Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-09

who does not desire Dis government " Psy :"
silver such Of it, obligations - should oe
paid in gold. nor should our condition oe
such - TO oblige ~ in . prudent manage
ment of our affairs 70 discontinue the calling IN
and payment Of intefest-bearing ooiigations
which We have . right now to discharge ana
thus avoid payment OF further interest
thereon. The 90 called debtor class, for
vhose benefit confused compulsory coinage
Of silver il insisted upon, are not dishonest
because they are in debt. and they should
mot be suspected of . desire to jeopardize the
financial safety Of the country in order that
thew NAV cancel their present debts by pay
ing the same in deprecated dollars. Nor
should it be forgotten it 10 not the rich money
lender alone that must sumbit to such re-
adjustment, enforced by the government and
their debtors. The pittance of the widow
and orphan and the incomes of helpless
benefciaries of all kinds would be disas-
terously reduced. I recommend q suspension
of compulsory coinage of silver dollars di-
rected by the law passed in February, 1878.
CHOLERA AND SHALL Pox.
Efforts have been made through the med
ium of the marine hospital service to protect
the country against an invasion of the cholera
which has prevailed in Spain and France,
and smallpox, which recently broke out in
Canada.
LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
The most gratifying results have attended
the operations OF the life saving service dur
ing the last fiscal year. Observance of the
provision of law requiring that the appointment
of the force employed in this service should
be made solely with reference to fitness, and
without reference to political or party affilia-
ton, has secured results which may confident
ly be expected in any branch of public en-
ployment where such rule is applied. As
this service is composed of men
well qualified for the performance of their
dangerous and exceptionally important
duties.
COAST SURVEY.
The President, after referring to economies
obtained in various minor departments and
bureaus during the year, recommends legis-
lation for improvement of the coast survey.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The attention of Congress is invited to the
detailed account which it contained of the
of his department and his rec
and suggestions for improve
ment of the service. The acting judge adyo-
reports the number of trials by
2 1928, and that IL 1851 trials took place before
garrison and regimental courts-martial. The
suggestion that probably more than half the
army had been tried for offenses great and
small in one year may well arrest attention.
Of course many of these trials before garri-
son and regimental courts-martial were for
offenses almost frivolous, and there should,
think, be way devised to dispose of these
in a more summary and less inconvenient
The work of the
SIGNAL SERVICE
has been prosecuted during the last year with
results of increasing benefit to the country
The field of instruction has been enlarged
with view to its usefulness. The President
favors separating this service from the War
The
MILITARY ACADEMY
at West Point is reported as being in a high
state of efficiency and we'll equipped for
the satisfactory accomplishment of the pur-
poses of its maintenance.
There should be a general law of Congress
prohibiting the construction of bridges over
navigable waters. in such manner as to OBJ
struct navigation, with provisions for pre-
venting the same.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
gives history of the operations of his de-
partment, and presents the condition of the
work committed to his charge. He details in
full the course pursued by him to protect the
rights of the government in respect to certain
vessels unfinished at the time of his access
sion to his Office, and also concerning the
despatch boat Dolphin, claimed to be COM
MI tod md oft Of fba H.,
partment. No one can fail to see, from the
recitals contained in this report, that only the
application of business principles has been
insisted upon in treatment of these subjects,
and that whatever controversy has arisen,
was caused by the action of the department
on contract obligations, as they were legally
Congress, at its last session, authorized
the construction of two additional new cruis-
ers and two eunboats, at cost not exceeding
in the aggregate, $2,995 900. The appropri-
alton for this purpose having become availa-
BILE on the first day Of July last, steps were
at once taken for the procurement of
such plans for construction of these vessels
as would be likely to insure their usefulness
when completed All must admit the i'm
portance of an effective navy to a nation like
ours, having such an extended sea coast to
protect ard yet we have not single vessel
of war that could keep the seas against first
class vessel of any important power. Such a
condition ought not longer to continue. A
nation that cannot resist aggression is con-
stantly exposed to it. its foreign policy is of
necessity weak and its negotiations are con
Quoted with disadvantage because it is not in
a condition to enforce terms dictated by its
sense of right and justice.
Inspired as / am by the hope shared by all
patriotic citizens that the day is not very far
distant when our navy will be such as be-
fits our standing among nations of the earth,
and rejoiced at every step that leads in the
direction of such contamination, deem it
my duty to especially direct the attention of
Congress to the close of the report of the
secretary of the navy, in which the humiliat
ing weakness of the present organization of
his department is exhibited, and the startling
abuses and waste of its present methods are
exposed. The conviction is forced upon us
with the certainty of a mathematical dem.
onstration, that before we proceed
further in restoration of the navy we need A
thoroughly re-organized navy department.
PROFESSIONALLY, if we are content with the
maintenance of navy department simply as
shabby ornament to the government, con-
slant watchfulness may prevent some scandal
and abuse which have found their way into
our present organization and its incurable
waste may be reduced to minimum. But
if we desire to build ships for present use
fulness instead Of naval reminders of DAYS
that are past, We must have the department
organized for work. supplied with all the tai