Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-07
THE MESSAGE.
lconrrxuEp rRoM rIRsr pAeE.l


the Mint again urges the necessity OF more
vault room for the purpose OF storing
the silver dollars which are not
needed for circulation by the people
have seen no reason 10 change the views ex-
pressed in my last annual message on the SUP
iect of this compulsory coinage and again
urge its suspension on all the grounds contained
in my former recommendation re-ehlotceu Dy
the significant increase OF our god explorations
during the last year. 1t appears by the eompar-
alive statement, herewith presented, and for the
further reasons that the more TINS currency Is
distributed among the people the greater De-
comes our duty to protect IT from disaster thaI
we now have abundance for all our needs ana
that there seems 10 be but little propTlety IN
building vaults to store such currency when the
only pretense for its coinage is the necessity for
its use By the people as circulating medium
NEEDED REvENuE LAW AMENDMENTS.
The great number of suits now pending in the
United states Courts for the Southern District OF
New rk growing out OF the collection OF the
customs revenue at the port OF New York, and
the number o. such suits that are Almost Gally
instituted, are certainly worthy the attention OF
Congress. The legal controversies, which are
based on conflicting views by importers and the
Collector as TO the Interpretation OF our present
complex and indefinite revenue laws, might be
largely obYiated by an amendment OF those
laws Bur, pending such an amendment; the
present condition of this litigation should be
relieved There are now pending about TWO
thousand FIVE hundred of these suits, and more
than one thousand one hundred have been
commenced within the past eighteen months
and many Of the others have been al issue LOT
more than twenty-five years. These delays sub
iect the Government 10 Il loss OF evidence ana
prevent the preparation necessary 10 prevent
unjust and fictitious claims, While the colstanl'y
accruiug interest threatens to double the De
Inand involved In the present condition ofthe
dockets of the Courts, well filed with private
suits and of the force allowed the District At
torney-nO greater than IS necessary ior the
ordinary and current business of his ONCE
these revenue litigatiODS cannot be considered.
In default of the adoption by Congress OF a
plan for the general reorganization OF the req
eral Courts as has been heretofore recommend
cd urs c the prOpriety of passing law per
hitting the appointment of an additional req
eril Judge in the district where these Govern
ment suits have accumulated so tnat oy con
tinued sessions of the Courts devoted 10 the
trial of these cases, they may be finally deter
mined. l. IS entirely plain that great saving
to the Government would be accomplished by
such q remedy, and the suitors who have honest
claims would not be denied justice through ue-
lay.
The rcport of the Secretary of War gives a de-
tailed account Of the administration of his de-
partment, and contains sundry recommends
tons for the improvement OF the service which
fully approve. The army consists at the date
of the last consolidated return OF 2,lO3 officers
and q, 9i6 enlisted men. The expenses Of the
department for the last fiscal year were S56, $780,
g03 IS, including g, 29l3l5 4S Tor public works
and river and harbor improvements. l especial
II direct the attention of Congress to the recon-
mendati0n that officers be required to submit TO
an examination as preliminary to their pro-
motion. I see no objection but many adVan-
tageS in adopting this feature. which has oper-
ated so beneficial in our Navy Depai tment as
well as in some branches of the srny.
The subject Of coast defenses and fortitica-
tions has been fully and Carefully treated by the
Board of Fortifcations whose report was sub
mitted 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 pur-
pose. The defenseless condition of our sea
coast and lake frontier IS perfectly palpaoie,
and the eXan nations made must convince us
all that certain OF our cities named IL the re
port of the Board should be fortified and that
work on the most important OF these fortlnca-
tiOns should be commenced at once. The woik
has been thoroughly considered and laid ont,
the Secretary of War reports ba. all IS delayed
in default Of Congre, SOnal action. The abso-
lutte necessity, judged by all andardS of.prud-
enee and foresight, of our preparat on Tor an
eifectual resistance against. armored ships and
steel guns of modern construction, which may
threaten the cities on our coasts, is 50 apparent
that l hope efIec tive steps win be taken in that
direction Immediately. The valuable and sug
gestiye treatment of this question by the Board
is earnestly commended to the consideration o
Congress.
In September and October last the hostile
Apaches who, under the leadership of Geronimo
had for eighteen months been on the warpath
and during that time had committed many muir
derS ana Dte0 the cause OF constant LeTTOT
the settlers in Arizona, surrendered to Genera
Miles, the military commander, who succeeded
better than Crook III the infringement aud dl
reetion OF their pursuit. Under the terms o
their surrender, as then reported, and III view
of the understanding which these murderou
savages seemed to entertain OF the assurance
given them, it was considered best TO impr1soI
them in such manner as to prevent their eve
engaging in such outrages again. instead o
trying them for murder. Fort Piekens bavins
been selected as q safe place of confinement, al
the adu males were sent thither, and will bt
closely guarded as prisoners In the meantime
the residue of the band, who, though still re
naming upon the reservation, were regarded a
unsafe and were suspected Of furnishing AID L
those on the wGrpath, had been removed 4
Fort Marion. The women and larger child. el
OF the hOsti,es were also taken there, and ar
engagements have been made for putting thu
children OF proper age in Indian schools.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary OF the Navy con
tains a detailed report Of the condition Of hi
department with such a statement f the actor
needed to improve the same as should challeng
the earnest atteJtion of Congress. The preseh
navy Of the [ nited states. aside fom the ship
in cOurse OF coust uction, consists Fl 81 OF four
teen siugle-turfeted monitors. none of which ar
a. the present time III seryicelb condition
The batteries OF these ships are obsolete, au,
they can only be relied upon auXiiars ship
N harBO- deienses. and then Gully Giier such al
expenditure upon them as might not he deemed
jus itia5le. Second-Five lourth-rdte vessels o
small tonnage. only one of which was designed
as war vessel and all of which are aIXiIiarl
merely. Third-Twenty seven cruis ng ship
three OF which are built of iron OF small oanage
and twenty four Of wood. Ofthese wooden YES
sells il is estima Ell by tue Ca!ef Constructor o
the Navy that only three VIII be sefvlceaDie be
yond period of six years, at which time ms!
be said that OF the present naval force nOthlu.
worthy the name will remain.
All the vessels heretofore ordered constructed
are under contract or II course OF construction
except the auuored ships, the TORPEDO anC
dynamite boats. aud one cruiser. As to IN,
last of thcse, the bids were IN eAcess OF the lirn
its fixed by Congress. The production 10 th
United states of arm agd guns of Steel Is
question which i. seems necessary 10 5 tie 4
an early day. IL the aTmnred war vessels 4
be completed with materials OF home manuact
ure. This has been the subject of investigation
By two special committees Of Congress wthil
the last three years. The report OF the Fcundr
Boa in ISL. OF the Board of FortiEcat;ons mad
IN Jauualy last. ard the report OF The selee
committee of the two Houses made at the las
session Of Congress have ely eXhauste tn
suite SO far as preliminary investigate n Is IN
rOlvcd, aud IN their recommendations they sub
steutiaLy agree. In the event that the presen
invitation 81 Inc Department for bids to illrnisl
such OF this material as is now authorized, shall
fail 20 iaduce domestic manufacturers TO under
take the large expenditures required to prepar
foI this new manufacture, ana 10 other step
are taken bT Congress ut its coming session
the secretary cOntemp,ates wfth dissatisfaction
the necessity OF obsalning abroad the armor
would sem desirable that the wants of tn
army and navy in this regard should be reason
ably met, and that by uniting the contract
such inducement might be offered that woul
result ia secu ing the domesiieation OF thes
important Interests.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs OF the Postal Service show marke,
and gratifying Improvement during the pas
year. a p4gtcnllr account of its transaction
and condition Is given in the report of the Post
lnastertieperGi, which will be laid before yoI
The reduction + the rate OF letter postage i,
ISIS, rendering the postal revenues inadequate
TO sustain the expenditures, and the bushes
depression also contributing, resulted in an eX
cess of the cost for the fiscal year ended Jun
80. 1881. OF eight and one-third millions of dol
lars. An additional check upon receipts, b.
doubling the measure Of weight in rating seale'
correspondence and diminishing one-half tn
charge for newspapers carriage, was imposes
by legislation which took effect with the be
ginning OF the past fiscal year. While III
constant demand OF our territorial development
and growing population for the extension an
increase of Insii facilities aud machinery neces
STATED steady annual advance in oujlays, an
the careful estimate Of year ago uYon tn
rates of expenditure then existing contem
plated the unavoidable augmentation of b
deficiency in the last fiscal year by nearl
S209oO00, the anticipated revenue for the la
year failed OF realization by So. 900; but prop
measures of economy have 50 satiSfactoril
limited the growth OF expenditure that the tots
deficiency IN fact fell below that of 1885. an
st th lis tiue the increase of revenue is gasnin
over the increase Of cost. demonstrating tn
sufficiercy OF the present rates of postage ult
Inately 10 sustain the service. THIS is the mo,
pleGsing because our people enjoy now bot
cheaper postages proportionately TO distance