The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-18

"aSA uI)uu WITHOUT It's CON-
sent though when such con sent is asked and
granted, upon condition, it's authority to insist
upon such condition is clear. Thus it is repre-
scented that while the officers OF tho govern
nient are with great care guarding against the
OBSTRUCTION OF navigation by a bridge across the
mhis,,sissippi river at St. Paul. q large pier for a
directly In the navigable channel of the river. II
such things are to be permitted a strong arsu-
inant Is presented against tho appropriation of
large Sims of money to improve the navigation
OF TINS and other important highways of COM
mercc.
THE NAVY.
Inc report OF the secretary OF the navy gives a
history OF the operations of his department and
INC present condition of the work committed to
MS charge. He details in full the course pur-
sGcu by him to protect the rights of the govern
menu IN respect to certain vessels unfinished al
the time OF his accession to office, and also con-
corning the dispatch boat Dolphin, claimed to
be completed and awaiting the acceptance OF tho
department. No one can fail to see from r~ecitals
contained in this report that only the applica-
tioa OF business principles has been insisted on
IN the treatment Of these subjects, and that
Whatever controversy has arisen was caused by
the exaction on the part OF the department OF
contract obligations us they were legally con-
structt' In the case of the Dolphin, with entire
justice 70 the contractor n agreement has been
entered into providing Tor the asccrtainment, by
a judicial inquiry. of the complete or partial
compliance with the contract in her ccnstrrc-
ton; and further. providing for the assessment
OF any damages to which the government muy
ns entitled On account OF a partial failure to per
''in' 7S'bII NohtthJls L Ji1t pay lltllJ d Iilc sum
sun remaining unpaid upon her price IN case a
full performance is adjudaed. The contractor, by
reason OF his failure IN business, lein. unable
to complete tho other three vessels, thcy were
taken possession Of by the government in their
unfinished state under act in the contract per-
mittln9 such course. and are now in process of
complexion in The yard OF the contractor. but
under the supervision of the navy department.
THE NEW CRUISERS.
congress at Its last session authorized tho
construction O: two additional new cruisers and
TWO EunbOHi9, at q cost not EXCEEDING in the
aggregate S2,995. 600. The approximation for
TINS purpose having become avail ,ble on tho
nfst DAY OF July last, steps were at once taken
Tor The procurement of such plans for the con-
struction of these vessels as would be likely to
insure their usefulness when completed. These
ure or the utmost Importance. considering the
constant advance In the art of huiIdin. vessels
OF This character, and the time Is not lost which
IS spent in their careful consideration and selec-
ton. Wo must admit the Importance of an
effective navy to I nation like ours, having ouch
an extended sea coast to protect. and yet we
nave not a single vessel of war that could keep
the seas against n rirst-class vessel Of any i'm
portant power. Such a condition ought not long
TO continEe: the nation that cannos resist
aggression il constantly exposed to it,; Its for
lions are conducted with disadvantage, because
IL Is not IN condition to enforce the terms
dictated by its sense of light and justice.
Inspired as l am 5y 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
.JEs'S ~ W ''N'l 'iithb.i CAV III IL illNGNlbsi
OF stch q consummatiOn, | deem ii my duty TO
especially direct the attention of congress- to the
close OF the report of the secretary of the navy,
IN whlch the Illuminating weakness of the pres
ent organization of this department is exhibited,
and the startling abuses and wastes Of its pres
ent methods arc exposed. The conviction is
forced upon us with the certainty of Matte
NAUTICAL demonstration that before we proceed
further in the restoration of - navy we need a
thoroughly rcor:.n!zed navy department. The
fact that within seventeen years more ,han
SI1,ooO,oo0 has been spent on construction,
repairs AID equipment and armament of vessels,
and the further fact that, instead OF an effective
ana creditabic fleet, we have only the discon,ent
and apprehension OF a nation undefended by
war vessels. added to the disclosure now made,
do not permit ns to donbt That every attempt to
revive oar navy has Thus far. for the most part.
been miSdfrectcd, and all orr efforts in that
direction have been little better than blind
groupings and ailnless fo!lies. Unqucstionably,
Ii we are content With the maintenance of a
navy department simply az
A SHABBY ORNAMENT
to the government, a constant watchfulness
may prevent some OF the scandal and abnse
%hloh have found their way into our present or
Eaal2atton, and its incurabla waste may be re-
duced to the minimum, but if We desire to build
ships for present usefulness instead of nava! re-
mlidsrs of the days that are past, We must have
a department organized for the work. supplied
with all the talent and ingenuity our country
alords, prepared TO take advantage of the expe-
rlenco of other nations, systemati2ed SO that all
effort shall unite and lead i'll one direction, and
fully imbucd with the conviction that war yes
sells 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 recommend the portion of the seare-
tarl $ report devoted to this subject. to tho
action OF congress. in the hope that his succes-
lions touching the reorganization of his depart
ment may be adopted, rs the first step toward
the construction of our navy.
II POSTAL SERVICE.
ITS GENERAL CONDITION.
The affairs of the postal service are exhibited
by the report OF the postmaster general, which
will be laid before you. The postal revenue
whose rates Of gain upon the rising prosperity
of 1889 and 1885, outstriMped 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 Ocso-
her in the latter year, and it diminished during
the two past fiscal years 81. 700. 600, IN the pro-
portion of 1920, 900 in 1854, to SOP 900 in
1885,. The natural growth and development
nave meantime increased expenditure. resulting
In q deficiency in the revenue TO meet the e&-
penscs of the department of 81. 250, D for the
year 1854. and So, 1873. 600 in the last fiscal year.
The anticipated and natural 1eviva. OF the
revenue has been oppressed and retarded by
the unfayorable business condition OF the couu-
try, OF which the postal stvicc is a faithful
calendar. The gratifying facS il shown, how
ever. by the report, that our re:nrnins pros
perity is marked by a gain OF $3.50. 900 in tho
revenue of the latter half of the last year over
the corresponding period of the preceding year.
The chanco i'll the weight of hrst-class matter
WHICH NAY ~ U d SluplG llls OIL DOsE-
age. from a half-ouncc to an ounce, and the re-
ductiou by oue-halt Of tn. rate OF newspaper
postage, which. under recent legislation, begun
With the current year, will operate to restrain
the augmentation of receipts which otherwise
have been expected to such a degree that the
scale of expense may gain upon the revenue and
cause an increased deficiency to be shown ut its
close. Yet, after no long period of rcawakened
prosperity, by proper economy. it is confident
ly anticipated that even the present low
rates, now as favorable az any country affords,
will be adequate - sustain the cost OF the srrv-
Ice. The operation and the use 4 the postotficc
is for tho convenience and
BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE
and the method by which they pay tho charges
OF this useful arm of their public service, so that
it be Just and impartial, is of less Importance to
them than the economical expenditures, than
the means they provide for its maintenance and
the due Improvement Of its agency, SO that they
may enjoy the highest usefulness. A proper
attention has been directed to the prevention of
waste OF extravaganza and good results appear
from the report to have already been accom-
plisled.
l approve the recommendation OF the post
master general to reduce the charges on domes-
tic money orders of So and less from eight to
five cents. This change will materially aid
those OF our beople who most Of all avail them
selves of this instrumcntalitv. but to whom the
element of cheapness is of the greatest impor-
tanco. With this reduction the system would
still remain self supporting. The free delivery
system has been extended to nineteen additional
cities during the year, and IT'S now enjoy its
conveniences, Experience has commended it to
those who enjoy its benefits md further enlarge
mcnt OF its facilities is due to other communities
to which it Is added. In the cities where 1t has
been established, taken together with the local
postage, 1t exceeds its maintenance by nearly
81, 300, 900. Tho limit to which this system is
now confined by law has been nearly reached,
and the reasons given Justify its extension, which
Is proposed.
OCEAN MAIL TRANSPORTATION.
It was decided with my appreciation. after q
sufficient examination. to be inexpcdient to
contract for carrying our foreign mails under the
additional authority given bv the last congress.
The amount limited was Inadequate to pay all
within the purview OF the law, the full rate
of 50 cents per mile, and it would have been I'M
lust and unwise to have givca some and denied
it to others. nor could contracts have been let
under tho law to all at n rate to have brought
the aggregate within the appropriation without
such practical arrangement Of terms as would
have violated it. The rate of sea and inland
,,ostncr which was profIered under another stat