The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-12-09

ment OF contract obligations as they
were legally construed in the case OF
the Dolphin, with entire justice to the
contractor. An agreement has been
entered into providing for the as
certa' nment, by a judicial inquiry,
OF the complete or partial compliance
with the contract in her construction,
and further providing for the assess
ment of any damages to which the
government may be entitled on account
OF partial failure to perform such con-
tract on the payment of the sum still
remaining unpaid upon her price, In
case full performance is adiudged.
The contractor, 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 unfinished condition, under a
clause IN the contract permitting such
urS and are now in process ct com
pletlon IN the yard of the contractor,
but under the supervision of the navy
department. ~
Congress, in its last session. author
lied the construction of two additional
new cruisers and two gun boats, at a
cost not exceeding in the aggregate
1873 1000. The appropriation for this
purpose having become available on the
d0y ldob Steps McIC dI OllOC
taken for the procurement of such
plans for the construction of these
vessels as would be likely TO insure
their usefulness when completed. These
are OF the mostimpartance, consider
ing the constant advance in the art of
building vessels of this character, and
the time is not lost which is spent in
their careful consideration and select n.
AL must admit the importance of an
effective navy to a nation like ours,
! having such an extended sea coast TO
! protect. Yet we have not a single YES
| sci of war that could keep the seas
| against a frSt-claSs vessel of any i'm
pOrtant power. Such a condition
ought not longer to continue. The ma
/ ton that cannot resist aggression IS.
constantly exposed to it. Its foreign
! policy is of necessity weak and its ne
vantage because it is not in condition 10
enforce the termso dictated by its sense.
OF right and justice.
Inspired as am by the hope shared by
all 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 rejuiced at every'step
that leads in the direction of such a
! consummatiOn, l deem it my duty
espe c.ally direct the attention OF Con-
! gresS TO the close OF the report OF the
Secretary Of the Navy, in which the hui
initiating features of the present organ
ization of this department are exhibited
and the startling abuses and waste III
the present method are exposed. The
conviction is forced upon US with the
certainty of mathematical demonstra-
ton that before we proceed fur
Their in the restoration of a
navy, we need thoroughly
reorganized navy department. The
fact that within seventeen years
m IRE than SO 900 900 have been spent
in the construct IN, repair, equipment
and armament of vessels and the tur
Their fact that instead of an effective
and creditable fleet, we have only the
disc on .ent and apprehension of a ma
ton uldefended by war vessels, added
to the disclosures now made, do not
permi, us to doubt that every attempt
to revive our navy has thus far for the
most part, been miy dire ted, AID all
our efforts in that direction have been
little better than blind groupings and ex-
pensive, aimless follies.
UnquestiOnab,y If we are content with
the maintenance OF navy department
simply as an ornament TO the govern
ment, a constant watchfulness may pre-
vent some of the scandal and abuse
which have found their way into our
present organization. and its incurable
waste may et-duced to minimum. u
if we desire To build ships for present use
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, prepared to take advan-
tage of the experience of other nations,
systematized so that all effort shall
unite and lead in one direction and fully
imbued with the conviction that war
vessels though now are useless they
combine all that the ingenI iy of man
has Up to this day brought forth relating
to their construction. earnestly conf
mend the portion of the secretary 5
report devoted to this subject TO the
q :tion OF Congress in the hope that the
suggestions touching the reorganization
of his department may be adopted as
the first step toward the reconstruction
of our navy.
frr 3 THE POSTAL SERVICE. i
The affairs of the postal service are
exhibited by the report of the Post
master General, which will be laid be-
fore you. The postal revenue, whose
rates OF gain upon the rising prosperity
of 1882 and 1888 outstripped the in
creasing expense 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 il diminished during
the two past fiscal years $3.50 900, in
the proportion of $4,000 in 1884, to
$50 COO in 1885. The natural growth
and development have meantime IN
creased the expenditure, resulting in a
ideheiency in the revenue to the ex-
penses ofthe department of So 100000
Tor the year 1884, and eight and a third
zlillions in the last fiscal year. The an
ticipated and natural revival of the
revenue has teen opposed and retarded
by the unfavorable business condition
Of the country OF which the postal ser
vice is a faithful indicator. The graft
fying fact,is shown, however. by the re
port that our returning prosperity is
marked by a gain of S360,O00 IN the
revenue of the latter ha'f of
the last year over the correspond
inc Deriod of theFsprt cedlng year.