The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-10

ing interest threatens to double the
demands involved. In the present condition
of the dockets of the courts we'll led with pri-
vate suits. and OF toe forco allowed the District
Attorney, no greater than Is necessary for the
ordinary and current business OF his ONCE.
these revenue litiGations cannot be considered
In default of the adoption by Congress of q
plan for the general reorganization OF the
Federal courts, as has heretofore boon recon-
mended urge the proprioty OF passing law
permitting the appointm mt of an additional
Federal Judge In the district whore thos) Gov
ernment suits have accumulated so that by con-
tnued sessions of the courts devoted To the trial
these cases may be determined. II il entire
ly plain that q great saving to the Governments
would be accomplished by such a remedy, and
the suitors who have honest claims would nct
DO denied justice through delay.
THE ARMY.
The report OF the Secretary of War gives q DO
tailed account of tho administr .tion OF his de-
partment, and contains sundry recommends
tons for thu improvement OF the service, which
Of the last consoldated return Of slcs ' ocers
and 2i.0 10 enlisted men. The expenses Of the
department for the last fiscal year were
S36 800 903 r. including sc, 20 1906 43 for public
works and river ann harbor improvements.
especially direct the attent on of Congress
to the recommendation that officers be required
to submit to an examination as a preliminary
to their promotion objection but
many advant lges in adopting this feature.
which has operated 30 benehcially in our Navy
Department as wen as in some branches OF the
army.
Tho subject of coast defenses and fortihca-
tions had been fully and carefully treated by
the Board on Fortihcations, whose report was
submitted at the last session of Congress but
no construction work of the kind recommended
by the Board has been possible during the last
year from the lack OF appropriations for such
purpose. The def n seless condition Of our sea-
the s examinations msde must ' convince ps ali
that certain OF our cities named in
the report Of the board should be for
portant Of these Notifications should be
commenced at once. The work has been
thoroughly considered and laid out, the Secre-
tary OF War reports but ali is delayed in de-
fault OF Congressional action. The absolute
n cessity judged by oil standards Of prudence
and foresight. OF our preparation for au efectual
resistance against the armored ships and steel
gnns and mortars of modern constructit IL which
may threaten the cities on our coasts, is so
apparent that hope effective steps will be
taken in that direction Immediately. The
valuable and suggestive treatment OF this ques-
ton by the Secretary of War is earnestly COM
mended TO the consideration Of Congress.
THE APACHE WAR
In September and October last the hostile
Apachies, who. under the adorship Of Geron-
limo, had for eighteen months been on the war
path and during that time had committed
many murders and been the cause of constant
terror to the settlers Of Arizona, surrendered to
Gen, raj Miles. the military commander who
succeeded General Crook In the management
and direction OF their pursuit Under the terms
Of their surrender, as then reported, and In view
OF the understanding which this murderous
savage seemed to entertain of the assurances
given them, it was considered best
to imprson them in such manner
rages again, instead OF trying them for murder.
Fort Pickens having been selected as a safe
place Of confinement oil the adult males were
sent thither, and will DO closely guarded as
prisoners. In the meantime the residue of the
band who, though still remaining upon the
reservation. We're regarded as unsafe, and sus-
pocted Of furnishing aid to those on the war
path had been removed to Fort Marion. The
women and larger children OF the hostiles were
made for putting the children of proper age in
Indian schools.
THE wAp-vEssELs.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy con-
tains n detailed report OF the condition OF his
department, with such q statement OF the action
needed to improve the same as should challenge
the earnest attention of Congress-. Tho present
navy of tho United States, aside from the ships
in course OF construction, consists of: First,
fourteen single-turreted monitors none OF which
are in commission nor 40 the present time serv-
iceable. The batteries of those ships nro obso-
leto, and they can only he relied upon as auxil.
iary ships in harbor defense, and then after such
an expenditure upon thom as might not be
deemed justihable. Second five fourth-rats
vessels of small tonnage, only ono of which was
designed as n war vessel, and all Of which are
auxiliary merely: Third, twenty-seven cruising
ships, three Of which are built OF iron and OF
small tonnage and twenty-four OF wood. OF
these wooden vessels it Is estimated by the
chief constructor Of the navy that only three
will be serviceable beyond period OF six years,
1T which time it may be said that Of the pres. Mt
naval force nothing worthy the name will re-
main.
/ All the vessels heretofore authorized arc un-
der contract or in course of construction, ex.
cept the armored ships, the torpedo dynamite
boats and one crusier. As to the last OF these
the bids were in excess Of the limit fixed b.
Congress.
ARMoR AND GUN STEEL.
The production in the United Statos OF armof
and gun steel is a question which it seems
necessary to settle at an early day, IL the
nrmored war vessels are to be completed with
has been the ' subject j of investigation by
tees Of Congress within the last three
in 1884, of the Board of Fortifcations niado in
January last. and the reports of tho select COM
mittees OF the two houses made at the last ses.
subject 80 far as preliminary investigation is
involved, and in their Recommendation they are
substantially agreed.
In the event that the present invitation oil
the department. for bids to furnish such Of this |
material as is now authorized shall fail to
induce domestic manufacturers to under. |
take the large expenditures required 10
prepare fer this new manufacture, and
no other steps taken by Congress at its com. |
ing session, the Secretary contemplates, with
dissatisfaction, the necessity OF obtaining |
abroad the armor and the gun steel fer the |
authorized ships 1t would seem desirable that |
the wants of the army and the navy In this re.
gard should be reasonably met, and that by |
uniting their contracts such inducement might |
BIO offered as would result in securing the do
meSuchuOu OF bnebe ifupOrthut lnJerestS.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs Of the postal service show marked |
and gratifying Improvement during the past
year. particular account OF its transactions |
and condition in given in the report OF the |
Postmaster General, which will be laid before |
you. The reduction OF the rate of letter post |
age In $685. rendering the postal revenues made.
qunte to sustain the expenditures, and business |
depression also contributing, resulted in an |
excess Of cost for the fiscal year ended June |
30, 1885, of eight and one-third millions OF |
dollnxI. An additional check upon receipts by |
doubling the measure Of weight in rating scaled |
correspondence, and diminishing one-half
the charg, for newspaper ,arriage, inn |
posed by legislation, which took effect with the
beginning OF the past fiscal year; while the
constant demand Of our territorial develop. |
ment and growing population for the extension
and increase of mail facilities and machinery |
necessitate a steady annual advance i'm outlay. |
The careful estimate of q year ago upon the
rates of expenditure then existing contem- |
plated the unavoidable augmentation of tho de- |
fciency in the last fiscal year by nearly two |
millions of dollars. The anticipated revenue
for the last year failed Of realization by about
S6i, 900, but proper measures OF economy have |
so satisfactorily limited the growth of expendt |
lures that the total deficiency, in fact fell be-
low that Of 1888, and at that time the increase
of revenue is in gaining ratio over the increase
of cost demonstrating the suf6ciency Of the |
present rates of postage ultimately to sustain |