The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-03


ror' and "Amphitrte," contracted for under the
act Of March g. 1888, was in process Of construc-
ton. No work has been done during the past
prietion A fourth monitor, the "aonadnocz"
still remains IN n1nshed at the Navy Yard IN Call
iornia. IL Us recommended that early steps De
also an armament for the monitor "Miantonomoh."
The recommendations of the Naval Advisory
S0sIS aPRroTed % 6y me & 1epaTmeMn M coprle @ ta1 5ne
cruiser OF 900 tons. two heavily armed gunboats
one dispatch boat armed with Hotehki Kiss cannon,
one armored ram and three torpedo boats. The
meet the existing wants of the service, are now
well advanced, and the construction of the vessels
can be undertaken es soon as you shall grant the
The act of Congress-, approved August 2, 1882.
the bodies OF Lieutenant Commander George
W. W. p1sIOns 1s,,e and Si; cOmpaTnh121ns Th1s OF
meya InS Sss been saccssSy seconplhed
by Leutenants Hsrber and Sehuetze.
The remains were taken from their graves in the
Yakutsk until the following winter, the season
being too far advanced to admit OF their immedi-
ate transportation. They arrived at New York
suitable hoDors. In pursuance of TIE joint reso
luton OF Congress, approved February l3, 1854,
LentenaRt W. Greely' United states srmy Se and ID
OF he party who had beea engaged under his com
mand in scientific observations at Lady franklin
Bay. The feet consisted OF the steam sealer
Thets, purchased in England: the Bear.
purchased at 81. Johns, NJ F. and the Alert
which was generously provided by the British
Government. Preparations for the expedition
were promptly made By the Secretary OF the Navy,
with the active co operation Of the Secretary of
command of the Alert and Lieutenant W. Fl. En.
cry in command Of the Bear. The Thetis was in
trusted to CommandeE Winfield 8 Copley. to
the entire expedition. Immediately upon its ar
rival at Upernavik the feet BEGAN the DANGEROUS
nay1gation of Melville Bay, ana in spite of every
OV Iunn a
fortnight earlier than any vessel had before at.
tanned that point. On the same day it crossed
over Ssv Cspe sabine ,nn where Lieutenant
his party were discovered. After taking on board
the living and the bodies OF the dead. the relief
ships sailed for 81 Johns. where they arrived on
July IL. They were appropriately at Portsmouth,
n. H, on August I, and at New York on August g.
One OF the bodies was landed at the former place
the Others we're put on shore at Governors Island
and with the exception of one, which was inferred
In the National Cemetery, were forwarded thence
to the destination indicated by friends. The Or
ganization and conduct of this relief expedition
reflects great credit upon all who contributed to
st success.
IN this, the lest OF the stated messages 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 as
rapidly as possible to the high state of efficiency
which formerly characterized It, As the long
peace that has lulled ms into sense OF isncied
security NAV at any time be disturbed, it Is plain
that the policy of strengthening this arm OF the
service Is dictated by considerations of use econ
OF true appreciation OF the dignity and honor of
the Republic.
PosroFFICE AFFAIR."
The report OF the Postmaster General acouafnts
you %isn me pre,ea. ION ana neeas o, S the
the loss OF revenue from the reduction in the rate
OF letter postage. as recommended in my message
OF December, 1882, and effected by the act OF
March 8. 1888. has been much less than was gem
orally anticipated. Ny Recommendation of this
reduction was based upon the belief that the ac-
Off in for
the year Immediately succeeding the change of
rate would be s3.GO0000 II has proved 70 be only
S2,275, 900. This If a trustworthy indication that
the revenue will soon be restored TO its former
volume oy the natural increases OF sealed cor.
respondence.
/ confidently repeat therefore the recon-
mendatlon Of my last annual message that single
rate postage upon drop letters be reduced to one
cent wherever the payment of two cents is now
at Offices where the carrier system is in operation.
and IL appears that at the Offices the increase in
its own collection and delivery. but Of the coec-
ton and delivery of al other mail matter. This
Is an inequality that ought no longer to exist.
approve the recommendation OF the Postmaster
General that the unit OF weight IN the rating of
frst-class matter should be one ounce instead Of
One-half ounce as it now is. In view of the sta
tisiics furnished by the Department, it may we'll
be dOubted whether the change would result in
any loss OF revenue. That IL would greatly pro-
mote the convenience of the public is beyond dis
pute. The free delivery system has lately been
applied to five cities, and the total number OF Of
IL
rence shows that its adoption under proper con-
ditons 1e equally an accommodation 20 the public
and an advantage 10. the pos al service. II
Ia more than sef-sustaining, and for
the reasons urged by the Postmaster General may
properly be extended Il is the opinion OF that
officer that il is proper 70 provide means whereby
exceptional despatch IN dealing with letters In
free delivery Offices may be secured by payment
of exuaordin sIy POSTAGE rnis scheme might be
stamp whose cost should be commensurate with
the expense OF the extra service in some OF large
10 outsTip me SoyeGnment msii.carrers SV
afording for the prompt transmission OF
letters better facilities than have hitherto
has always been the policy of the Government to
discourage such enterprises, and in no better way
can that policy be maintained than in supplying
the public with the most efficient mail service thai
with due regard TO its own best interesIs can be
furnished for Its accommodation.
THE WITNESS AND JUROR FEE BILL.
The Attorney General renews the recommends
tion contained in his report of last year touching
changes In the Fee bill; the adoption of system
by which attorneys and marshsls OF the United
States should be compensated solely By salaries,
and the erection by the Government OF q peniten-
tiary for the confinement OF offenders against Its
laws.
charge OF the Interior Department, the report
OF lis Secretary preSents an interesting summary.
Among the topics deserving particular attention.
i refer to his observations respecting our Indian
affairs, the pre-emption OF timber culture acts,
the failure of Railroad Companies TO take title 10
lands granted by the Government, ana the opera
tions Of the Pension Ofice, the Patent Ohice, the
Census Bureau and the Bureau of Education.
Allusion has been made already 70 the circum
stance that both as between different Indian
tribes and between Indians and whites, the
past year has been one of unbroken peace. In
this Circumstance the President is glad 70 find
justification for the policy of the Government in
dealing with the Indian question. and In con.
fImation of views which were fully expressed iu
bis frst communication TO the Forty seventh Con.
gress,
The Secretary urges anew the enactment OF Q
statute for the punishment of crimes committed
on Incisn reservations, and recommends the
passage of the bill now pending in the
House OF Representatives for the purchase OF 9
tract OF Is OO0 squsre miles from the Sioux Reser
yation. Both these measures are worthy OF ap
prevail
PoLYGAMY.
concur with him also in advising the repeal oil
the pre-emption law, the enactment of statutes
resolving the present legal com pcations touching
lspeed grants 70 railroad companies, and the fund
ing of the debt OF the several Pacific railroads
under such guaranty as shall edectually insure
Utah commission will be read with interest. II
discloses results OF recent legislation looking "a
the prevention and punishment OF polygsmy IN
that Territory. sti1l believe that II that abom
iDeble practice can be suppressed BY law 1t can
only be done by the most radical legislation con
s.stent with the restraints OF the Constitution.
again recommend that Congress assume abso
lutte political control of the Territory of Utah
and provide for the appointment OF Q commission
with such governmental powers as in its judg
ment may justly and wisely be put into theil