Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-09
navigation of this and other important
highways Of commerce.
THE NAVY.
The President Comments on the Secre-
tRFy's Report.


partment, and the present condition of the
work committed to his charge. He details
in tull the course pursued by him to pro
tect the rights of the Government, in re
spect to certain vessels unfinished at the
time of his accession to Office and also
concerning the despatch boat Dolphin,
claimed to be completed and awaiting
the acceptance of the department. No
n can fail to see from recitsls contained
in this report, that only the application Of
business principles has been insisted upon
in the treatment of these subjects and that
whatever controversy has arisen was
caused By the exactiou on the part OF the
department Of contract obligations as they
were legally construed. ln the case of the
Dolphin, with entire Justice to the con-
struction, an agreement has been entered
into providing for the sscertsinment by q
Judicial inquiry of the complete compliance
with the contract in her construction,
and further provid ng for the assessment
Of any damages to which the Government
may be entitled on account of a partial
fracture to perform such contract or the
payment of the u remaining unpaid upon
her price in case q full performance is ad-
judged. The contractor, By reason of his
failure in business, being unable to com
plete the other three vessels. they were
taken possession Of BY the Government in
their unfinished state under q clause
in the contract permitting such
q course and are now
IN process Of completion in the yard OF the
contractor but under tie supervision ofthe
Navy Department. Congress at its last
session authorized the construction OF two
additional new cruisers and two gun boats
at a cost not exceeding in the aggregate
Of 81, 995, 900. The appropriation for this
purposes having become available the FIRST
day of July last, steps were at once taken
for the procurement Of such plans for the
construction of the vessels as would be
likely to insure their usefulness when com
pleted. They are of the utmost import
auce considering the constant advance in
the art of building vessels ofythis character
and the time is not lost which is spent in
their careful consideration and selection.
All must admit that the importance of an
effective Navy to a nation like ours hsv.
ing such an extended sea coast to protect,
and yet we have not a single vessel OF war
that could keep the sea against a first
class vessel Of any important power. Such
q condition ought not to longer continue.
The nation that cannot resist aggression is
continually exposed to it, Its foreign pol
icy is Of necessity weak and it's negotiations
are conducted with disadvantage because its
condition not to enforce the terms dictated
by its sense of right and justice. Inspired
as l am by the hope, shared by ell patriotic
citizens, that the day is not far distant
when our navy will be such as BELTS our
standing among the nations of the earth,
and ~rejoiced at every step that leads in the
direction OF such a commission. deem
it my duty to especially direct the stten'
ton of Congress to the close Of the report
of the Secretary Of the Navy in which the
HUMILITATIyG or THE PREsENT
ORGANIZATION
of his department is exhibited and the
startling abuses and waste its present
methods are exposed to. The conviction is
forced upon US with the certainty o fmsth.
ema,icsl demonstration that before We
proceed further in the restoration of a
navy, we need q thoroughly reorganized
navy department.
The fact that within seventeen years more
than $75, 600, 600 has been spent in con-
struction, repair, equipment and armament
of vessels, and the further fact that instead
of an effective feet we have only the dis
content and apprehension of nation un-
defended by wal vessels added to the dig.
closures now made, do not permit us to
doubt that every attempt to revive our
navy has thus far, for the most part, been
misdirected, and all our efforts in the d.
rection have been little better than blind
groupings and expensive, simless tollies.
Internationally if we are content with the
maintenance of q Navy Department
simply
As SHABBY ORNAMENT
10 the Government a Constant wstchtul-
mesa may prevent some OF the scandal and
abuse which have found their way into our
present organization and its incurable
waste may be reduced to the minimum
But it we desire to build ships for present
usefulness instead Of naval reminders Of
the days that are past, we must have O de-.
psrtmaut organized for the work supplied
with all the talent and ingenuity our coun-
try affords prepared to take advantage OF
the experiences Of other nations and
systematized 80 that all effort shall unite
and lead in one direction, and fully i'm
bued With the conviction that war vessels,
though new, are useless unless they COM
biue all thar the ingenuity Of maj has up
to this day brought forth relating to their
construction. | earnestly commend the
portion of the Secretarys report devoted
to this subject to the. action of Congress
10 the hope that his suggestions touching
the reorganization of his department may
be adopted as the first step toward the re-
construction Of our navy.
THE AFFAIRS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
are exemplifed by the report Of the Post
master General, which will be laid before
YOU the postal revenue whose ratio Of gain
upon the rising prosperity Of 1882 and
1883 outstripped the increasing expenses
of our growing service was checked BY the
reduction on the rate Of letter postage
which took effect with the begineing o.
October in the latter year, and it diminish
ed during the two present fiscal years 81,
100, 900 IN about the proportion Of $2,27O,
600 in 1884 to $500, 600 in 1885. Natura
growth and developments have meantime
increased expenditures, resulting in q de
Gciency in tie revenue to meet the ex
penses of the department Of five and
a quarter million dollars for th'
rear 1884 and eight and q third million IL
the last fiscal year. The anticipated and
natural revival OF The revenue has been oP
pressed and retarded By the u~nfsvorabls
business CONDITION Of the county OF which
The postal service is Q faithful indicator
The gratifying fact Is sho w, however, b
the report that our. returning prosperity II
marked by q gain Ct $3.50, 600 in the reye
nue. Of the latter half Of last ear over The
corresponding period of the preceding year
The change 10 the weight OF frst class
matter which may be carried for 4
single rate Of portage from a hat ouDc'
- n, onpna nnd the redno,inn bv ON