Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-07

tnf tuc VI llC llpul
tors, the construction of four gunhoats, ant
J also Of three additional steel vessels like III,
Chicago. Boston, AMI Dolphin. AS an i'm
portant measure Of national defense, thu
secretary urges also the immediate creation
OF an interior coast line Of water ways across
the peninsula Of Florida, along the coast
from Florida 10 Hampton Roads, between
the Chesapeake bay and the Delaware river,
and through Cope Cod.
feel bound 10 impress upon the attention
OF Congress the necessity of continued pro
grtss in the reconstruction of the navy. Tho
condition OF the.public treasury, as have al
ready intima'ed, makes the present an aus
picious 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 tina,
OF the other great powers of the world.
We have no wish for foreign conquest and
the peace which we have enjoyed is in nc
see ming danger OF interruption.
But that our naval strength should be
made adequate for the defence of our har.
bors. the protection of our commercial in
terests and the maintenance of our national
honor, Is a proposition from which no patri-
otto citizen can withhold his assent.
Tho PesioHicc Department.
The report of tile postmaster general con.
tains gratifying cxhihit Of the condition and
prospects of the Interesting branch of the
public service committed to his care.
| 1t appears that on June 80, 1888, the
whole number OF bostoffices was 47,8G3, Of
which 1882 were established during the pre-
vious fiscal year. The number of Offices
operating under the system of free de-
livery was 154. AT these latter Offices the
postage on local matter amounted 81 1885,
230.52, sum exceeding by 81 ,02l, s04. OF
the entire cost Of the carrier service of 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 iu 1868, when
| free delivery was first established by law,
the uniform single rate postage upon local
letters was | cent, and 50 it remained until
| 1872, when in those cities where carrier SER
vice was established ii was increased In
order to defray the expense of such ser
| vice.
1t seems to me that the old rate may 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.
l can see no reason why that particular
clsss of mail matter should be held accounts
| bic for the entire cost of not only Its own
| collection and delivery, but the collection
aud delivery Of nil other classes, and / am
confident, after full consideration OF the SUBJ
ject, that the reduction of rate would be fol-
lowed by such growing accession of bust
ness as to occasion but slight and temporary
loss to the revenu,s of the postoifice.
The postmaster general devotes much Of
his report to the consideration in its various
aspects of the relations of the government to
the telegraph. Such reflection as | have
been able to give to this subject since my
last annual message has not led me TO change
the views which there expressed in dissent
| ing from the recommendation of the post
master general that the government assume
the same control over the telegraph
which it has always exercised over the
mail.
Admitting that its authority in the prem
Uses is as ample as has ever been claimed
for it, it would not in my judgment. be a
wise use of that authority to purchase or as
sumo the control Of existing telegraph lines,
or to construct others with view OF en-.
tering into general competition with private
enterprises.
| The objections which may be justly urged
against either Of those projects, and indeed
against any system which would require an
enormous increase la the civil service list,
do not, however, apply TO some OF the plans
which have lately provoked public comment
and discussion. 1t has been claimed, for ex.
ample, that Congress might wisely authorize
the postmaster general to contract with some
private persons or corporations for the trans.
mission OF messages, or OF certain class OIL
messages at specified rates and under govern
ment supervision. Various such schemes Of
the same general nature, but widely differ
ing in their special characteristics, have beef
suggested in the public prints, and the argu
ments by which they have been supported
and opposed have doubtless attracted YOU
attention.
1t is likely that the whole subject will bl
considered by you at the present session.
In the nature of things it involves 50 many
questions Of Getail that your deliberations
would probably be aided slightly, II at all
by any particular suggestions which nigh
now submit.
Iavow my belief, however, that the gov
prnment should be authorized by law 10 OK
excise some sort of supervision over inter
state Geographic communication, and l ex
press the hope that for attaining that cn'
some measure may be devised which will re
ceive your appreciation.
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