The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-12-11

ury mas ADVISED CONSOLIDATION OF certain
Of the custom districts OF the country. AMI
suggests that the president be vested with
such power in relation thereto as is now
given him In respect to collections of in
ternal revenue by section 3l4l of
the revised statutes. The statistics
en- this subject which are contained in his
report, furnish Of themselves a strong ar
gnment in defense of his views. At the adj
Journment Of congress the number of inter-
nal revenue collection districts was 1875.
by executive orders of the date of June %,
1888, directed that certain of these dis.
tricts be consolidated. The result has been
a reduction of one third of their number.
which at present is but 49, From the re-
port Of the 5. cretary OF war it will be seen
that in only single instance has there
been any disturbance of the quiet eondi-
| ton of
OUR INDIAN TRIBES. RAID
from Mexico into Arizona by a small party
OF Indians, which was pursued by General
Crook into the mountain region from which
IL had come. II is confidently supposed
that a serious u:break will not occur
again, and that the Indians which have so
many years terrified the west will here
after remain ID peace.
l again call your attention to TIE
present
CONDITION OF OUR EXTENDED SEA COAST
upon which are so man, large cities, whose
wealth and importance TO the coun-
try would In time of war ID
wife attack from modern armored
ships, sg.ins. which our existing
defensive works could give no adequate
protection. Those works were built before
the introduction of modern heavy rifed
guns into the maratine warfare and if
they are not put into efficient condition We
may easily be subjected to humiliation by
hostile power greatly inferior to our
selves. As germaDe TO this subject, / call
your attention TO the Importance of per-
l. citing our submarine torpedOes The
board authorized by the last congress to re-
port on the method which should be
adopted for the manufacturer of heavy or
dinance, adapted TO modern warfare has
visited the principal iron and steel 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 im-
perstively needed.
THE MILITIA.
On several occasions during the past
year officers of the army have, at the re-
quest OF the state authorities, united
their military encampm ents for the
inspection of the troops. From the report.
of these officers | am induced to believe
that the encouragement of the state militia
organizations by the national government
would be followed by very gratifying re-
suits, and would afford it In a sudden
emergency the aid # large force Of VOL
unteers educated in the performance uf
military duties.
OUR NAVY.
The secretary of the navy reports that
under the authority of the acts of August
9Th. 1882, and March Sd, 1883, the work of
strengthening our navy by the construction
of modern vessels has been auspiciously
begun. Three cruisers are in pIO-
cess of construction, the Chicago,
of 4,5OO tons displacement, and the
Boston and Atlanta, each of $500
tons. They are to be built of steel with the
tensile strength and ductility prescribed by
law, and in combination of speed, endnr-
ance and armament are expected to COM
pare fayorably with the best armed war
vessels of other nations. A fourth vessel,
the Dolphin, is 10 be constructed of similar
material and is intended 10 serve as feet
dispatch boat; the double terrified monitors,
Puritan, Amphitrite and Terror have been
launched on the Delaware river and con-
tract has been made for the supply of their
machinery. A similar monitor, the Mopad.
mock, has been launched In California.
The naval advisory board and the secretary
recommend the completion of the mont
tors the construction of four gunboats and
three additional steel vessels like the Chi
cago, Boston and Dolphin, as an important
measure of defense. The secretary urges
also the immediate creation of
AN INTERIOR COAST LINE
of water ways across the Peninsula of Flor
ida, along the coast from Florida to Hamp-
ton roads, between the Chesapeake Bay and
Delaware river, and through Cape Cod.
feel bound TO impress upon the attention of
congress the necessity Of continued pro-
gress IN the construction of the
navy. The condition Of the public treasury
as i have already intimated makes the
present an suspicious occasion for putting
this branch Of service In a state Of eff
cheney. 1t is no part OF our policy to Gre
ate 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 danger of inter-
ruptlou. But that our naval
strength should be made adj
equate for the defense of our harbors,
the protection of our commercial interests,
and the maintenance of our national honor,
is proposition from which no patriotic
citizen can withhold his assent.
The report OF
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
contains gratifying exhibit of the con-
dition and prospects of this interesting
branch of the public services committed TO
his care. 1t appears that on June Both,
1888, the whole number of postofices vas
AZ 1868, of which l ,632 we're established
during the previous fiscal year. The num-
Der Of Offices operating under the system Of
Tree delivery was LA Al these latter