Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-07

suits and woull niOrd IL ln sudden cmcrHcn.
cles the ali OF large body OF volunteers edu'
Gated In the performance ~ mlutiry dutie1
sTUEN iTHESGNn riiE NAVY.
dor ng tb scG1s nhe,y Of "p IN S" ws IF' Of August
1880. aud March .. 1871 the work OF strength
onlng our navy by the construction OF modern
vessels has brc ausp'olOusly hc run. Three
cruisers are IN proccis OF construction tho
Chcnrn, Of 4 90 tons displacement an tho
Boston aud Nlnnto, cnch of 81 20 tons. They
nrc to bc built OF s.celw with the tensile strength
and duutillty Ir1scribcl | hy law. und In cumht-
nation of spcld cnlurancc and nrmamcnt arc
expected to compare tnvnrably with the best
unarmcd war vessels of other pntions. A
fourth vosscl the Dolphin. is to bd cons rict-
cd of simnr material aud Is intended to serve
a. n fleet GislNt h bOnt.
Tho double turrctcd monitors Puritan,
Amphtritc and Terror have boon aunchel
on the Delaware River and contraot has
been made for the supply OF their machinery
similar monitor, tho Mouadnoclt, has boon
launched In California. The Naval Advisory
Board and the Secretary recommend the com.
plcton 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 de-
fenso tho Secretary urges also the Immediate
creation Of nn interior coast line. of water
tho coast from Florida to Hampton ronds be-
tween tho Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware
river, and through Cape Cod
A BETTER NAVY NEEDED.
rcel bound to impress upon tho attention
of Congress the necessity OF continuing pro-
gress In the reconssrnclion OF the navy The
ready intlmatod, makes the present an aus
plclous time for putting this branch of the
service sS. IN a stale OF 9eienSy rs @ no PHI pnrh,
that of tue other great powers of the world.
wo have no wish for foreign conquest and
the peace which we have long enjoyed IL In no
seeming danger OF interruption, but that our
naval strength should be made adequate for
the donfcnsc of our harbors; tho projection of
al lttNta I'M,
of our national honor Is n proposition from
which nopatriotic citizen can withhold his as
sent.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The report of the Postmaster General con-
tains gratifying exhibit of tho condition
and prospects of the interesting branch of the
public service committed to his caro-. 1t ap'
pears that on June 30. lsS3, the whole number
OF post-o[lces wus a $50; of which l,GS2 were
established during the previous flscnl ycnr,,
Tho number of Offices operating under the
lattor offices tho postage on local mattor
amounted to Sil9,6 ,0ss, a sum exceeding by
slOj,lS9,4el tho entire cost of the carriers
on drop lotters passing through these Offices
is now fixed BY law ut two cents per half ounce
' ONE CENT POSTAGE.
In offices where the carrier system has not
been established the rate is only half us large.
II VIII be remembered that IN lSC3. when free
delivery was first established by law, the uni
was one cent and so il remained until 1872,
when In those cities wheTr carrier service was
established 1t was increased in order TO defray
the expense of such service.
1t seems to mo the old rntc may now with
propriciy be reslorod; and that TOO even at the
risk OF Diminishing for tirno Mt loast the re-
oeipts from postage upon local lettors, can
500 no reason why that particular cnss OF
mall matter should be held accountable
for the ontirc cost OF not only Its own colleo-
tion and delivery but tho collection and de-
livery OF nll other classes, and am confident
after full consideration of the subject that q
reduction of the rate would be followed by
such u growing accession OF business as to oc-,
casion but slight and temporary loss TO the
revenue of the postotice.
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPHs.
The Postmaster General devotcs much of his
report to the consi6eration, in its various
to the telegraph. As snch reflection as bare
beOn able to give to this subject since my last
annual message has not lei me to change the
view which there expressed in dissenting
| from the recommendation of the Postmaster
General, that the Government assume some
| control oyer the telegraph which II has always
| exercised over the mail, admitting that its
| authority In the premises Ia as ample as has
| ever beon claimed for it, it would not in my
purchase or assume the control of existing
| telegraph lines or to construct others With
view of entering into general competition
| with private enterprises.
| PLANS PROPOSED.
| The objections Which may be justly urged
| against eithor of thesc projects, and indeed
1
| enormous Increase in the civil service listod
do not. however. apply to some OF the plans
which have lately provoked public comment
and discussion. 1t has been claimed for eY-
ample, that Congress might wisely authorize
the Postmaster General to contract with some
| private persons or corporation for the trans
| mission OF messages at'speclfed rates and un-
| der Government supervision. various such
| schemes Of some 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 opposed have doubtless attracted your
| attention.
1t is likely that the whole subject will be
| considered by you at the present session. In
the nature OF things it involves so many ques.
lions Of detail @ TINT y0gr deberations would
particular suggestions which might now
submit. l avow my belief, however, that the
government should be authorized by law to
State teegrnphic communication and ex-
press the hope that for attaining that end
| some measure may be devised which VIII re-
| ceire your appreciation.
! DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The Attorney General criticSes lu his report
| the provisions OF the existing law liking the
fees of Jurors and witnesses in the Federal
courts. These provisions are chiefly contained
IN the act of February ~, 1858, though some of
| statutes which had been passed many years
previous: 1t is manifest such compensation
| might, when these laws were enacted, have
been Just and reasonably would In many in.
stances be justly regarded at the present day
Us 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 compen,
sation Of district attorneys and marshals
They should be paid wholly by salaries instead
OF in part by fees, us Is now the case. The
change would prove to be Il measure of econ
omy and would discourage the institution OF
needless and oppressive legal proceedings
which IL Is to be feared have in some instances
been conducted for the mere sake of personal
gain.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Much interesting and varied information Is
contained in the report of the Secretary OF
the Interior particularly call your atten
tlon to his presentation of certain phases OF
the Indian questions, to his Recommendation
for the repeal of the presumption and timber
| cultivation acts and for more stringent leg
islation to prevent frauds under the pension
laws.
PENSION FRAUDS.
The statutes which prescribe the definitions
and punishment Of crimes relating to pen
sions could doubtless be made more effective
by certain amounts and additions which ART
pointed out In the Secrctary's report.
ILLITERACY.
state of lliiteracy in certain portions of th,s
country and again submit for the considera
tion of Congress whether some Federal uit
should be extended to public primary educa
tion wherever adequate provision therefor,
has not already been made.
THE PoLydAMY PROBLEM.
The Utah Commission has lbmitted to thu
Secretary of the Interior ls second annul.
report. AS result OF Its labors in supervis
ing tho recent election in that Territory pur
|, sunnt to the act of March ", 1892, 1t appear
that the persous by that act disqualified, To th
number of about 300 were excluded from
the polls This fact, however. affords littl,
cause for congrntulation, and fear that 1t Il
far from indicating any real and sub
stantial progress toward the exurpatioI
of polygamy. All Of the members o.
the Legislature are Mormons. There is gray
reason to believe that they are In sympath!
, with the practice that this Government 4
seeking 10 suppress. and that its efforts In tha
, regard viii be more likely to encounter op