The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-09

the despatch boat Dolphin, claimed to be COM
pleted and awaiting the acceptance of the depart
inent No one can fail to see from recitals con- |
tanned 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 exac-
ton on the department of contract obligations as
they were illegally construed. In the case of
the Dolphin, with entire justice to the contractor,
an arrangement has been entered into providing for
the aseertalnment by judicial inquiry of the COM
plete or partial compliance with the contract In
her construction and further providing for the as
sessment OF any damages to which the govern
ment may be entitled on account of partial fail
ure to perfom such contract, or by the payment
of the sum still remaining unpaid upon her price
in case a tull performance is adjudged: The con-
tractor by reason of his failure in business being
unable to complete the'other three vessels they
were taken possession of by the government in
their diminished state, under a clause in the con-
tract permitting such a course and are now in
process OF completion in the yard of the contrac
tor, but under the supervision of the navy de
partment, Congress at it's last session authorized
the construction of two additional new cruisers
and two gun boats at a cost not exceeding in the
this purpose having become available on the 1st
day OF July last steps were at once taken for the
procuIeMenlt q such plans Tor the construction OF
these vessels as would be likely to insure their
usefulness when completed. These are of the ut
utmost Importance, considering the constant adj
vance IN the art OF bnidDg vessels of this charac
ter, and the time Is not lost which is spent in their
careful consideration and selection All must ad-
init the Importance of an effective navy to ma
to protect, and 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. The nation
that cannot resist aggression is constantly
exposed to it. It's foreign policy is of neces,,
with disadvantage, because it is not in condition
to enforce the terms dictated by its sense of right
and justice. Inspired as | am by the hope shared
by all patriotic citizens. that tie day IS not yery
far distant when our navy will be such as BELTS
our standing among the nations of the earth, and
reJolced at every step that leads in the direction
OF such cOnsummation, | 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 humliating weakness of the present
organization of his department is exhibited in
the startling abuses, and waste of its present
methods, are exposed. The conviction is forced
upon us with the certainty of mathematical de-
monstraton that before we proceed farther in the
restoration OF navy we need thoroughly re-
in II years; more that S750o0,o0O have been
spent in the construction, repair, equipment and
armament of vessels, and the further fact that,
instead OF an effective and creditable fleet, we
have only the discomfort and apprehension OF a
nation undefended by war vessels added to the
disclosures now made, DO not permit us TO doubt
that every attempt to revive navy has thus far
for the most part, been misdirected, and all our
efforts in that direction have been little better
than blind groupings and expensive aimless foles.
Unquestionably ii we are content with the main
tenance OF navy department simply as shabby
ornament TO the government, constant Watchful-
ness may prevent some scandal and abuse which
have found their way into our present OrganiZa-
UlOD ana us waste may be reduced 10
the minimum Bit if we desired to bald ships for
present usefulness instead of naval, reminders of
the days that are past we must have depart
ment organized for the work, supplied with all
the talent and ingenuity our country affords, pre-
pared to take advantage of the experience of
other nations syStematZed so that all effort shall
unite and lead In one direction and fully imbued
with the conviction that war vessels though new,
| are useless unless they combine all that the in
genuity OF man has up to this day brought forth
| relating to their construction. earnestly com
mend the portion OF the secretarys report devoted
to this subject to the attention Of Congress- in the
| hope that his suggestions touching the reorgan-
| ization of his department may be adopted as the
first step toward the reconstruction of our navy
THE AFFAIRS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
| are exhibited by the report of the Postmaster
General, which will be laid before you. The pos
| tai revenue, whose ratio OF gain upon the rising
prosperity of 1882 and 1883, outstripped the in
| creasing expenses Of our growing service, was
checked by the reduction in the rate of letter
postage, which took effect with the beginning of
| October in the latter year, and it diminished dur
ing the two past fiscal years $2,790.O00, in about
| the proportion of $2,270,0O0 in 1884 to $500, 900
in 1885. Natural growth and development have
meantime increased expenditure, resulting in
| deficiency in the revenue to meet the expenses OF
| the department Of tye and quarter million dol
| lars for the year 1884, and eight and third mill
| lion 1.-THE last fiscal year. The anticipated and
| natural revival of the revenue has been oppressed
1 and retarded by the unfayorabe business cOnd-
ton of the country, of which the postal service is
| afalthtul indicator, The gratifying fact IS shows
1
| perty is marked by gain of S38O,0O0 in the rev
enue of the latter half Of the last year over the
| corresponding period of the preceding year. The
| change in the weight of firstclass matter which
may be carried for single rate of postage from
half ounce to an ounce, and the reduction by one
half of the rate of newgpaper postage which. un-
| der recent legislation, began with the current
year. will operate to restrain the augmentation of
\ receipts which otherwise might have been ex-
pected to such degree that the scale of expense
may gain upon the revenue and cause an increased
| deficiency to be shown at its close Yet, after no
0f I'm.
| economy it is confidently anticipated that even
| the present low rates now as favorable as any
country affords, will be adequate to sustain the
| cost of the service The operation of the Post
1 Office Department is for the convenience and ben
eft of the people, and the method by which they
pay the charges of this useful arm Of public ser
vice, SO that it be just and impartial, is of less
| Importance to them than the economical ex-
| penditure of the means they provide for its
| maintenance, and the due Improvement of its
agencies, so that they may enjoy its highest use
| fulness. proper attention has been directed to
| the prevention OF waste or extravaganza, and
good results appear from the report to have al
ready been accomplished. | approve the recon-
| mendation of the Postmaster General to reduce
the charges on domestic money orders of SO and
less from to cents. This change will material
i ly aid those of our people who most of all avail
| themselves of this fundamentally, but to whom
the element of cheapness is of the greatest i'm
portance. With this reduction the system would
| still remain self-supporting The free delivery
| during the year, and 17S now enjoy its con-
venienceS Experience has commended it to
those VINO ENJOY lJS Dement'S, ana turtler enlarge
ment of It's facilities is due to other communities
| to which it is adapted In the cities where it has
been established, taken together, the local post
| age exceeds its maintenance by nearly 81 ,300,-
| 000 The limit to which this system is now con-
| fined by law has been nearly reached and the
reasons given justify its extension which is pro
| posed 1t was decided with my appreciation
| after sufficient examination to be ineXpedent for
| the Post Office Department to contract for carry
| ing our foreign mails under the additional
| authority given by the last Congress. The amount
limited was inadequate to pay all within the
puryiew of the law the full rate of so cents per
| mile, and it would have been unjust and unwse
to have given it to some and denied it to others.
| Nor could contracts have been let under the law
to all at rate to have brought the aggregate with
| rangement OF terms as would have violated it.
| The rate of sea and inland postage, which was
| preferred under another statute, clearly appears
to be fair compensation for the desired service,
being three times the price necessary to secure
transportation by other vessels upon any route,
| persons for services not less burdensome. Some
| of The steamship companies upon the refusal Of
| the poStmaSter-general to attempt, by the means
| provided, the distribution OF the sum appropria-
ted as an extra compensation, withdrew the ser
| vices of their vessels and thereby occasoned
slight inconvenience, though no considerable in
| jury, the mails having been dispatched by other
| means. Whatever may be thought OF the policy
of substituting any line of public conveyance or
l travel l am satisfied that it should not be done
under cover of an expenditure incident to the adj
ministration OF a department, nor should there be
any uncertainty as TO the recipients of the sub
sidy or any discretion left to an executive officer
as to its distribution. Ii such gifts of the public
/ money are to be made for the purpose of aiding
any enterprise in the supposed interest of the pub
| lie, cannot but think that the amount to be paid
| and the beneficiary might better be deter
| mined by Congress than in any other way.
| The international congress of delegates from
the postal union countries convened at Lisbon, in
Portugal in February last, and, after session of
1 some weeks. the delegates signed a convention
| amendatory of the present postal union conyen-
ton, in some particulars designed to advance its
| prevail and will be laid before you with the de-