its various aspects of the re-
Iations of the government to the
telegraph. Such reflections as /
have been able to give this subject
since my last annual message has
not led me to change the view which
[ then expressed, In dissenting from
the recommendation ofthe postmas-
general that the government as
sumo the same control over the tele-
graph which it has always exercis-
ed over the mail Admitting that
its authority in the premises is as
ample as has ever been claimed for
it, it would not, in my judgement,
be q wise use of that authority to
purchase or assume the control of
existing telegraph lines, or to con-
struct others with a view of enter
ing into competition with private
enterprise. The objections which
may be justly urged against either
of these projects, and indeed against
any system which would require an
increase of the vilservice
list, do not, however, apply to some
of the plans which have lately pro
vOked public comment. 1t has been
claimed, for example, that congress
might wisely authorize the postmas-
ter general to contract with some
private persons OF corporations for
the transmission OF messages at
specified rates and under the gov
eminent supervision. Various such
schems of the same general nature,
but widely differing in their special
characteristics, have been suggested
in the public prints, and the argu-
nents by which they have been
and opposed have doubt
ess attracted your attention.
1t is likely that the whole sub
ect will be considered by you at
he present session. In the nature
If things, it involves so many ques-
ions of detail that your delibera-
ions would probably be aided
lightly, if at all, by any particular
which | might now sub
nit. L avow my belief, however,
hat the government should be au-
horized by law to exercise some
ort of supervision over interstate
communication, aud |
xpress the hope that for attaining
hat end some measure will be de
Used which will well receive your
APPRECIATION.
GOVERNMENT AID IN EDUCATION.
. l have previously referred to the
farming state of. illiteracy in certain
,ortions of the country and again
ubmit for the consideration of con-
.ress, whether some federal aid
hould be extended to public pri-
nary education wherever adequate
therefor has not already
cen made.
THE RAILROADS.
Complaints have lately been
umerous and urgent that certain
controlling the whole
r in part the facilities for the inter-
ate carriage of persons and mer-
handise over the great railroads of
le country, have resorted in their
ealings with the public to divers
leasures, unjust and oppressive in
leir character. The question how
II the national government may
.wfully interior in the premises,
nd what, if any, supervision or
,ntr6i it ought to exercise, is one
hich merits your careful consider
ion, we should remember that no
dividual and no corporation ought
be invested with absolute power
-er the interestof any other citizen
class of citizens. The right of
Iese railway corporations to award