The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-12-06

fug The punishment al criminals, except
such rs are offered against certain Gus
ssIIiIs 9i commerce sVad navigation acts l
THE BEcoURCEs CT ALASKA,
III tur, mines aud lamOer, are
III exteoL aud capable OF /
I.fge DEVELOPMENT, while in Its geo
situa,lon, pfs.iLicaI and COM
mercial Importance. thS 1romptiDgs of
our interests, ms we'll H. the considerations
nj honor anu gRsd i4Ita demand the i'm
mediate establishment ui 4 civil govern
ment in that Ierriturp
Complaints have lately been numer.
Gus that certain
CORPORATIONS
IN " hole ar in part, the IA
cilities OF HE inter state carriage of per-
sons and merchandise over the great
railroads nt the county, have resnrsed,
In their dealings with the
public 10 divers measures,
unjust and oppressive in their charac-
ter. In some instances the state govern
ments have attacked and suppressed
these evils, but IN others they have been
unable TO afford adequate relief because
of the Jurisdiction limitation which are
imposed upon them by the federal con-
stitutlons. The question how far the
national government may lawfully inter-
fere in the premises and what, If
any. supervision Or control IL ought
To exercise, is One which merits your
careful consideration. While we cannot
fail TO recognize the importance of the
vast railroad systems of the country and
their great and beneficial influences up
on the development of our material
wealth, we should, on the other hand.
remember that no individual and no
corporation ought to be invested with
oh fIaf.i int NJ
other citizen or class of citizens. The
right of these railroad corporations to
an award and a profitable return upon
their Investment and to be shown
reasonable freedom in
their regulations must be
recognized, hut il seems only Just
that so far as its constitutional authority
will permit. congress should protect the
people at large in their inter tate traf-
fic against the acts of injustice which
the state governments are p?werless to
prevent.
THE INDIANS.
From the report of the secretary Oi
war it will DC seen that only in a single
case has there been any disturbance OF the
quiet condition of our Indian tribes,
laid from Mexico into Arizona by
small party of Indians which were pur-
sued by General Crook into the noun
tain region from which they had come.
1t is confident supposed that seri-
GUS out break will not occur again and
that The Indians which have Sd many
years terrified the west Will hereafter re-
main ia peace.
OUR DEFENCEs.
Iagain call your attention to the present
the condition of our extended sea coast
upon which 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 adequate protection. Those works
were built before the intro
duction OF modern heavy rif1ed
guns into maritime warfare
and they are not put ia efficient condi-
ton. We may easily be subjected TO
humiliation by hostile powers greatly
inferior to ourselves. AS german to
this subject | call your attention to the
Importance OF perfecting our submarine
torpedoes The board authorized by
the last congress to report on the method
which should he adopted tor the manu-
iacture of heavy ordnance 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 dis
posed to provide suitable facilities and
plans for the manufacture of such guns
as are now imperatively needed. On
several occasions during the past year
officers of the army have, at the request
of state authorities, united their military
encampments for the inspection OF the
troops. From the REPORTS OF these Off
hok hn
encouragement of the state militia or
ganiZation by the national government
would be- followed by very gratifying re-
suits and would afford it in sudden
emergencies the aid of large body of
volunteers educated in the performance
of military duties. The secretary of the
navy reports that under the
authority OF the acts August 9th, 1882,
and March 3rd, 1888, the work of
strengthening our navy by the construc-
ton OF modern vessels has been auspic-
iously begun. Three cruisers are in
process of construction-theC Chicago, OF
4. 500 tons displacement, and the Boston
and Atlantis, each of g, 800 tons. They are to
be built of steel with the tensile strength
and ductility prescribed by law and in
combination of speed, endurance and
armament are expected To compare fav-
CEdUlH Win IAo Dcob ALIAoICu Wot VCo-
sells of the nations. A fourth
vessel, the Dolphin, is To be
constructed of similar material and
to intend 10 serve as fleet dispatch
boat. The double turreted monitors,
Puritan, AmphItheRtre and Terror have
launched on the Delaware river and q
contract has been made for the supply
of their machinery. A similar monitor,
the Monadnock, has been launched in
California. The naval advisory board
and the secretary recommend the CON-
pletion of the monitors. The construction
of four gun boats and three additional
steel vessels like the Chicago, Boston and
Dolphin, is an important measure. The
secretary urges also the immediate cree
ton of an interior coast line of water
ways across the peninsula of Florida,
| along the coast from Florida to Hamp-
ton Roads. between the Chesapeake Bay
| and the Delaware river, and through
to Cape Cod. / feel bound
to impress upon the attention of CON
gress the necessity of continued pro-
gress IN the reconstruction OF the navy.
The condition of the public treasury, as
have already animated, makes the
present an suspicious one for putting
| this branch Of service in a state OF effic-
:encY. 1t is no part of our policy to Gre
ate and maintain a navy able to
cope with that OF other
great powers of the world.
| We have no wish for foreign conquest
| and the peace which we have long enjoy
| ed is not in seeming danger OF Interrupt
| tons. but that our naval strength should
be made adequate for the defense of our
| harbOrs, the protection of our CONNER
cial interests and the maintenance of
our national honor, is a proposition
from which no patriotic citizen can
withhold his assent.
From the exhibit of the condition and
| prospects of
THE POSTAL. sRRVIcR
It appears that on June 3Oths 1883. the
| whole number Of pOstOttices was ~, Sti3l
of which ], 632 were established during
the previous fiscal year. The number
of offices operating under the system OF
free delivery was l54. At these latter
offices the postage on local matter
amounted to 81, 195, 900. IL, g sum exceed
ing by $1,021 .S94.O1 the entire cost oil
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 OF fraction
thereof. In offices where the carrier sys
tenn has not been established, the rate If
One-half as large. 1t will he remember
ed that, in 1868, when free delivery was
first established by law. the uniform
single rate of postage upon local letters
WAS cent and so it remained until 1872
when in those cities where the carrier
service was established II WAS in order
to defraY the expense of such service
Il seems To me that the old rate may
now, with proprlety, be restored, and
that, too, even at the risk of Eliminating
for a time at least, the receipts
from postage upon local let
tiers. can see no reason why
that particular class OF mail mattel
| should be held accountable for the In
tire cost of not only ITS own delivery
but the collection and delivery and al
other classes, and am confident, attel
full consideration of the subject. thai
the reduction of the rate would be fol
lowed by such growing accession O.
business as To occasion but slight anC
r -.