Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-12-17


No one can fail to see, from the re
cital contained III this report, that only
the application of business principles
has been insisted upon in the treat
ment of these subjects. and that what
ever controversy has arisen was caused
by the exactiOn on the part of the
department of the contract obliga-
IONS as they We're legally construed
In the case of the Dolphin, with entire
business to the contractor, an agree
ment has been entered into providing
for the ascertainment by judicial in
quiry of the complete or partial COM
pliance with the contract in her con-
stuctiOn. and further providing for
the assessment of any damages to
which the government may be entitled
on account of partial failure to per-
form such contract, or the payment of
the sum still remaining unpaid upon
her price in case full performance is
adJudged. The contractor by reason of
his failure in business. being unable to
complete the other three vessels, they
were taken possession of by the govern
ment in their unfinished state. under
clause in the contract permitting such
course, and are now in process of
completion in the yard of the cOntrae-
tor. but uuder the supervision of the
navy department.
Inspired as am by hope shared by all
patriotic citizens, that the dav is not far dis
tant when orr navy will be such as BELTS
our standing among the nations OF the
earth. and relOicea al every step that leads
In the direction Of such 4 cOnsumnation. |
deem { my duty to especially direct the at
tenti0n Of Congress 10 the close OF the re-
port Of the Secretary of the Navy, in which
the humilating features Of the present or
ganization Of this department is exhibited,
and the startling abuses and the waste of
It's present methods are exposed. The con-
Ylcti0u IS forced upon MS with the certainty
Of mathematical demonstration that before
we rOceed further in the restoration of a
nav we need thoroughly recognized
Navy Department.
The fact that with seventeen years more
Than 5000 900 have been spent in con-
strHcllOn, repair, equipment and armament
OF vessels. and The further fact that instead
OF an effective and creditaDle 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 our
navy has thus far, for the most part. been
ns,ilrected, and all orr efforts in that di-
Iectl0n have been little better than blind
grnpings, and expensive, aimless follies.
UnquestiOnably II we are content with
the maintenance of a Navy Department
SIMPLY as an ornament TO the Government,
instant WatchfulneSs may prevent some
thelr way into Our present organization.
ana rs lncuiahle waste may be reduced TO
the minimum. But III we desire to build
SHIPS FIR present usefulness instead of
naYa reminders OF the days that are past
We must have department organized for
the work. supplied with all the latest and
best ingenuity our country affords, and pre-
pared to take advantage of the experience
o. other nations, ssstematlzed so that all
effort shall unlte and lead lin one direction,
war vessels now are useless unless they
combine all that the ingenuity of man has
up ~ this dag brought forth ret1tng to
their construction | earnestly commend
the portion OF the 5 cretary's report de
voted 10 this subject 10 the action of Con-
sress, in the hope that the suggestions
touching tlr rcOrGanzttion Of his depart
maut uay be adopted rs the first step to-
w1td tie recons ructlOu 81 our navy.
THE postal SERVICE.
The tiinirs of tire postal service are ex-
luilied bY HE report of the Postmaster
General, which Will be Laid before YOU The
postal reyenue, whose rltes OF gain upon
t.C rslg pros leliiy OF 1882 and 1885, out
stripped Tie increasing expense of our
grow GE service, was checked by The reduc-
i1u 1 lr ratn Of letter postage, which
tool. foe. with the beginning Of October
in iIe 80 er ytar and j, diminished during
tn" TWO past fiscal YctIS ~ i90090 in the
proportion s.! i0OJ9 in 1854 10 $4,000
ll 800 y itutAi CROWN dnt NcNeiOplnenJ
nave, M tllr meantime, increased cNpGEdi-
tlre, resulting IN a deficiency in the rev.
eHue TO tie eXpelis OF the department of
i've and quarter millions for the year
49,. and eiglt and One-third millions in
the last fiscal year The anticipated and
natlW ! revival ot the revenue has been OBJ
prs ei aud retarded by the unfavorablc
bUsia.s go .dl ION OF the country, Of which
tiiF p1- 81 service is IA Idithal Indicator The
gri Tying t3ci IS shown, however by the
rllait 1t Our rctauIng prosperity is
iU.IKrd = gun oil SIS 900 i'm the revenue
Of the li.r nlii OF Tie last year over the
corr snn ing perOd OF the preceding
yetr iH' change ia the weight Of first
ciaa' lu'i which may he carried for
Sitgic ra uf hostage, from a half ounce to
aH rl'ie. ut he reduction by one-ualf of
lhc r5t Wsrlper postage which, UNI
.SitIOn begun with the cur
rent year will oHerate to restrain the aug
luentatiOn OF receipts which otnerwiS
might have been expected TO such degr
thAli the scale OF OK cuSe may gain up
the revenue and cause an incrt lsed dh
cheney to be shown at its close; vet after
long period Of rcwedkened prosperity, b,
proper economy, 10 Is confidently autic
pated that even tie present low rates nov
as favorable as any country affords, W
be adequate to sustain the cost OF the ser
vice.
The operation Of the Post Office Depar
melt IS for the convenience and benefit OF
the people, and the method by which they
pay the charges of tins usefui arm OF then
public service, SO that it be just and impair
tai, Is OF les Importance TO them than th
economical expenditure of the means they
provide for its maintenance and the du
Improvement of its agencies, so that tneS
may enjoy its highest usefulness. a prOpfi
attention has be II directed to the proven
ton OF waste ar extravaganza, and good IL,
salts appear from the reports to have a.
ready been accomplished.
DOMESTIC MONEY ORDERS.
| approve the recommendation of th
Postmaster General 10 reduce the charg
ON domestic money orders Of 81 and les
from to cents This change will mater
tally aid those OF our people who, most o
ALL avail themselves Of this Instruments
iiy, but to whom the eleme It OF CheapnpSS
is of the greatest Importance. With liie
reduction the system would still remain.
Selt-supportiug.
TIE FREE DELlV RY sYs EN-
has been extended to min teen addit Oh
cities during the year, and lis now enjoy T.
cOnyenleueeS. Experience has cOmmendvi
II to those who enjoy its benefits, and fur
ther enforcement Of its facilities is due ;.
Other communities to which it is adanted
in the cites where il has been estab ished
taken together, The local postage exceeds iis
maintenance by nearly Sl,300,000. THr
limit TO which this system is now conf ed
10y law has been nearly reached, and tn
proposed.
FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE.
" was decjdel, with my approbatlO
after u Sufii lcut examination, to be ineXle-
ditat for me Pos. Onice d partment 10 con
tracl Tor carry ng oar foreign mails under
tee adiUOn9. hOrity given by The las,
Congress. The amount limited was mad
tqut,e 10 pay all within The purview Of Tia
law full rate OF 80 cents per mile, and
u would have been unjust and lnwise TO
haze given 1t 10 some and denied Ii To
others Nor could contracts have been le
unAer the law to all ut q rate to hav,
brought the aggregate within the apprOpra
tua without such practical rre-arrtn&emCn,
OF terms us would have violated u. The
rate of SEA ana inland postage. which WIS
pr ttcfed under anOther statute clearly ap-
pears to be a fair compensation for the de-
sired service being three times the price
ncCeSs ny tO~sccure trdnSpOr alton by other
vessels upon any route and much beyond
the charges made 10 private persons tor
services not less burdcnSeme. Some of the
steamship companies, upon The refusal of
the POs,mas or General 10 4 tempt by the
means provided, the distribution of the sum
appropriated an extra compensation. with
drew the services OF their vessels, and
thereby occasiOhed slight Inconvenience,
thOngh no considerable injury. Tae mails
have been dispatched by other means.
Whatever may be thought of the policy of
substituting any line OF public conveyance
or travel. | am satisfied that it should not
be daue under cover OF an expenditure :
cident % On, administration of n depart
mcui, nor should there be any uncertainty
rs ~ the recipients OF the subsidy or any
discretion LETT To an executive officer as TO
It's QlStriouuOn, II such gIttS OF puOtlc
money are to be made for the purpose of
aiding amy enterprise Ia the supposed in
tereSt OF the pu can not but thlnk that