Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-05
SuusnSl xtO Gousisr.
December 5. 1888.

SuKErxI xDb GOuEisr.
 Wednesday, December 5, 1883. THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
 CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE,
 sEABoARD DEFENsEs.
 again call your attention to the present condition arse ces Tbose e and to the try would in time of war invite attack rem naodern works cou give no adequate pr ltecion Those l works built before the introduction of modern heavy rided guns maritime warfare, and if they are not put in effective condition we may easily be subject humiliaton by hostile power greatly inferior to ourselves As germane to this subject call your attention to the importance of perfecting out submarine torpedo defenses. The board author izad by the last Congress to report the method which should be adopted for the man fracture of hs works m n try and in Europe It is hoped tn tt its report VIII disposed provide suitable facilities plans for the manufacture of such guns as are now imperative ly needed.
 On several occasions during the past year cf6cers of the have at the request of the State author spection of the troops From the reports of these officers, induced to believe that the encourage al government would be followed by very gratifying results and would afford it, in sudden emergency, performance of military duties. NAVY,
 The Secretary of the Navy reports that, under the authority the acts of August 1SS2 and March 8, 1858, the work of strengthening by the con- srucon of modern vessels has boon auapiciously be- gun. Three cruisers in process of construction, the Chicago of 800 tons displacement and the Bos ton ana Atlanta each of 251O tons Iney are 70 pc prescribed by law, and in combination of speed, er- voraby with the best unarmored vessels Of other nations. fourth vessel the Dolphin ia to be con- structed of similar material and Is intended to serve SC dispatch The double-turrsted monitors Puritan, AmphtEite and Terror have been launched the Delaware river az & contract has been made for the supply of their machinery. similar mont- tor the Monadnock, has been launched in Caiforria The naval advisory board and the Secretary recom- mend the completion of the monitors, the construc tion Of four gunboats and also of three additional an important measure of material defense. The Sec retary also the immediate erection of an inte Florida, along the coast from Florida to Hampton river and through Cape Cod feel bound to impress upon the attention of Congress the necessity of con- The condition of the public treasury, as have sl- ready ntmated, makes the present suspicious time for puting this branch of the service in state f ecisnoy It is no part of our policy to create and l maintain navy able to cope with the other great conquest and the peace which have long enjoyed is in seeming danger of interruptions but that our naval strength should be made adequate for the de- fense of our harbors, the protection Of our commer cal interests and the maintenance of our national honor proposition from which patriotic citi- zen can withhold his assent.
 OTHER DEPARTMENTS. The report of the Postmaster General contains a
 
 this interesting branch of the public service commit ted to his It appears that June 30, 1ss3 the 1882 established during the previous fiscal year The number of ofess operating under the system of tsge on local matter amounted am to 2So 52 sum rsr service of the country. The rate of postage on drop letters passing through these offices is fixed by law at cents psr half fraction thereof. In offices where the carrier system has not tabished the rate is only half large It will be membered that in 1883 when free delivery was first established Q rate upon local letters cent, and so it continued 1872 when in those cities where carrier service established was increased in order to dofray the expense of such service It to that the old too even at the risk of dimtnish1 g, for time at Ieast the receipts from postage local letters can should be held accountable for the entire cost of not only its collection and delivery but the col lection and delivery Of all other classes, and am confident after full consideration of the subject that growing ssion of business occasion but
 slight and temporary loss to the revenue Of the post 1 ofhce
 The Postmaster General devotes much of his report to the consideration in the various aspects of the ations of the govern to the telegraph Such hectiCn have been able to give to the subject | since my last annual message has not led to change the view which there expressed, dissent ing from the recommendations of the then PostnAss ter General u a the eO7ernmert assume the con- over the mail Admitting that its authority in the premises is ampe as has ever been claimed for it, it would not in my judgment, be "a wise of that authority to purchase the control exist ing telegraph lines to construct others with view
  terprise The objections which may be justly urged against either these projects, and indeed against crease in the civil service list do net however apply to of the plans which have lately provoked pub lie comment and discussion. Ie has claimed example, that Congress might wisely authorize the Postmaster General to contract with some private person corporation for the transmission of nles- sages at specific rates and under government super nature, but widely differing in their special charao teristcs have been suggested in the public prints and the arguments by which they have been support | doubtless at ion. It is likely that the whole subject will be sidered by you the present session the nature things involves many questions of detail that your deliberations would probably be only aided slightly if at all by any particular suggesons which | l might now submit I my belief, however, that the government should be authorized by law to exercise of supervision interstate egrsph communication, and express the hope that for attaining that end som1 may be devised
 The Attorney General cfiticises in his report the provisions of existing law, fixing the fees of jurors and witnesses in the federal courts These provis- ions chiefly contained in the act of February a. 1s5', though of them introduced into that act from statutes which had been passed msny previous. It is manifest that such compensat and reasonable would, in many instances be justly regarded at the present day as inadequate. concur with the Attorney General iu the belief the stat should be revised by VI ich these fees regu- lated So, too, should the laws which regulate the They should be paid wholly by salar es instead part by fees, as is the The change would courage the institution of needless and oppressive legal proceedings which, it is to be feared, have l personal gain.
 Much interesting and varied information is con taned in the report of the Secretary the
 particularly call attention to presentation of certain phases of the Indian question: to his rec concentrations for the repeal of the pre emption and timber culture acts and for stringent legislation to prevent frauds under the pension lawE The 1 utes which prescribe the definitions and pupish-
 ents of crimes relating to osions could doubtless l be made more effective by certain amendments and | additions which pointed out in the report. have previously referred to the a'arning state of iteracy certain portions of the country and again submit for the consideration of Congress whether some federal aid should be extended to pu-- | lie primary education wherever adequate provision | therefor has not already been made.
 PoLYGAMY.
 1 The Utah commission has submitted to the Secre- | tary of the Interior its second ual report Asa in that territory pursuant to the of March 22, S2 appears that the persons by disqualified to the number of about 12 900 excluded from polls. This fact howeVe-. affords little con- real and substantial progress toward extirpa tion of poygamy All of the members of the leRisla- ture are Mormons There is grave reason to believe 1 that they are in sympathy with the practices that this government Is seeking to suppress and that it's effort in that regard will be likely encounter their opposition than receive their encourag rnent Apd support. Even if this view should happily roneous, the law under which the connrniss! opers the incorporation of such stringent 1 they recommend, were included in bill Mo- 22as the calendar of the Senate .ts session am | convinced, however, that polyaamy has become o strongly intrenched in the territory of Utah that proess to attack it with any but the stoutest weap ems which constitutional legislation faehfon. favor therefore the repeal Of the upon which the existing government depends, the assumption ths rational legislature of the entire political control the territory, and the establishment of commission with such powers and duties shall be delegated to