The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-12

navigable waters in such manner as TO OBJ
struct navigation, with provisions for prevent
ing the scme. 1t seems that under existing
statutes the government cannot Intervene TO
prevent such a construction when entered
upon without its consent, though when such
consent is asked and granted upon condition,
the authority to insist upon such condition
is clear Thus 1t is represented that while
the officers of the government are
with great care guarding against
the obstruction Of navigation by bridge
across the Mississippi river at St; Paul, large
pier for bridge has been built just below
this place directly in the navigable channel
of the river. If such things are to be per-
mitted a strong argument is presented against
the appropriation of large sums Of money to
improve the navigation Of this and other I'M
| portant highways of commerce.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
| gives history Of the operations OF his De
partment 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 respect of certain vessels unfinished at the
| time of his accession 10 Office, and also con-
corning the dispatch boat Dolphin, claimed
to be completed aud awaiting the acceptance
| of the Department. No tne can fail to see
from recitals contained in this report that
| only the application of business principles
| has been insisted upon in the treatment of
| these subjects, and thatwhatever controversy
| has arisen, was caused by the exaction ON the
| part of the Department of contract obhSa-
! tons as they were legally construed.
In the case of the Dolphin, with entire JUS
| tice to the contractor, an agreement has been
| entered into providing for the entertainment,
by a judicial inquiry, of the complete or par
tial compliance with the contract in her con-
struction, and further providing for the as
sessment of any damages to which the gov
| ment NAV be entitled on account of q partial
| foi1 tn S1Ich CONTRACT the
| ment of the sum still remaining unpaid upon
| her price in case q full performance Is ad-
| judged.
The contractor, by reason of his failure i'll
| business, being unable to complete the other
three vessels, they were taken possession OF
by the government i'll their unfinished state
| under clause in the contract permitting
| such a course, and are now III process OF com
pletion in the yard of the contractor, but
under supervision of the Navy Department.
Congress at its last session authorized the
| construction of two additional new cruisers
| and two gunboats at & cost not exceeding III
theaggregate s., 995, 900 The appropriation
for this purpose having become available on
the 1st day of July last, steps were at once
taken for the procurement OF such plans Tor
the construction of these vessels as would be
likely to insure their usefulness when COM
pleted. These are of the utmost Importance,
considering the constant advance in the art OF
building vessels of this character, and the
time is not lost which is spent in their care
full consideration and selection.
All must admit the importance of an eifec-
tive Navy to a nation like ours, having such
an extended sea-coast 10 protect And vet
we have not single vessel of war that could
keep the seas against a first-class vessel OF any
| important power. Such conultlon ought
| not longer TO continue. The nation that can
not resist aggression is constantly exposed to
it, Its foreign policy is of necessity weak,
| and its negotiations are conducted with DIS
| advantage, because it is not III 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 very
| far distant when our Navy Will be such as
befits our standing among the nations OF the
| earth, and rejoiced at every step that leads IN
the direction of such q contamination, L
deem it my TO especially direct the attention
of Congress to the close of the report of the
Secretary of the Navy, i'll which the humlll-
| sting weakness of the present organization OF
his department is exhibited, and the startling
abuses and waste of its present methods are
exposed. The conviction is forced upon us
with the certainty of mathematical demon
stration. that before we proceed further IN the
restoration of Il Navy weed thoroughly re-
organized Navy Department.
The fact that within seventeen years more
than seventy-tive millions of dollars have
been spent in the construction, repair, equip
| further fact that instead of an effective and
creditable fleet. we have only the discomfort
| and apprehension of nation undetended by
4 war vessels added to the disclosures now
made, do not permit us to doubt that every
attempt to revive our Navy thus tar tor the
most part, been misdirected, and all our
! efforts in that direction have been little better
than blind groupings, and expensive, aimless
| follies.
Unquestionably if we are content with the
maintenance Of a Navy Department simply
| as a shabby ornament to the government, a
| constant watchfulness may prevent some OF
| the scandal and abuse which have found
| their way into our present organization, and
| its incurable waste may be reduced to a
minimum. But if We desire to build SHIPS
for present usefulness instead OF naval re-
minders of the days that are past we must
have department 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 SyS-
tematzed 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
ingenuity of man has up TO this day brought
forth relating to their construction.
| earnestly commend the portion of the
Secretarys report devoted to this subject to
the attention of Congress. in the hope that
| his suggestions touching the reorganization
| of his Department may be adopted as the
first step toward the reconstruction of our
| navy.
The affairs of the postal service are ex-
hibited by the report of the Postmaster Cen
eral, which will be laid before you. The
postal revenue, whose ratio of gain upon the
rising prosperity of 1882 and 1888 outstripped
the increasing expenses of our growing
service, was checked by the reduction
in the rate of letter postage, which
took effect with the beginning Of Oc-
tober in the latter year; and it dimin-
ished during the two past fiscal years s., $50,
600, in about the proportion of S2,270,0O0 in
1884 to $500, 600 in 1885. Natural growth and
development have meantime increased ex-
penditures, resulting in a deficiency in the
revenue to meet the expenses OF the Depart
! nent of five and quarter million dollars for
the year 1884, and eight and third million
in the last fiscal year. The anticipated and
natural revival of the revenue has been OPP
pressed and retarded by the unfavorable bust
ness condition of the country, OF which the
| postal service is a faithful indicator. The
gratifying fact is shown, however, by the re-
port that our returning prosperity Is marked
by gain of S;580,000 in the revenue of the
latter half of the last year oysE,Athe CORE
spending period of TING seeding Yasis.
The operation of the Post-oftice Depar-5
ment is for the convenience and benefit OF
the people, and the method by which they
pay the charges of this useful arm of their
public service, so that it be Just and impair
tial, is of less Importance tosthem than the
economical expenditure .of the 9neans they
provide for its mainteaance. and the due I'M
| provement of its agencies, so that they may
| enjoy its highest usefulness. q q iia&5I5t
approve the reconimenaa ti6n OF the Post
| masters General to reduce the charges, on do
nestle money-orders of five dollars and less
from eight to five cents. This change mate
rally aids those of our peoplewho most of all
avail themselves of this instrumentality, but
frtaEa of he