Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-12-06

| putting the children OF proper age In indian
schools
THE NAVY.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy
contains detailed report of the condi-
ton OF his department, with such a
statement of the action needed to i'm
prove the same as should challenge the
earnest attention of Congress. The
present navy of the Uuited States, aside
| from the ships in course OF construction,
consists Of First, fourteen single tur-
reted monitors, none of which are in
commission, or at the present time SER
viceable. The batteries Of those ships are
obsolete and they can only be relied upon
as auxiliary ships in harbor defense and
| then after such an expenditure upon them
as might not be iustifiable. Second, five
| fourth rate vessels OF small tonnage only
one OF which was designed as a war YES
sci, and all OF which are auxiliary
merely. Third, twenty-seven cruising
ships, three OF which are built OF iron 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 q
period OF six years.
All the vessels heretofore authorized are
under contract or in course OF construc-
ton, except the armored ships, the tor
pedo and dynamite boats, and one
cruiser. As to the last OF these, the bids
we've in excess of the limit fixed by Con-
gress. The production in the United
| States OF armor and gun steel is ques-
ton which it seems necessary to settle at
an early day, if the armored war
vessels are to be completed with those
materials OF home manufacture. This
has been the subject OF investigation
| by two boards and by two special COM
mittees of Congress within the last three
years. The report of the Gun Foundry
Board in 1884, OF the Board on Fortifca-
tons, made in January last, and the re-
port OF the select committee of the two
houses, made at the last session OF Con-
gress, have entirely exhausted the sub
ect so far as preliminary investigation is
concerned, and in their recommendations
they are substantially agreed. In the
eventthat the present invitation of the
department for bids to furnish such OF this
material as is now authorized
shall fail to induce domestic
manufacturers to undertake the
large expenditures required to prepare
for this new manufacture, and no other
steps are taken by Congress at its coming
session, the Secretary contemplates with
disaffection the necessity OF obtaining
abroad the armors and the gun steel for
the authorized ships. 1t would seem de-
sirable that the wants OF the army and
navy in this regard should be reasonably
met, and that by uniting the contracts
such inducement might be offered as
would result in securing the domestica-
ton OF these important interests.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal service show
marked and gratifying improvement dur
the last year. A particular account of
its transactions and condition is given in
the report.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The conduct of the department of JUS
tlce for the last fiscal year is fully detailed
in the report Of the Attorney General,
and | invite the earnest attention of
Congress to the same and due consdera-
ton OF the recommendations therein
contained. In the report submitted by
this officer to the last session OF the Con-
gress he strongly recommended the cree
ton OF penitentiary for the confinement
OF prisoners convicted and sentenced in
the United States courts, and he repeats
the recommendation in his report for the
last year. This is matter of very great
Importance and should at once receive
Congressional action. United States
prisoners are now confined in more than
thirty different State prisons and peni-
tentlarles, situated in different parts of
the country. They are subjected to
nearly as many different modes OF treat
ment and discipline and are Tar too much
removed from the control and regulation
OF the Government. So far as
they are entitled to humane treat
ment and opportunity for improvement
and reformation, the Government
is responsible to them and society, that
these things are forthcoming; but this
duty can scarcely be discharged without |
more absolute control and discretion than |
is possible under the present system
Many OF our good citizens have interested
themselves with the most beneficial re-.
suits on the question Of prison reform
Inc General Government should be in a
there must be United
states ,prisoners-to furnish important
ana IN TINS movement, and should be able
10 Illustrate what may be practically done
IN the direction OF this reform, and to
present an example in the treatment and
improvement OF its prisoners worthy of
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary of the In.
terror presents comprehensive sum.
mary OF the work of the various branches
d the public service connected with the
apartment and the suggestions and rec.
lamentations which it contains for the
OF the service should re.
eve your careful consideration
PENSIONS.
The report OF the Commissioner of
'ensions gives detailed and satisfactory
Xhblt OF the operations OF the Pension
bureau. No one can examine our men
ION establishment and its operations
Without being convinced that, through
Is fundamentally, justice can be very {
iiearly done to all who are entitled under
he present law to the pension bounty of
he Government, But it is an undeniShIa I
Rct mat cases exist well entitled to relief I
winch the Pension Bureau is powerless '
o relieve. The really worthy casns NJ ]
ms class are such as only lack bv mis-. i
1rtune the kind or quantity of nroof 9
shich the law and regulations |
!, the Bureau require. or a
Inch, though their merit 10 I
pparent, for some other reason cannot 4
e Justly dealt with through general 4
TVS, These conditions fully Justify nm. t
hcatlon to Congress and special enact. I
tents; But resort to the Congress for - Il
peclaI pension act to override the delhi. v
rate and careful determination of the 0
enslon bureau on the merits or to secure p