The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-10


The work of the signal service has been prose
cuted during the past year with the results OF IN
creasing benefit to the country. The held OF IN
atructions has been enlarged with view OF addlng
to its usefulness. The number OF stations In oper
alton June 30 1885, was 4S9.
Teleoraphic reports are seceived daily from $50
stations. Reports are also received from % Can
adian stations, 375 volunteer observers, o2 army
surgeons at military posts and 3 foreg On stations
The expense of service during the fSca year. after
deducting receipts from military telegraph lines,
was S7g7 59297 In view of the fact referred TO by
the secretary of war; that the work OF the service
ordinarily is of scientific nature, and the further
fact that it is assuming proportions continually pc
coming more and more unsulted TO tnenHeu ruIes
that must govern the army, am inclined to agree
with him in the opinion that it should be separately
established.
The military academy of West Point is reported
being in high state of efficiency, and well
equipped for the satisfactory accomplishment and
purposes of its maintenance. The fact that the
class which graduate next year is an unusually
large one has constrained me to decline to make
appointments to second lieutenancies in the army
from civil life, that such vacancies as exist In
these places may be reserved for such graduates;
and vet it is not probable there will be enough va
cancies to provide positions for them all when tney
leave the military school, Under the preVallng
law and usage, those not thus assigned 10 duty
actively enter the military service it Is sug
gested that the law this subject be changed, SO
that such of these Young men as are nor at once
consigned to duty after graduation may be retained
second ieutenantS in the army II they desire II,
subject to assignment when opportunity occurs,
Under proper rules as to priority 4a aca1.
my for the last fiscal year, exclusive OF the sum
taken for the purpose from the appropriations tor
| The act approved March 81, 1885, designed to
compensate officers and enlisted men for loss OF
private property while in the service OF the Un1ed
States indefinite in its terms, and apparently
admits so many claims the adjustment OF which
could not have been contemplated, that, II i is to
remain on the statute book, it needs amendment.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy gives his
| tory of the operations of his department and the
present 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 re
spect to certain vessels unfinished at the time OF
his accession to Office, and also concerning the dis
patch boat Dolphin, claimed to be completed and
awaiting the acceptance of the department. NO
one can fail to see from recitals contained III these
reports that only the application of business prin-
ciples has been insisted upon in the treatment OF
these subjects, and that whatever controversy has
arisen was caused by the eXactiOn on the part OF
| the department of contract obligations, as they
were legally construed. In the case of the Dol
agreement has been entered into providing for as
certainment, by "a judicial inquiry, the the
the contract in her construction.
And further providing for the assessment Of any
damages to which the government may be entitled
on account of partial failure to perform sub-con
tract, or payment of the sum still remaining un
paid upon her price contractor by reason of his fail
ure in business, being unable to complete the
other three vessels they were taken possession OF
by the government in their unfinished state, under
a clause in the contract permitting such course
and are now in process of completion in the yarC
of the contractor but under the supervision of tht
navy department.
Congress, at its last session, authorized the con
struction of two additional cruisers and two gun
boats, at cost not to exceed in the aggregate 81,
$4,000. The appropriation for this purpose hay
ing become available on the first day of July last
such steps at once taken for the construction
OF these vessels as would be likely to insure thel
usefulness when completed. These are of the ut
most importance, considering the constant advance
In the art OF building vessels of this character
and the time is not lost which is spent in thei
careful consideration and selection,
All must admit the importance of an effective
navy to nation like ours, having such EXTENDED
sea coast to protect and yet have not a single
vessel of war that could keep the seas against
frst-calss vessel of any important power. Such
condition ought not longer to continue The ma
ton that cannot resist aggression is certainly eX
posed to its foreign policy as of necessity weak anC
its negotiations are conducted with disadvan
tage because it is not in condition to enforce thu
terms dictated by its sense of right and justice.
Inspired as l am by the hope shared by all patri
otto citizens that the day is not far distant whel
our navy will be such as BELTS standing anon!
the nations of the earth, and reoiced at every se
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
tary of the navy, in which the humiliating weak
ness of the present organization of this department
IS exhibited, and the startling abuses and waste o
its present methods are expressed. The conviction
is forced upon us with the certainty of mathemat
ical demonstration that before we proceed furthe
in the restoration of the navy need thoroughly
reorganized navy department.
The fact that within seventeen years. more thai
1000 900 has been spent in the construction, re
pair, equipment and armament of vessels. and tn
further fact that instead of effective and credia
BILE fleet we have only the discomfort and appre
hension of nation, added to the disclosures nov
made, do not permit us to doubt that every attemp
to revive our navy has thus far for the most part
been instructed, and all our efforts in that direct
ion have been little better than blind groupings an
expensive, aimless folies.
Unquestionably if we are content with the main
tenance OF navy department simply as shabb
ornament to the government, constant Watchful
ness may prevent some of the scandal and abus
which found their way into the present organization
and its incurable waste be reduced to the minimum
but if desire to build ships for present usefulnes
instead og naval reminders of the days that ar
the wrecks supplied with all the talent and inge
nuity our country affords, prepared to take advan
age of the experience of other nations.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal service are exhibited b
the report of the postmaster general which will
laid before you. The postal revenue, whose rat
of gain upon the rising prosperity of 1892 and 1873
outStripped the increasing expenses of our grow
ing service, was checked by the reduction in tn
rate of letter postage which took effect at the be
ginning of October in the latter year, and it dmr
ished during the past two fiscal Years S., 100 00O
about the proportion of 1921 900 in 1884 to $4,000
in 1885.
The change in weight of first-class matter. whic
may be carried for single rate of postage, from
half ounce to an ounce and the reduction by one
half cent of newspaper postage which, under re
cent legislation, began with the current year, vii
operate to restrain the augmentation of receipts
which otherwise might have been expected, to sue
a degree that the scale of expense may gain upo
the revenue and increased deficiency to b
shown at its close. Yet, after so long period O
reawakened prosperity, by proper economy, it i
confdentaly anticipated that the present loy
rate is as favorable as any country affords, an
will be adequate to sustain the cost of the service
The operation of the post-Cffiye department is TO
the convenience and benefit of the people, and tn
method by which they pay the charges of this Use
full arm of their public service, that il be jus
r and impartial is of less importance to them thai
the economical expenditure of the means provide
for its maintenance and the improvements of it
agency, so that they may enjoy its highest useful
ness Proper attention has been directed to tn
prevention of waste or extravaganza, and good re
suits appear, from the report to have already bee
accomplished.
approve the recommendation of the postmaster
general that another assistant be provided for hi
department. l invite your consideration to tn
| several other recommendations contained in hi
report.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
The report of the encouragement cor
tains history of the conduct of the department @
justice during the last year, and number OF valr
able suggestions to needed legislation, and | in
vite your careful attention to same. The conditio
of business in the courts of the United States
such that there seems to be an imperative neces
sity for remedial legislation the subject.
The present mode of compromising United State