Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-09

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: atter graduation may be retained as Seconc
i4leutenants in the army, If they desire ii. sub
( Ject 10 assignment, when an opportunity occurs
under proper rules as 10 priority of selection
Inc expenditures on account of the Military
Academy for the last Escal year. exclusive OF
tifc sum taken for Its purposes from appropria
E'hs Tor the support Of the army. were $3.50
4t2tf. The act approved March 3, 1855, designed
10 compensate officers arsi enlisted men for the
loss of pirate property while in the service OF
the united states, is so indefinite in its terms
Iqslment OF which could not have been contem-
plated. that if it is to remain on the statute
| books It needs amendments.
OBSTRUCTION OF NAVIGATION.
There should he Il general law of Congress
Pr0GlblIng the construction of bridges over
I naViSablc waters in such a manner as 10 OBJ
struct navigation, with provisions for prevent.
ing the same. II seems that under the existing
statutes the Government cannot intervene to
prevent such construction when entered Jpou
without its consent, though when such consent is
asked and granted Upou such condition is clear.
Ihus II Is represented d that while the officers OF
the Government are with great care guarding
against the distractions of navigation by q
bridge across the Mississippi river at St Paul a
ialge pier ior bridge has been built Just below
ms place directly III the nayigable channel of
the riVer. II such things are to be permitted a
strong argument is presented against the appro-
priatioE Of large sums of money to improve the
navigation of this and other important high
ways of commerce.
NNllLo SiAifS NAVY.
The report Cf the Secretary Of the Navy gives
. history OF the operations OF his department
and the present condition of the work commit
ted "a his charge He details in fun the course
pursued By him to protect the rights Of the Gov
eminent IN respect Ct certain vessels unfinished
Mt the time Of hiss accession TO Office and also
concerning the di.pNtch boat Dolphin ciained
TO be completed and waiting the acceptance OF
the Department. No one can fail to see nom
the recital contained in the report, thar onlvtbe
application of business principles has been in
sisted upon III the treatment Of these su)ieCt is
and that whatever controversy hAs arisen, WAS
caused by the eNactiOn on the part OF the De
partmeuJ of contract obligations as they were
legally construed, in the case of the D0lphin
with entire business TO the contractor. An
agreement has been entered into providing
for the ascertainment, by q iudicial in
quiry, Of the complete or partial com
piiance with the contract in her construction.
and further providing tOr the assessment OF
any damages to which the Government may be
entitled on account o. partial failure TO per
form such contract on the payment Of the sum
still remaining unpaid upon her price, in case
OF full performance as adjudgcd. The CON
tractor, by reason of his failure in business he
ing unable 10 complete the other three vessels
they were taken possession OF hy the Govern
meut IN their unfinished condition. under q
clause in the contract permitting such 81 course
and are now III process of completion i'll the
yard OF the contractor but under the supervis-
ion of the Navy Department Congress in its
last session, authorized the construction of two
additional new cruisers and two gunbOatS ut g
cost not exceeding in the aggregate s. $4,000
The appropriation Tor this purpose having be
come available on the Is. day OF July last steps
were at once taken Tor the procurement OF such
plans for the construction Of these vessels as
would be likely 70 insure their usefulness when
completed. these age of the utmost impprf-
ance, considering the constant advance in the
art of building vessels of this character.
and the time is not los; which is spent
III their careful consideration and selection.
All must admit the Importance OF an effective
navy 10 nation like ours, having such an ex-
tended sea coast to protect yet We have not
single vessel of war that could keep the seas
against a hrst-class vessel of any important
power. such n condition ought not longer 10
continue. The nation that cannot resist aggres.
sion Is constantly exposed TO It. Its foreign
policy is of necessity weak and its negotiation,
are conducted with disadvantage because it i.
not i'll 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 the day is not tar distant WEen our navy
viii be such rs BELTS our standing among tho
nations of the earth, and rejOiced at every stcp
that leads in the direction OF such a cOusumm:l.
ton, deem It my duty 10 especially direct the
attention OF Congress 10 the close OF the report
of the Secretary OF the Navy. il which the hui
initiating features of the present organization OF
this Department Is exhibited, and the startlirg
| abuses and waste of the present method are ex.
posed. The conviction is forced upon me, with
the certainty OF mathematical demonstration.
that betore We proceed further in the les
ST ration of navy we need a
thoroughly leorganiZed Navy Department
The fact that within seventeen years more
than so 00OOt0 have been spent in the construc-
ton repairing, equipment and armament OF
vessels, and the further tact that instead of an
effective and crcditabie feet We have only the
discomfort and apprehension of nation unde.
Tended by war vessels. added TO the disclosures
now made, do not permit Us to doubt that every
attempt to revive our navy has thus far for the
most part, been misdrected, and all our efforts
in that direction have been little better than
blind groupings and expensive almlesS fOllies
lynuupStlOlAbIN,
maintenance OF q Navy Department simply as an
ornament to the Government n constant watch
tulneSs may prevent some of the scandal and
abuse which have found their way into our
present organization, and its incurItblt waste
may be reduced to the minimum; hut ii we de
sire 10 build ships for present use, instead OF
naval reminders OF the days that are past We
must have d department organized for the work
supplied with all the talent and ingenuity our
country affords, prepared to take adj
vantage of the experience of other nations
systematized so tnat all eGort shall unite and
lead in one direction, and fully imbucd with
the convittiO that war vessels though now are
useless, should combine all that the ingenuity
Of man has mp 70 this day brought forth relating
TO their construction. | earnestly commend the
portion of the SCCretary's report devoted 10 this
subject 10 the action of Congress, i'll the hope
that the suggestions touching the rGOrganiZa-
ton of his Department may be adopted, as the
first step toward the reconstruction Of our navy.
TIE POSTAL SERVICE.
The Affairs of the postal service are exhibited
hy tn report of the PoStmaSter-Gcneral which
VIII be laid before YOU. The postal service.
whose rates OF gain upon the rising prosperity
Ot.lS>2 and 1855 OutsIrlpped the increasing eX-
peGse of our growing service, was checked bv
the reduction inthe rate of letter postage, " Which
took effect with the beginning of October in the
latter year, and il diminished during the two
past fiscal We rs 81 10000. i'll the proportion of
x ~ 600 i'll 1881 to Sj2lGtO in 1853. Natural
growth and development have in the meantime
iEcfeased the expenditure. resulting III de-
iiceuCy i'll the revenue to the expenses of the
Department OF s., ,2j0O coo for the lenr 1881 and
SS,33 o0J in the last fiscal year. The an .icipated
and natural revival OF the revenue has been or,-
pressed ana retarded by the untavorable bust
ness condition of the country. of which the
postal service Is Il faithful indicator The graft
wing tact is shown, however. by the report
that our returning prosperity is marked
by Il gain of 900 in the revenue OF the
latter half OF the last year, over the CORE
spending period OF the preceding year.
The change IN the weight of lrSt-Cass matter
which may be carried for single rate of posf-
age, from a half ounce 20 an ounce ana Tho.
reduction by ouc-hdf OF the rate OF neEsDaprr
postage. which, under the recent legislation,
began with the current year, VIII opeTate to re-
Strain the augmentation OF receipts which
otherwise might have been expected to such a
degree that the scale OF expense may gain upon
the revenue, and Cause an increased deficiency
10 be shown at its close; yet after Il long period
of reawakcncd prosperity, by proper economy.
II Is confidently expected that even the present
low rates. now as favorable rs auv country
the service. The operation of the Postoflice
Department is for the convenience and benefit
Of the people, and the method by which they
pay the charges of this useful arm OF their serv-
ice, 50 that u be just and impartial, is of less
importance 10 them than the economical eX-
psnditure OF the means they provide for its
maintenance, and the due inpr .vement of its
agencies, that they may enjoy its highest uSe-
tulness. proper attention has been
directed to the prevention of waste or
eXtraragauce, and good results appear from
the report TO have already been accomplished
| approve the recommendation of the Post
nestle money orders of s. and less from eight
to five cents. This charge will materially aid
those of our people VINO, most OF ALL avail
themselves Of this instrumentality. but 70 whom
the element OF eheIpness is of the greatest i'm
portance. With this reduction. the system
would still remain selfsupporting The free
delivery system has been extended TO nineteen
additional cities during the year. and Us now
ENJOY its conveniences. Experience has com
mended it 10 those who en- Joy lis benefits and a
further enlargement of its facilities is due to
other communities to which il is adapted. In
the cities where it has been established taken
together, the local postage exceeds its mainleu-
ance by nearly 81 10000 The limit to which
this system is now confined by law has been
nearly reached, and the reasons given Justify
the extension which Is proposed. 1t was de
cided with my appreciation. aiter a sufficient
Office Department to contract for carry
ing our foreign mails under the addition 4
authority given by the Last Congress The
amount limited was inadequate 20 pay all
within the purview of the law the full rate OF
fifty cents per mile and 10 would have been