Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-06

armed gunboats, one long cruiser gun
boat, one dispatch vessel armed with a
Hotchkins cannon, one armed ram
and three torpedo boats. The general
designs all of which are calculated to
get the existing wants of the service
are now well advanced, and the COIL
struction OF the vessels cali be under
taken as soon as you shall grant the
necessary authority.
A fourth monitor, the Monadrock,
still remains unfinished at the navy
yard in California. 1t is recommended
that early steps will be taken to COM
plete these vessels.
THE DELONG EXPEDITION.
The bodies of Lieutenant Comman-
der George w. belong and his com.
panions of the Jeanette expedition
have been removed to the United States
by Lieutenants Harder and Schultz.
The remains were taken from their
grave in the Pena Delta in March, 1883,
and were retained at Yakutsk until the
following winter, the season being too
far advanced to admit of their imme-
diate transportation. They arrived at
New York February 20, 1884. They
were received with suitable honors.
H FREELY EXPEDITION.
In pursuance Of the joint resolution
of congress, approved February IL,
1884, a naval expedition was fitted out
for the relief of Lieut.. A. w. Greedy,
United States army, and of the party
which had been engaged under his COM
mand in scientific observations, at Lady
Franklin Bay. The fleet consisted of
the steamers Sealer, Thetis, purchased
in England the Bear, purchased at New
f%oundland, and the Alert, which was
generously provided by the British
government. Preparations for the ex-
petition 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
Lieutenant w. H. Emery in command
of the Bear. The Thetis was intrusted
to Commander Winfield S. Copely, to
whom also was assigned the superin-
tendency of the entire expedition.
Immediately upon its arrival at
Uppernavick the fleet began the dan
gerous navigation of Neville Bay, and
in spite of every obstacle reached Little
Island on June %, a fortnight earlier
than II vessel had before attained that
point. On the same day it crossed over
to Cape Sabine, where Lieut.. Greedy
and the other survivors of his party
were discovered. After taking on
board the living, and the bodies Of the
dead, the relief ships sailed for st.
Johns, where they arrived on July II.
They were appropriately received at
Portsmouth, N. H., on August l, and
at New York on August g.. One OF
the bodies was landed at the former
place, The others were put OH shore at
Governors Island, with the exception
of one which was inferred in the ma.
tional cemetery. They were forward.
ed then to the destination indicated by
friends. The organization and conduct
of this relief expedition reflects great
credit upon all who contributed to itf
success. In this, the last of the stated
messages that l shall have the honor to
transmit to the congress of the United
States, cannot too strongly urge Oh
its attention the DUTY of restoring ON
navy as rapidly as possible to the high
state of efficiency which formerly char
acterIzed it, as the long peace that has
lulled us into a sense of fanciful secur
ity, may at any time be disturbed. Il
is.plain that the policy of strengthen
! ing this arm of the service is dictated
, by considerations OF economy, of JUS
, regard for u future tranquility an6
of true appreciation of the dignity and
!, honor of the republic.
;. PosTAL MATTERS.
The report of the postmaster-genera
acquaints you with the present condi.
dfsctoses tnegratGnf naSttaal service. |
I of revenue from the reduction in tht
f rate OF letter passage. as recommended
t in my message December, 1882
; and affected by the act of March 3
1888, has been much less than was gen
) orally anticipated. Ny recommends
l ton of this reduction was based upol
l the belief that the actual falling off il
receipts from letter postage for the veal
f Immediately succeeding the change O.
3 rate could be 81, ZOO, 900. 1t has prove
to be only S~2,275,OOO. This is a trust.
, worthy indication that the revenue
will soon be restored to former volume
: by the natural increase of sealed cor
respondence. l confidently repeat
therefore, the recommendation Of IN,
| last annual message that single rat,
postage upon drop letters be reduced
: to One cent wherever payment of two
! cents is now required by law. Thu
: double rate is only exacted at all off.
e ces where the carrier system is in oper
alton and it appears that at the office!
where the carrier system is in operation
the increase in tax upon local letters de
trays the cost of not onlylits collection
. and delivery, but of the collection ant
delivery of all other mail matter. Thi
is all inequality that ought no longer t.
exist.
e l approve the recommendation of til,
postmaster-general that the unit o
weight in the rating of first-class mat
+ ter should be one ounce instead of one
half ounce as it is now. In view @
l statistics furnished by the department
it may be well doubted whether tn,
: change would result in any loss of rev
enue. That it would greatly promot,
the convenience Of the public is beyont
dispute. The free delivery system ha.
t been lately applied to five cities and tn,
total number of Offices in which it il
e now i'll operation is one hundred ant
, fifty nine. Experience shows that it
!, adoption under proper conditions i
equally an accommodation to the pub
lie and an advantage to the postal ser
vice. 1t Is more than self sustainin!
l and for the reasons urged by the post
master general may very properly b.
extended. 1t is the opinion of that of
: iccr that it is proper to provide mean
: whereby exceptional dispatch in deal
: ing with letters in tree delivery office
$ may be secured by paying extraordina
t ry postage. This scheme might b.
made effective by the employment of
special stamp, whose cost should bt
commensurate with the extra service
e In some of the large cities private ex
e press companies have undertaken t,
| outstrip the government mail carrier
= by affording for the prompt transmits
sion of letters better facilities tina,
have hitherto been at the command o
e the postofiice. 1t has always been tn
= policy OF the government to Giscourag
t such enterprises, and in no better wa
s can that policy be maintained thar ii
supplying the public with the mos
n efficient mali service that, with due re
gard TO its W best interest, can b
# furnished tor its own accommodation
LEGAL QUESTIONS.
The Encouragement rencws tn
r. recommendations contained i'm hls re
port of last year touching the fees G
witnesses and jurors. He favors
radical change i'll the fee bill and tn