Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-05

3l9G3iG9 and the amount drawn from
the Treasury during the fiscal year was
- IS tW{.5l, leaving balance of $3,ll2.-
ton July I, 1854.
The Secretary Of War submits the re
port of the Chief of Engineers rs to the
praCticabillty Of protecting our important
cities on the seaboard by Notifications and
other defenccs able to repcl modern
methods of attack. The time has now
come when such defenCes can he prepared
with the confidence that they will not
prove abortve, and when the possible re
suit of delay in making such preparation
is seriously considered delay seems mex
cuSabc. For the most important cities,
those whose destruction or capture would
be National humiliation, adequate de
fences inclusive of guns may be made by
the gradual expenditure Of sGO,0o0,ooO, a
sum much less than u victorious enemy
could levy ~ u contribution. An apprO-
priatiOn of abont One-tenth of that amount
is asked to begin work and | concur with
the Secretary of War in urging that it be
granted
The War department is proceeding with
the conversion of lO-inch smooth bore
guns into s-inch rifles, lining the form
er with tubes of forged ore of
cold wrought iron. Fifty guns will
be thus converted. This, however,
does not Obviate the necessity of
providing means for the construction of
guns of the highest power, both for the
purpose of coast defence and for the arma-
mcnt Of war vessels. In my message of
March %, 1854, called attention to the
recommendation of the gun foundry board
that the government should encourage
the production of private steel works of
the required material for heavy cannon
and that two government factories, one
for the army and one for the navy, should
be established for the construction of guns
from such material No action having
been taken, the board was subsequently,
recOuvcncd to determine more fully the
plans and estimates necessary for carry
ing out its recommendation
| renew my recommendation that such
action he taken by Congress as will enable
the government to construct its own Ordi-
nance upon its own territory, and SO pro
vide the ornaments demanded by COnSid-
crations of the National safety and honor.
The Navy.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy exhibits progress made on the new
steel cruisers authorized by the acts .Of
August >, lSS2, and March 3. lSN3.
The act of Congress approved Aug. : lNS2,
authorized the removal To the Jnitcd
states of the bodies of Lieut.. commander
George w. DclOng and his companions of
the Jeanette expedition. This removal
has been successfully accomplished. In
pursuance Of the Joint resolution of Con
grcsS approved Feb. IL, lSN2 Il naval cX-
petition was fitted out for the relief of
Lieut.. y. w. Greedy of the United States
army and of the party who had been en-
gagged undcr.hls command in scientific Oh
,CrvatiunS ut Lady Franklin Bay. The or
LaniIItlUn and conduct of this relief cN-
petition reflects great credit upon all who
contributed to its success.
Restoration Of the Navy.
In this the last of the stated message,
that shall have the honor to transmit to
the Congress of the United States. | can
not too strongly urge ON its attention the
duty of restoring our navy rs rapidly as
possible to high state of efficiency which
formerly characterized il. AN the long
peace that has lullcd us into a sense
of fancied security may at any time he dis
STRENGTHENING this arm of the service is
dictated by considerations of wise eCOnO-
my. of Just regard for our future tranquil
ity and of true appreciation Of the dignity
and honor of the republic,
Po,toflce Department..
The report of the Observation-Disclosures
aCquaiuts You with the present condition
and needs of the postal service. 1t dis
closes the gratifying fact that the loss Of
revenue from the reduction i'm the rate OF
letter postage as recommended in my mes
sage of December, lNS2. and affected 10y the
act of March 3, lse3, has been much
less than was generally anticipated
| confidently repeat the recommended
tion of my last message, that the single
rate of postage upon drop letters be re-
duCed to one cent wherever payment OF
two cents is now required. approve the
recommendation of the pOstmaster-Gen-
eral that the unit of weight i'll the rating
of tirst-ClaSS matter should he one ounce
instead of onc-half ounce rs now. In view
of the statistics furnished by the depart
mcnt ii may well be doubted whether the
change would result in any loss of reve
nue. and that it would greatly promote the
convenience of the public is beyond dis
pute.
The Law Department.
The Attorney-General rencWs the rec
concentration contained in his report Oi
last wear touching the fees Of WitncSoe,
and jurors. He favOrS radical changes
in the fee bill the adoption of IA system by
which the attorneys and marShals of the
United States shall be compensated solely
10y salaries. and the erection by the gov
eminent of Il pcnitcntiary for the Contiuc
mcnt of offenders against its laws.
The Int Tor Department..
OF the varied governmental concerns il
charge of the Interior Department. the re-
port OF lis secretary presents an interesting
summary Among the topics deserving
particular nj tcution refer you to his oh
>cryaJiunS respecting our Indian
ailrrS, the presumption and timber culture
act, the failure of railroad companies t
take title To lands granted 10y the govern
meut aud the operations of the pension
office, the patent office, the crnsu
bureau and Tie bureau of educa
tiun. Nuu-iuu has been made III
ready 10 the circum~ auccs that both IA
bctvrru luc different Indian tribes and a
between lhr Indians and the whites th,
past year has been one of Uubrokcu
peace. In TIN, circumstance the President
is Glud tu lind Justification for the polio,
Of the government i'm lis dealing with tn,
Indian question and confirmation of IN,
Views which were fully represented in hj
first commuulCul ,On To- he Forty seventh
congress. The secretary urges anew tn,
enactment of "A statute for the punish
mcuO of crimes committed ON the Indian
reservation and recommends the pa~Sag,
of the bill now pending i'll the House o
Representatives for the purchase of q
tract of $4,000 square miles from the Siuul
reservation. Both these measures are
l.. 4 l.