The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-03
OUR NAVY.
The President Sends Special Message to
Congress in Regard to Naval Appropri-
ations-The Opium Bill.

The President Sends a Special Message to
Congress in Regard to Naval Appropri-
ations-The Opium Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Tbe President
yesterday sent to Congress the following
message recommending appropriations for
the construction of naval vessels: I'm my
annual message / impressed upon Congress
the necessity of continued progress in the
reconstruction of the navy. now deem it
my duty to advise an appropriation be made
at the present session toward designing and
commencing the construction of at least
three additional steel cruisers and four gun
boats recommended by the Secretary of the
Navy, the cost of which, including arma-
ment, will not exceed 81 ,2S3, 900, of which
one half should be appropriated for the next
fiscal year. The Chicago, Boston. Atlanta
and Dolphin have been designed and are
being built with care and skill. and there is
every reason TO believe that they will prove
useful and serviceable modern cruisers.
Technical questions concerning these
or additional vessels cannot be wisely
settled except. by experts and the
Naval AuNlSOiN OlSdlllLCu pl
direction of Congress under the act of
August 5, 1882, and consisting of three line
officers, naval constructor and naval
engineer, selected with reference only to
character, experience, knowledge and skill,
and a naval architect and marine engineer
from civil life, of established reputation and
standing as experts in naval or marine con-
stIuctiOn, and is appropriate authority TO de-
eide finally all such questions. l am I'M
willing to see the gradual reconstruction of
our Navy cruisers, now happily begun in
conformity with modern requirements, de
layed one full year for any unsubstantial
reasons. Whatever conditions Congress
may see fit to impose in order to secure
judicious designs and honest and econOmi-
cal construction will be acceptable to me;
but to relingibh or postpone the policy al
ready deliberately declared, will be, in my
judgment, an act of national imprudence.
The appropriations should also be made
without delay for finishing the four
dOuble-turTeted monitors, the Puritan,
Amphitrite, Terror and MOnadnock,
and for procuring their armament and that
of the MianitOnomah. Their hulls are
built and their machinery under contract
and approaching completion, except that of
the Monadnock on the Pacific coast. This
SuOulu dlSO DC Dullt dlIllOl anu IlCdNl
guns all procured at the earliest practical
moment The total amount appropriated
to this time for the four vessels is So, $780,
GAL, sum not exceeding So, s3S, 769 includ-
ing 500, 725 for four powerful rifled cannOns
and for the remainder of the ordnance out
fit will complete and equip them for service.
OF the sum required only S2,O00,000 need
be appropriated for the next fiscal year. 1t
is not expected one of the monitors will be
a match for the heaviest brOadSide iron
clads which certain other Governments have
constructed at a cost of S4,000,000 or
S5,OO0,O00 each, but they will be armOred
vessels of approved and useful type and
possess such sea-gOing capacity and
offensive power as to fully an
swer our immediate necessities. Their
completion having been determined
upon in recent legislation of Congress,
no time should be lost in accomplishing the
necessary object. The gun foundry board
appointed by the direction of Congress, con-
sisting of three army and three navy officers,
has submitted its report, duly transmitted
on the Goth of February, 1884, recommend
ing that the Government should promote the
production at 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 estab
lished for the fabrication of guns from such
material. An early consideration of the re-
port is recommended, together with such ac
ton as will enable the Government to con-
struct its ordnance upon its own territory,
and so to provide the ornaments demanded
by the considerations which concerns the
national safety and honor"
THE OPIUM BILL.
Senator Miller. of California reported from
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
a substitute for the bill to prohibit the i'm
portatiOn of opium. 1t prohibits the i'm
pOrtation of opium in any form by Chinese
subjects; provides for the seizure and for
fixture of packages, i'm whole or part, of
opium consigned to Cinnamon in the United
States, and for the punishment, by n
fine and imprisonment, of persons Offend
ing against the act. 1t prohibits
the importation, by any one of opium
upon vessels owned by Cinnamon or
flying the Chinese flag, even when chartered
by citizens or subjects of another country.
It provides for the seizure and forfeiture of
all opium found on such vessels in United
States ports and imposes fine equal to the
value of the opium seized upon the master
of the vessel. Whenever it appears that
the Chinese Government has promulgated
appropriate legislation prohibiting citizens
of The United States from importing opium
into open ports of China, or transporting it
from one port to another, or buying and
selling opium in China, the Consular courts |
are authorized to try the offenders and i'm |
pose fine and Imprisonment upon convic- |
ton.
.