The Portland daily press., 1886-12-07


fence, aud then after such an expenditIeaIe
upon them as might not be deemed JustlH9ss
bic; second, 5 fOurth-rate vessels Of snan
tonnage, only one Of which was designed a.
war vessel, and all OF which are auxiliary
merely; third, q cruising ships, three OF
whlch aresbuilt Of iron, OF small tOnnase,
and twenty-f0ur Of wood. OF these wooden
vessels, II Is estimated by the chief construct
or OF the navy, that only three Will De ser
yieeable beyond a period Of six years, AZ
which time II may be said that OF the present
naval force nothing worthy the name VIII re.
main. All the vessels heretofore authorizes
are under contract or in course Of eonstrue-
tiOn, except the armOred ships, the torpedo
and dynamite boats and one cruiser. AS 70
the last OF these the bids were In excess Oh
the limit txed BY Congress. The production
In the United States Of armor and gun steei
IS question which II seems necessary 70 SET
tie at an early day II the armOred war yes-
sells are 10 be completed with those materials
Of home manufacture. This mas Desh tnS
subject Of Investigation by two noalus aitu
In the Last three wears The report OF the
Gun Foundry Board In 1884, OF the bOaru OF
FortifeatiOns made In January last, and the
reports OF the select committees OF the TWO
houses made at the last session Of Congress,
have entirely exhausted the subject, so far
as preliminary investigation Is involved, and
in their recommendations they are snbstan-
TALLY agreed.
In the event that the present invitation Of
the department for bids TO furnish such Of
the material as Is now authorized shall fail
to induce domestic manufacturers TO un-
dertake the large expenditures required TO
prepare for this new manufacture, and no
other steps are taken by Congress at its com
ing session, the Secretary cOnteniplates with
dissatisfaction the necessity Of obtaining the
arm0r and gun steel for the authorized ships.
II would seem desirable that the wants Of
the army and navy In this regard should be
reasonably met, and that by uniting their
contracts such indueement might be offered
as would result In securing the domestic ae-
tion OF these important interests.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The affairs Of the postal service show
marked and gratifying Improvement during
the past year. A particular account Of Its
transactions and condition Is given In the re-
port OF the Postmaster General, which will
be laid before you. The reduction Of the
rate Of letter postage in 1888 rendering the
postal revenues inadequate 10 sustain the ex-
pendltures, and business depression also con-
tributing, resulted in an excess Of cost for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1885, OF eight
and one-third million Of dollars. An addi-
tiOnal check upon receipts by doubling the
measure Of weight In rating sealed CORE
spOndenee and diminishing One-half the
charges for newspaper carriage was imposed
by legislation which took effect with the be-
ginning Of the past fiscal year, while con-
slant demand Of our Territorial development
and growing population for the extension
and Increase OF mail facilities and machine
ry neeessitates steady annual advance In
outlay, and the careful estimate q year
ago upon the ratesb of expenditure than ex-
isting, contemplated the unavoidable aug
mentation OF the deficiency In the last fiscal
year by nearly two millions Of dollars. The
anticipated revenue for the last year failed
OF realization by about $4,000; but proper
measures Of economy have 50 satisfae-
t0rily limited the growth Of ex-
penditure that the total deficiency
In fact fell below that Of 1885. and at this
time the increase Of revenue Is a gaining ra-
ito over the increase Of cost, demonstrating
the sufficiency OF the present rates Of postage
ultimately TO sustain the service. This Is the
more pleasing because our people now enjoy
both cheaper postage proportionally to dis
tanees and q vaster and more costly service
than any other on the globe. Retrenehment
has been effected In the cost OF supplies.
Some expenditures unwarranted by law hare
ceased, and the outlays for mail carriage
have been subjected TO beneficial scrutiny.
At the close Of the last fiscal year the expen-
SeS OF transportation Of star routes stood at
an annual rate OF cost less by over S56O,0O0
than at the close Of the previous year, and
steamboat and mail messenger service at
nearly 100000 less. The service has been
in the meantime enlarged and extended by
the establishment Of new Offices increase Of
routes OF carriage, expansion Of carrier de-
livery, cOnyeniences and additions TO the
railway mail facilities in accordance with
the growing exigencies Of the country and
the long-established policy OF the government
The Postmaster General call attention to the
existing law for c0mpensating railroads, and
expresses the hope that a method
may be devised which will prove more lust
TO the carriers and beneficial TO the Govern
ment, and the subject appears worthy Of
your early consideration. The differences
which arose during the year with certain Of
the ocean steamship companies have termin-
ated by the acquiescence Of all in the policy
Of the Government, approved by the Com
gress, In the postal appropriation at its last
a m mt no. taxfa
utmost service afforded by all vessels which
sail from our ports upon either ocean, SER
vice generally adequate to the needs Of our
intercourse. Petitions have, however, been
presented to the departments by numerous
merchants and manufacturers for the estab-
lishment of direct service 10 the Arlen-
tine Republic and for semi-monthly dispatch
es to Brazil, and the subject Is commended
to your consideration. II Is an obvious duty
to provide the means Of postal cOmmunica-
tiOn which our commerce requires, and with
prudent forecast Of results the wise exten-
sion OF 1t may lead to stimulating Intercourse
| and become the harbinger Of a profitable
| traffic which will open new avenues for the
/ disposition Of the products Of our industry.
| The circumstances OF the countries at the far
/ south OF our continent are such as TO invite
i our enterprise and afford the promise Of suf-
/ hcient advantage TO justify an unusual effort
| 70 bring about the closer relations which
| greater freedom OF communication would
tend to establish. suggest that, as distin
benefit Of any line Of trade or travel, what
| ever outlay may be required TO secure addi-
| tOnal postal service, necessary and proper
| and not otherwise attainabie, should be re-
/ garded as within the limit Of legitimate COM
| pensation for such service. The extension
| Of the free-dellyery service as suggested by
the Postmaster General has heretofore re-
| eelyed my sanction, and It is TO be hoped a
/ suitable enactment may soon be agreed up
on. The request for an appropriation sufic-
/ lent 20 enable the general inspection Of
fourth class Offices has my appreciation.
/ renew my approval OF the recommendation
/ Of the Postmaster General that another as
sistant be provided for the Post Once De-
| partment, and invite your attention TO the
| several other recommendations In his re-
| port.
| THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The conduct Of the Department Of Justice
| Tor 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 consideration OF the recon-
mendatiOns therein contained. In the report
submitted by this officer to the last session
Of Congress he strongly recommended the
erection Of penitentiary for the conhne-
ment Of prisoners convicted and sentenced
in the United States Courts, and he repeats
the recommendation in his report for the last
year. This Is a matter Of very great Inn
pOrtanee and should at once receive this Con-
| gresSIOnal action. United States prisoners
are now confined In more than thirty differ
|
ed In every part of the country. They are
subjected TO nearly as many different modes
OF treatment and discipline, and are far too
much removed from the control and regula-
tion Of the government. So far as they are
entitled 10 humane treatment and an opp0r-
tunity for improvement and reformation. the
| government Is responsible TO them and s0ci-
ETY. that those things are forthcoming. But
this duty can scarcely be discharged without
more absolute control and direction than Is
possible under the present system. Many Of
our good citizens have interested themselves,
with the most beneficial results, In the ques-
tiUn Of prison reform. The general govern
ment should be In a situation, since there
there must be United States prisoners, tc
furnish important aid in this movement, and
should be able 10 illustrate what might BE-
practically done In the direction OF this re-
form. and TO present an example In the treat
ment and Improvement of its prisoners wOr
thy Of imitation. With prisons under II,
own control the government could dea
with the somewhat yexed question o.
convict labor, so far as its eOnvict
were concerned, according to a plar
Of its own adoption and with due regard I,
the rights and Interests OF our own iabOrinl
, citizens, instead Of som etimes aiding in thl
operating a system which causes amOnl
them irritation and discomfort. Upon con
{ sideratiOn Of this subject II might be.thOugh
/ a.. -. -