The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-06

lily armed gunbOats, one light cruising gun
boat, one dispatch vessel armed with Hotch-
kiss cannon, one armored ram and three tor.
pedO boats. The general designs, all OF
which are calculated to meet the existing
wants of the service, are now well advanced
and the construction of the vessels can be
undertaken as soon as you shall grant the
necessary authority.
THE JEANSETTE VICTIMS.
The act of Congress approved August Z,
1882, authorized the removal to the United
states of the bodies of Lieutenant Com
mander George w. DeLong and his COM
panions of the Jeanette expedition. This
removal has been successfully accom-
pished by Lieutenants Harder and Schuetze.
The remains were taken from their grave
in the Lena Delta in March, 1888, and were re-
tanned mt 1akutsk until the following winter,
the season being too far advanced TO admit
of their Immediate transportation. They ar
rived at New York February 90, 1884, where
they were received with situable honors.
THE GREEDY RELIEF EXPEDITION.
In pursuance of the joint resolution of
Congress, approved February Is, 1884, a naval
expedition was fitted out Tor the relief of
Lieutenant A. w. Greedy, United States Army,
and of the party who had been engaged un !.
der his command in scientific observations
at Lady Franklin Bay. The fleet consisted of
the steam sealer Thets, purchased in Eng
land the Bear, purchased at st. Johns, New
foundland, and the Alert, which was gener-
ously provided by the British Government.
Preparations for the expedition were
promptly made by the Secretary of the Navy,
with the active cooperation of the Secretary
of War. Commander George w. Coffin was
placed in command of the Alert, and Lieu
The Thetis was intrusted to Commander
Wenfield 5. Copley, to whom also was as
signed the superintendent of the entire
expedition. Immediately upon its ar
rival mt Upernavik the fleet began the
dangerous navigation of Melville Bay,
and, in spite of every Unstable, reached Lit
than any vessel had before attained that
point. On the same day 1t crossed over to
Cape Sabine, where Lieutenant Greedy and
the other survisors of his party were dscov-
cred. After taking on board the living and
the bodies of the dead, the relief ships sailed
for St. Johns, where they arrived on July
18th. They were appropriately received at
Portsmouth, n. III. Jon August 1st, and at New
York on August Sth. One OF the bodies was
landed at the former place, The Others were
put on shore at Governors Island, and,
with the exception OF one which was in
tered in the National Cemetery, were for
warded thence to the destination indicated
by friends. The organization and conduct
of this relief expedition reflects great credit
upon all who contributed to its success.
STRONG NAVY NEEDED.
In this, the last of the stated messages that
/ shall have the honor to transmit to the Con.
gress of the United states. L can not toe
strongly urge on its attention the duty of re.
storing our navy as rapidlyas possible to the
high state of efficiency which formerly char.
lulled us into "a sense of fancied security
may at any time be disturbed, ii is plain that
the policy of strengthening this arm of the
| service Is dictated by considerations of use
economy, of just regard for our future tran
guilty, and of a true appreciation of the dig
| nifty and honor of the Republic.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster General &C
quaintS you with the present condition
and the needs of the postal service. 1t dis
closes the gratifying fact that the loss o
revenue from reduction in rate of lettel
| postage as recommended in my message De
cember, 1882, and affected by the act o
March 3, 1888, has been much less than wa!
! generally anticipated. My recommendation
of this reduction was based upon the belle
| that the actual falling off in receipts from
| letter postage for the year Immediately sue
| ceeding the change OF rate would be 5000,
| 600. 1t has proved to be only $2,275,00 Thi
| is a trustworthy Indicator that the revenue
| will soon be restored to its former volume
| by the natural increase of esealed CORE
! SpOndence.
ONE CENT POSTAGE.
| confidently repeat, therefore, the recon
mendation of my last annual message tina
| single rate postage upon drop letters be re
duced to one cent wherever payment of tw'
| cents is now required by law. Double rate /
! only expected at offices where the carrie
| system is in operation, and 1t appears that a
| those offices where the carrier system is Il
| operation that the increase in the tax upol
! local letters defrays the cost not only of it
| own collection and delivery, but of the col
lection and delivery of all other mail matter
This is an inequality that ought no longer t.
exist
| UNITY OF WEIGHT.
| approve the recommendation of the Post
master General that the unit of weights 4
| the rating of first class matter should be on
ounce instead of one half ounce as it now Ii
In view of the statistics furnished by the de
partment it may well be doubted whether tn
| change would result in any loss of revenue
That 1t would greatly promote the convent rh
free delivery system has been lately apple
to five cities, and the total number of office
| in which 1t is now In operation Is 1853. Elk
perience shows that its adoption unde
| proper conditions is equally an accommoda
ton to the public and an advantage to tn
postal service. 1t is more than self sustain
ing. and for the reasons urged by the Post
er-General may be properly extended.
ATTORNEY REPORT.
The Attorney General renews the recon
mendation contained in his report of las
year, touching the fees of witnesses an
jurors. He favors radical changes in the fe
bill, the adoption of system by which AT
torneys and marshals of the United State
should be compensated solely by salaries
| and the erection by the Government of
| Penitentiary for the confinement of offender
| against its laws.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
OF the various Governmental concerns 1
charge of the Interior Department the II
ports of its Secretary presents an interestin
summary. Among the topics deserving pal
ticular attention, refer you to his observa
tions respecting our Indian affairs, the pre-
|
of railroad companies to take title to LAND
granted by the Government, and the operi
tons of the Pension Office, the Patent OHIO
the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Educi
ton
THE INDIANS.
Allusion has been made already to the eli
cumstances that both as between differel
Indian tribes and as between Indians an
the whites, the past year has been one of III
broken peace. In this circumstance Il
President is glad to find justification for Il
policy of the Government in dealing with II
Indian question and confirmation of Il
views which were fully expressed in my fir
recommendation to the Forty seventh Coz
| gress The Secretary urges anew Il
enactment of statute for the pul
shment of crimes committed on II
} dian reservations, and recommends Il
} | passage of the bill now pending
the House of Representatives for the pu
; chase of tract of 5000 square miles fro
| tho Stony reSnrvatiOn Roth thasa men sur