Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-12-12


which have for so many years disturbed the west
will hereafter remain in peaceable submission.
I again call your attention to the present
condition Of our extended sea coast, upon which
are 81 many largo cities whose wealth and i'm
poltance to the country would in time of war
invite attack from modern armOred ships,
against which our existing defensive works
could give no adequate protection. Those
works were built before the introduction of
modern heavy rif1ed guns into maritime war
fare, and If they arc not put ia an efficient con-
dition we may easily be subjected to humiliation
by hostile power greatly inferior to ourselves.
AS germane to this subject I call your atten-
ton to the importance of pei fecting our sub
marine torpedo defensea.
The board authorized by the last congress to
report on the method which should be adopted
for the manufacture of heavy ordnance
adapted to modern warfare has visited the
principal iron aud steel works in this country
and in Europe. It is hoped that it's report will
be soon made, and that congress will thereupon
be disposed to provide suitable facilities and
plans for the manufacture of such guns as are
now imperatively needed.
On eevera' occasions during the past year
officers of the army have, at the request of the
state authorities, visited their military en-
CAM ments for the inspection of the troops.
From the reports Of these officers I am in
duced to believe that the encouragement Of the
state militia organization by the national gov
erument would be followed by very gratifying
results and wOnld afford it in sudden emer-
gencies the aid of q large body of volunteers,
educated in the performance OF military duties.
The Navy.
The secretary Of the navy reports that under
the authority Of the acts of August 5, 1882, and
March 8, 1888, the work of strengthening our
navy by the construction Of modern vessels has
been auspciously begun. Three cruisers are in
mr. nf no NJ
4,5CO tons displacement, and the Boston and
Atlanta, each Of 1850 tons. They are to be
built Of steel with the tensile strength and due
Utility prescribed by law and in combin atom of
speed, endurance and armament, are expected
to compare faVOrably with the best unarmed
war vessels Of other nations. A fourth vessel,
the Dolphin, is to be constructed
serve as . fleet dispatch boat. The
double. turretted monitors Puritan, Amphitrite,
and Terror have been launched on the Della
war River and a contract has been made FIR
the supply Of their machinery. A similar moni-
tor, the MOnadnOCk, has been launched in Cal
rotary recommend the completion OF the mOnl-
tors. the construction of four gunboats, and
also Of three additional steel vessels like the
Chicago, Boston, and Dolphin as an important
measure Of maritime defense. The Sec
rotary urges the immediate creation OF
an interior fast line OF water ways
the Coast i from Fiorida to Hampton Roads, be-
tween Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River
and through Cape COD. feel bound 20 inn
press upon the attention OF congress the neces-
sity of continued progress in the construction
of the navy. The condition of the public
treasury, a. I have :alreadv intimated, makes
the present an suspicious time for putting this
branch Of the service in q state of efficiency.
n nj nnP n
maintain a 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 seeming danger
of interruption. But that our naval strength
should be made adequate for the defense of
interests and the malntenance.of our national
honor is proposition from which no patriotic
citizen can withhold his assent.
The Postoffice Department.
The report of the postmaster general con-
tains gratifying exhibit of the condition and
prospects Of the interesting branch Of the pub.
lie service committed to Els care. 1t appears
that on June 30. 1888, the whole number OF
postofices was 1868, of which 1,6S2 were es.
tabiished during the previous fiscal year. The
nan:ber Of Offices operating under the system
fees the postage on local matter amounted to
90. 1876, 23O.52, . sum exceeding by 81 ,021, 1894,
Oh the entire cost of the carriers service in the
country. The rate of postage on drop letters
passing through these Offices is now fixed by law
at two cents per half ounce or fraction thereof.
In Offices where the carrier system has not
been established the rate is only half as large.
It will be remembered that III 1868, when free
delivery Was first established by law, the uni
form single rate of postage upon local letters
was one cent, and 80 it remained until 1872,
when, in those cities where the carrier service
was established, it was increased to defray the
expense Of such service. It seems to me that
stored, and that, too, even At the risk of dimin-
ishing, for time, at least, the receipts from
postage upon local lettere. l can see no rea-
son why that particular class of mail matter
should be held accountable for the entire cost
of not only it's own collection and delivery, but
the collection and delivery of all other classes,
and I am confident after full consideration of
the subject that the reduction of the rate
would be followed by such y growing accession
of business a. to occasion but slight and tenn
porary loss to the revenue of the postoffice.
The postmaster general devotes much OF his
report to the consideration in it's various as
poets of the relations OF the government to the
telegraph. such reflections as have been able
to give to the subject since my last annual
message has not led me 10 change the view
which then expressed in dissenting from the
recommendation of the postmaster general
that the government assume the same control
over the telegraph which it has always occu-
pied over the mail. Admitting that it's author
ity IN the premises is as ample .as
has ever been claimed for it, it would
1 s go gasi p.eb b. xisS s tse
control OF existing telegraph lines Or: to con-
strnct Others, with view Of entering into gen.
eral competition with private enterprise. The
objections which may be justly urged against
this project, aud, indeed, against any system
which would require IN enormous increase in
the civil service list, do not, however; apply to
some of the plans which have lately provoked
claimed, for example, that congress might
wisely authorize the postmaster generalto con-
tract with some private person Of corporation
for the transmission :; OF messages = ct
specified rates and under government
supervision. Various. %. schemes of the
same general nature, but widely differing in
their special characteristics, have been sug-
gested in the public prints and the arguments
by which they have been supported and. op-
posed have doubtless attrscted your attention.
It is likely that the whole subject will be con-
sidered BY you at the present session.. =. III the
nature Of things it involves SO MANY questions
Of detail that yonr Manifestations would prob
ably beaided slightly, il q gu BY any particiii:
avow ny belisf, however, tRat the government
should 30 aathorized BY law to, exercise court
supervision over; interstate telegraph COM
munication and I express the hope that for A.
tsiniDgb that end Some measure be devised
which will receive your appreciation. -. ''''
90 80 Tho Depart na5ent Of Justice. ri =. w
The attorney general c;riticises in bis report
the provision of the existing law :, FIX
ing The Tees, Of jurors md 4: Witnesses, in
the federal eourte These provisions ne chiefly
contained in the act 81 February &c, 1853.
though some Of them we're introduced into the
act from statutes which had been passed
many years previous; It IL manifest, that such
compeneations o. might when thessz laws were
enacted have beepjus ;snd reasonable: would in
many instances be tustly regarded At the present
dayas mAdequates concur with the attorney
esi,etAIitl the belief that tue statute6 should be
revised by which these fees areregulated; 90 too
should be- the iswS regulating the yompensa-
ton Of .di6tt let sttoRfieys end IAishals. They
should paid Wholly 81 saiaty instead $ part
prove to be ! measure Of economy aid would
discourage the institution Of needless and op.
pFessiye, legal ploceedip 60 which it; 10 to be
feared have in Some. in1tlRees hlen conducted
for the meHe sake Of personal gain. n s,;El::,
.-tu.a ssr rho tInteFioF nepartment.tfs E;it,s Ii
Much interest aad varied informationis;oon.
tAinsd in tharapoet ekstha 1ec1etaxy ~ thu IN.
togiotsSi1 patte1ASlt call your attsnton9td
ija B. sgfii ,J,1gsj aIaHI alItsiti atIa III. tiI