Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-11
NUMBER 4.

1 HE and the work laid out by the board on for
tification is delayed in default OF Congressional
| action. The absolute necessity of our prepara-
| ton for efectual resistance against armored
1 ships and steel guns. which may threaten ous
| sea coast cities is so apparent thai ne hopes
effective steps will be taken IN that dlrecton at
| once
| The condition of our navy, shown by the
secretary OF that department. should ehallenSs
| the earnest attention OF Congress The produc-
! ton in the United States of armor and gun
| steel is question which it seems necessary to
! settle at an early day, II the arnored war yes
| sells are to be completed with those materials
| Of home manufacture In the sSept tho the
present invitation OF the department Tor ,ec>$o
furnish such Of this material as fr
domestic manufacturers to undertake
| the large expenditures required to prepare for
| this new manufacture, and no other steps are
\ taken by Congress at It's coming session, the
| Secretary conb5mpiates with dissatisfaction the
| necessity Of obtaining abroad the armcr and
| the gun steel for the authorized ships:
1 1t would seem desirable, the President ADDS.
| that the wants of the army and navy in this re-
| gard should be reasonably met ana, by uniting
| their contracts such inducements might be OF
! fered as would result in securing the uomeSti-
| cation OF these important interests.
| Postal service affairs show marked and graft
fying Improvement during the past year, the
| increase OF revenue gaining in ratio over the
| increase of cost demonstrating the sufiiciency
of the present cheap rates OF postage ultimately
| to sustain the service. The olnerences WIN
certain ocean steamship companies were tef-
minated by the acQuieScence OF all IN the pos Nv
| OF tha Government, thus affordlng service
| generally adequate to the needs OF the inter-
| oceanic mail business.
rrhe ouestion of establishing ocean postal
| service to Brazil and the Argentine Republic
| is commended TO the consideration OF Congress,
| and the suggestion IS o1efeo that, rs ~ uIstih-
guished from grant or subsidy Tor the mere
| benefit OF any line whatever, the outlay that
| NAV be To uiTed to secure addltlonal necessary
and proper service, should be regarcea as
within the limit OF legitimate compensation for
such service
THE President indorses the recommendation
| of the Attorney-General for the erection OF
penitentiary for the confinement OF prisoners
convicted in the United States courts. He
| considers il matter Of very great Importance,
which should at once receive Congressiohai ac,
ton. More than one or these institutions
might be erected, and, by employing lhe prls'
oners in the manufacture OF articles neeued 1of
use by the Government, quite a large pecuniary
benefit might be derived in partial return Tor eX'
pendltures. -,
He indorses the recommendation OF the
Attorney-General for q change IN tne feaerai
judicial system, to obviatc the delays Heces'
salily attending the present condluon OIL analrs
in our courts.
Of fIndian affairs he says the present system
of agencies standing alone is inadequate Tor the
accomplishment of an object which mas become
pressing in It's importance-the more
rapid Transition from tribal organization 10
citizenship OF such portions q the
indians as are capable OF civilized life, and
hence the necessity for the supplemental
agency. commission OF six ntelllgenL per
MANAGEMENT OF such matters of detail as can
not with the present organization, be properly
and successfully conducted. Inc tlme II ripe,
the President tells Congress, Ior the "oih w
The President recommends the repeal OF the
| Pre- -emption and Timber-Culture acts, aha tnat
| the homestead laws be so amended as 10 Oetter
| secure compliance with their requirements OF
residence. Improvement and cultivation 1or nve
years from date of entry, without commu,tatioh
OF provision for speculation or REIMBURSEMENT
Referring to the satisfactory exhibit OF the
operations Of the Pension Bureau during the
last fiscal year, and 10 pension matters gener-
ally the President says the usefulness ana the
Justice of any system for the distribution OF
pensions depends upon the equality ana uni
fonnity OF its operation, and as long as we aa-
here TO the principle of granting pensions Tor
service and disability as the result OF the serv-
ice. the allowance Of pensions should pc re-
stricted to cases presenting these features.
Every patriotic heart" ne says. responds
10 4 tender consideration for those who, having
served their country long and well, are reduced
to destitutiOn and dependence, not as an lncl-
dent Of their service, but with advancing age Or
misfortune We are all tempted by the con
temptation Of such a condition TO supply rehei
and are often impatient Of The Hmltallons
OF public duty. Yielding 10 no one
In the desire TO indulge this feeling OF CONSIDER
alton. can not rid myself OF the conviction
that il these eX-soldiers are TO be relieved. they
and their cause are entitled to the Denent Oh
an enactment under which relief should pc
claimed right and that such relief may De
granted under the sanction, not the invasion,
objects of care, all equally entitled be relnitted
to the unequal operation Of sympathy, or the
tender mercies OF social and political influence
with their unjust discrimination.
OF the Pacific railroad debt extension propo-
stion, he says, that in considering the plan
suggested by the Secretary OF the Interior ana
indorsed by the board OF Government directors
the sole matters which should be taken into
accouE. are: ''rhe situation OF the Govern
ment as 4 creditor and the s.-est way 70 Sc
cure the payment Of the principal ana interest,"
on its debt.
OF Interstate commerce, he says that by Il
recent decision Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States it has been adjudged that the
laws of the several States are imperative TO
regulate rates Of transportation upon railroads:
IL such regulation interferes with the rate Ok
carriage from one State into another. Ihls I'M
portant field of control and regulation having
been left thus unoccupied, the eXpedlency OF
Federal action upon the subject is worthy OF
consideration.
OF the relations OF labor TO capital, the Presi-
dent thinks that when these differences pc
tween employer and employed reach such Il
stage as to result in the interruption OF com.
merce between the States, the application ol
arbitration by the General Government Mlghs
be regarded as entirely within It's consututIonsst
powers and he thinks we might reasonaply
nope that such arbitrators If carefully se'ecteo'
and il entitled TO the confidence OF the parues
to be affected, would be voluntarily caneu "
the settlement Of controversies OF less e1IenD
and not necessarily within the domain OF FED
eral regulation.
The President recommends, as plain duty
on the part OF the Government. tiit pdJ JhfcHt "
a million and quarter dollars still due 20 the
Freedman's Savings Bank depositors.
Civil-Seryice reform is the last important toplc
discussed in the message. The continued
operation Of the Ciyil-Service law, ne asserts.
has added the most convincing proof OF IT'S
necessity and usefulness. Every puphC
nffcer who has just idea OF
his duty to the people testltes TO the Value OF
This reform Its staunchest friends are 1ouno
among those who understand II best, ana It's
warlnest supporters are those VINO are re-
strained and protected by its requirements.
The meaning of such restraint and protectlon
Is not appreciated by those who want places
under the Government, regardless OF merit ana
efhcency, nor by those who insist that the Sc
lection Tor such places should rest upon !.
proper credential showing active partisan
work They mean 10 public officers, II not,
their lives the only opportunity afforded them
to attend the public business ana they mean
10 the good OF the country the better perform
ance or the work OF their Government. III IS
exceedingly strange, the President thinks that
me scope and nature OF this reform are SO httle
understood and that 50 many Things Bot III
cIuded within its plan are called py its hathe.
WIeu cayil Yields more fully 10 examination,
the system will have large additions 10 inc
number OF its friends r,..,. .
| Our Civil Service reform. the PRESIDENT says,
nav be imperfect in some OF It's details; u may
| he misunderstood ana opposed, IL may not al
| WAYS be faithfully applied; ITS designs may may
gfa1r