The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-12-13
WAR AND THE NAVY.

THE INDIANS MOSTLY QUIET.
From the report Of the secretary OF war j
will be seen that in only single instance ha
there been any disturbance of the quiet condi,
ton Of our Indian tribes. raid was made
from Mexico into Arizona by small party OF
Indians, which was pursued by Con- Croo!
into the mountainous regions from which i
had come. It is confidently hoped that seriou:
outbreaks will not again occur, and that thu
Indian tribes which have for many years die
turbed the West will hereafter remain ir
peaceable submission
STATE MILITIA ENCOURAGED
On several occasions during the past yea,
officers Of the army have, at the request Of
State authorities, visited these military en-.
campments for inspection Of troops From
the reports OF those officers I am induced t.
believe that the encouragement Of the State
militia organization by the National govern
ment would be followed by very gratifying re-
suits and would afford it, in sudden emcr-
gencles, the aid of large body OF volunteers
ties.
AN EXPOSED sEACOAsT.
again call your attention to the presen
condition of our extended seacoast upon which
are 90 many large cities whose wealth and i'm
R port e. TO- the n,:+ country would, il
ern armored ships, against which ou1
existing defensive works could give no ale
quate protection. Those works were built be-
fore the introduction Of modern heavy rifle
guns into martins warfare; aud if they are
not put in an efficient condition, we may easil,
be subjected to humiliation by hostile powell
greatly inferior to ourselves. AZ germane Il
this subject l call your attention to the i'm
portance Of pert citing our submarine torp e
defenses
The board authorized BY the last con
gress to report on tho methods for tn.
manufacture of heavy ordnance anI
adapted to modern warfare, has Wis
in this country aud in Europe. 1t is hoped thu
it's report will be soon made, and that congress
will thereupon be disposed to provide suitable
facilities and plans for the manufacture OF
such guns as are now impcratively needed.
The secretary Of tho navy reports that, under
the authority OF the acts Of Aug. 5. 1882, anl
March 3, 1883, the work Of strengthening oul
navy by the construction Of modern vessels has
boon aUspiciously begun. Three cruisers ar
in progress of construction-the Chicago. OF
i: 500 tons displacement, and the Boston and
Atlantic, each Of $500 tons. They are to be
built of steel, with the tensile strength anG
ductiity prescribed by law, and in combination
pected to compare Favorable with the best un-
armed war vessels OF other nations
be constructed Of similar materials,
is intended to servo as a fleet dispatch boat
The double-turretcd monitors Puritan, Amphi.
trite and Terror have been launched on the
Delaware river, and contract has been made
for the supply of their machinery A similar
vessel, the Monadnock, has been launched in
California The naval advisory board and the
secretary recommend the completion of the
monitors, the construction of four guuboats
Boston and Dolphin, as an important measure
of material defense.
INTERIOR WATERWAYS.
The secretary urges the immediate creation
OF an interior fast limo OF water ways
across the peninsuls of Florida, along the coas,
Chesapeake bay and Delaware river, and
through Cape Cod feel bound to impress
upon the attention Of congress the necessity OF
continued progress IN the construction OF the
navy. The condition Of the public treasury,
as have already intimatsd, makes the pres
of the service IN state OF efficiency 1t is nc
part of our policy to create aud maintain a
navy able to cope with that of the
other great powers of the world
We have no wish for foreign conquest, and the
peace which we have SO long enjoyed is in nc
seeming danger Of interruption; yet on. naval
strength should be made adequate for the de
Tense of our harbors. the protection Of our
commercial interests, and tho maintenance OF
our national hOnor-a proposition from which
no patriotic citizen can withhold his assent
POSTOFFICE AFFAIRS
A PROMISING STATE OF FINANCES.
The report Of the postmaster general con-
tains gratifying exhibit of the condition and
prospects of this interesting branch of the
public service committed to his care. 1t ap.
pears that on June 80, 1888, the whole mum:
Der of postof1ices was ~, 1868, Of which 632
were established during the previous fiscal
year. The number Of offices operating under
the system of free delivery was 154. At these
latter offices tho postage on local matter
amounted to 81, 1915, $50. 50, sum exceeding
by $1,O2l: S9i.O1 the entire cost Of the
carriers service in the country. The
through these offices is now fixed by lay al
two cents per half ounce or fraction thereof
In offices where the carrier system has moi
been abolished the rate is only half as large
1t will be remembered that in 1868, wher
free delivery was first established by law, The
uniform single rate of postage upon local let
tiers was one cent, and so it remained until
1872. when in those cities where carrier serv-
ice was established it was increased to defray
the expense of such service. 1t seems to
me that the old rate may now with pro
priety be restored, and that, too, ever
at risk of diminishing for a time, at least, re.
ceipts from postage upon local letters. can
SEQ no reason why that particular class of mail
matter should be held accountable for the en-
tire cost of not only Its own collection and de-
livery but the collection and delivery of al
other classes, and I am confident, after full
consideration of the subject, that the re-
duction Of the rate would be followed by such
a growing volume Of business as to occasion
but slight aud temporary loss to tho revenue
Of the postofice.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH NOT DESIRED.
The postmaster general devotes much Of
his report to the consideration in It's various
aspects of the relation of tho government to
able to give the subject since my last annual
message has not led me to change the view
which then expressed, in dissenting from the
recommendation Of the postmaster general.
that the government assume the same cOntro
over the telegraph which it has always ex-
thority in the premises be as ample as has eve
been claimed for it, it would MOI, il
my judgment, be wise US.
of that authority to purchase or assume tht
control of existing telegraph lines, or to con
struct others with a view Of entering into gen
eral competltion with private enterprise Thu
objections which may be justly urged agains
either of these projects and. indeed, agains
any system which would require an enormous
increase in the civil service, do not. however
apply to some of the plans which have late],
provoked public comment and discussion.
mas Deen CANNED, LOT example, tDaG congress
might wisely authorize the postmaster genera
to contract with some private pereon o.
corporation for the tran smission of messages
at specified rates and under government
supervision. Various such schemes, of the
same general nature but widely differing in
their special characteristics, have been eug
gested in the public prints, and tho arsument'
by which they have been supported and op
posed have doubtless a;tracted:your attention
1t is likely that the whole subject will be con
sidered by you at the present session. In tn
nature of things it involves 60 many question:
of detail that your deliberations would prob
ably be aided slightly, if at all, by any par
ticular suggestions which might now submit
avow my belief, however, that the govern
ment should be authorized by law to exercis
court supervision. over interstate TELEGRAPH
communication, and express tho hope tia
for attaining that end some measure be devise
which will receive your appreciation.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
REGULATION OF FEES.
The attorney general criticizes in hs repol
the provisions of the existing law fixing til