The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-12-07

lection Those works were built before the
introduction Of modern heavy ritied guns
into maritime warfare, and II they are not
put in an efficient condition we may easily
bc subjected to humiliation By hostile
power greatly inferior to ourselves.
TORPEDO DEFENsES.
AS germane to this subject call your at
ientiOn TO the Importance of pcrfecting our
,ubmarine torpedo defenses. The board
authorized by the last Congress to report on
the method which should be adapted for the
manufacture of heavy ordnance adopted to
modern warfare has visited the principal
iron and steel works i'm this country and in
Europe. 1t Is hoped that its report will be so
made and that Congress will therefore be dis
posed to provide suitable facilities and
places for the manufacture of such guns as
are now imperatively needed.
THE ARMY.
On several occasions during the past year
officers of the army have, at the request of
TIE State authorities, visited their military
rilcampments for the inspection of the
troops. From the reports of these officers,
am induced to believe that the encourage
nent of the State militia organization by the
national government would be followed by
very gratifying results and would afford, in
sudden emergencies, the aid of a large body
Of volunteers educated in the performance
Of military duties.
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The Secretary of the Navy reports that,
under the authority of the acts of Aug. ),
1882. and March 3, 1889, the work of strength
cnng our navy by the construction of mod
ern vessels has been auspiciOusiy begun.
Three cruisers are in progress Of cOnstruc-
tiOn--the Chicago, Of 4 800 tons displacement,
and the Boston and Atlanta, each OF 200
tons. They are to be built of steel, with the
tensile strength and dlctility prescribed by
law, and. i'm combination OF speed, endur-
ance and armament are expected to COM
pare farOrably with the best unarinOred war
vessels of other nations. A fourth vessel,
the Dolphin, is to he constructed of similar
material, and is intended to serve as a feet
dispatch boat. The double turreted mont
tors. Puritan. Amplerite and Terror, have
been launched on the Delaware river, and
contract has been made for the supply OF
their machinery. A similar monitor, tia
MOnadnOck, has been launched in CalifOf
Secretary recommend the completion of the
monitors, the construction of four gunbOatS,
and also of three additional steel vessels,
like the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin, as an
Important measure OF material defense.
INTERNAL WATERWAYS.
The Secretary urges, also the immediate
creation of an internal fast line of water
ways: across the peninsular OF Florida,
along the coast from Florida to Hampton
Roads. between the Chesapeake bay and
Delaware river. and through Cape Col.
feel bound to impress upon the attention
of Congress the npceSSit of continued SrO-
gresS in the reconstruction of the Navy.
The condition of the public treasury, as l
have already intimated. makes the present
an auspicions time for putting this branch
OF the service i'm q state of efficiency. 1t Is
no part of our policy To create and maintain
"A al Ia. tn f.nn NAT nf fh.l MI a
great powers of the world. We have no
wish for foreign conquest. and the peace
which we have long enjoyed is in no SEEM
ing danger of interruption. But that our
fence of our harbOrS, the protection 81 our
commercial interests and the maintenance
of our national honor. is a proposition from
which M patriotic citizen can withheld his
assent.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The report of the Postmaster General
contains gratifying exhibit of the cOndi.
tiOn and prospects of the interesting branch
of the public service entrusted to his care.
Ii appears that on June 80. 1889, the Whole
number of postOi1ices was 4i,sri. of which
1852 were established during the previous
fiscal year. The number of offices opera
ting under the system of free delivery was
LII. AT these latter offices the postage OH
local matter amounted to -, 195, 2230.5 a
sum exceeding by Sl,02l. S9i.0l the entire
cost Of the carrier service to the country.
The rate of postage on drop letters is now
fixed by law at two cents per half ounce OF
fraction thereof. In offices where the car
rier system has not been established the
rate is one half as large. 1t will be remem-
bered that in 1868, when free delivery was
first established by law, the uniform single
rate postage upon local letters was one cent,
and SO il remained until 1872, when in those
cities where carrier service was established
al tn nj
such service. 1t seems to me that the old
rate may now with prOpriety be restored,
and that, too, even at the risk OF diminish
ing. for time at least, the receipts from
postage upon local letters: l can see no
reason why that particular class OF mail
matter should be held accountable for the
entire cost of not only its own collection
and delivery, but the collection and deliv-
cry OF all other classes, and am confident,
after full consideration of the subject, that
by such a growing accession of business as
to occasion but slight and temporary loss to
the revenues of the pOstOfiice.
POSTAL TELEaRAPHY.
The Postmaster General devOteS much Of
his report to the consideration, in its vari-
Gus aspects, of the relations OF the Govern
ment to the telegraph. Such reflections as
have been able to give to this subject since
my last annual message has not led me to
change the view which there expressed in
dissenting from the recommendation of the
Postmaster General, that the government
assume the same control over the telegraph
that il has always exercised over the mail.
Admitting that its authority in the premises
is As ample as has ever been claimed for it,
1t would not, in my Judgment, be wise use
OF that authority to purchase or assume the
control of existing telegraph lines, or to
construct others with view of entering in
to general competition with private enter
m "a
urged against either of these projects, and,
indeed, against any system which would re-
quire an enormous increase in the civil ser
vice list, do not, however apply to some of
lie comment and discussion. 1t has been
claimed for example, that Congress might
wisely authorize the Postmaster General to
contract with some private person or cOrpO-
ration for the Transmission of messages at
specified rates and under government super
vision. Various such schemes of the same
general nature, but widely differing in their
special characteristics, have been suggested
in the public prints, and the arguments by
which they have been supported and OPP
ton. 1t is likely that the whole subject will
be considered by you at this session. In the
nature of things. il involves SO many qlieS-
tons of detail that your deliberations would
probably be aided slightly, if at AL, by any par
licular suggestions which might now sub
government should be authorized by law to
exercise some sort of supervision over inter-
State telegraph communication, and | ex-
press the hope that for attaining that end
some measure may he devised which will
receive Your appreciation.
JURORS AND WITNESSES IN FEDERAL
COURTS.
The Attorney General criticises. i'm his re-
port. the provisions of the existing law fix
ng the fees of jurors and witnesses in the
Federal courts. The provisions are chiefly
contained in the act of Feb. ri, 1853 though
some of them were introduced into that sec
ion from statutes that had been passed
many years previous. 1t is manifest that
such compensation as might, when these
avs were enacted, have been just and rea-
'Onable. would i'm many instances be justly
regarded at the present day as inadequate.
concur with the Attorney General in the
belief that the statutes should be revised by
which these fees are regulated. So, too,
should the laws which regulate the COM
Densati0n of District Attorneys and Mar
'hals. They should be paid wholly by sala-
.aSe. The change would prove to be
measure of economy, and would discourage
lie institution of needless and oppressive
egal proceedings. which. ii is to be feared,
nave, in some instances, been conducted for
he mere sake Of personal gain.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
Much interesting and varied Information
5 contained in the report of tie secretary
ion to his presentation of certain phases
If the Indian question; to his recOmmen-
iatiOns for the repeal Of the presumption
md timber culture acts and for more