Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-07
MESSAGE.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


contains a detailed exhibit of the condition
of his department, with such a statement
of the action needed to improve the same
as should challenge the earnest attention OF
congress. The present navy of the United
States, aside from the ships in course OF
construction, consists of: First. fourteen
single turped monitors, none of whieh art
in commission nor at the present time ser
viceabie-the batteries of these ships art
obsolete and they can only be relled
upon as auxiliary ships III
harbor defense, and then after such
an expenditure upon them as might moi DC
deemed iustitiable; second. five fourth rate
vessels of small tonnage, only one OF Whlcn
was designed as war vessel, ana all OF
which,are auxiliary merely; thlrd. twenty
seven cruising ships, three OF whlch are
built Of iron. of small tonnage, ana tWcht!
four of wood OF these wooden VesSels II
is estimated bv the chief constructor Oh inc
navy that only three will bt serVlceaoie NC
vond a period of six years, at WHICH TN
it may be said of the preseni,L, ha'a: ioiOo
nothing worthy the name VIII REMAIN;
All the vessels heretofore authoriZeu arc
under contract or in course OF consul uc'i'Li
except the arm0red ships, the torpedo ana
dynamite boats and one cruiser. AS 70 the
last of these the bids were IN excess OF the
limit fixed by congress. The production
in the United States of armor and gun steel
is question which it seems necessary 10
settle at an early day if the armored war
vessels are to be completed with those ma
terials of home manufacture. Tins has
been the subject of Investigation by TWO
boards and by two special committees
of congress within the last three
wears. The report of the gun foundry
board in 1897, and of the board on forum
cations made in january last, ana the re-
Dorts 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
substantially agreed. In the event thai
the present invitation of the department
for bids to furnish such Of this material as
is now authorized shall fail TO induce 40
nestle manufacturers to undertake the
large expenditures required To prepare
for this new manufacture, ana
no other steps are taken by congress at Its
COMING session. the secretary cOntempales
with dissatisfaction the necessity or obtain
ing abroad tho armor Of the gun steel Tor
the authorized ships 1t would seem dc
sirable that the wants of the army and the
navy in this regard should be reasonably
met and that by uniting their contracts
such inducement might be offered a
would result in securing the domesucatlon
of these important interests.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal service show
marked and gratifying improvement during
the past year. A particular ac
count Of its transactions and comb
ton is given in the repor
of the postmaster general which VIII bt
laid before you. The reduction or tnt
rate of letter postage in / sS3, rendering The
postal revenues inadequate 10 sustain the
expenditures, and business depression alsc
continuing, resulted III an excess OF cos
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1852 ol
eight and onethird millions OF dollars.
An additional check upon the receipts by
doubling the measure OF weights IN rating
sealed correspondence and diminishing
by one half the chargc for newspaper car
rage. was imposed by legislation which
took effect with the beginning OF
the past fiscal year; while Inc
constant demand of our territorial develop
men' and growing population for the eX
tension and increase of mail facilities ana
machinery necessitates a steady annual al
vance in outlay and the careful estimate OF
Il year ago upon the rates OF expenditure
then existing contemplated the unavoidable
augmentation of the deficiency IN the lae'
fiscal year BY nearly two millions or dol
lars. The anticipated revenue for th(
wear failed Of realization by about SOL, 900
but nroner measures of economy
have so satisfactorily limited th'
growth of expenditure that the tota
deficiency in fact fell below that OF 1888
and AT this time the increase or revenue i
on gaining ratio over the increase or cost
demonstrating the suf1iciency of the presen
rates of postage ultimately 10 sustain Tx
service. This is the more pleasing because
our people enjoy now both cheaper postage
proporiionately to distance, and Vastel
and more costly service than any other up
on the globe.
Re,renchmcnt has been effected IN the
cost of supplies Some expenditures an
warranted by law have ceased, the outlay
for mail carriage have been subjected t'
beneficial scrutiny. At the close O
the last fiscal year the expense
of transportation on star routes STOOD III
annual rate of cost less by over S56O,oo'
than It the close Of the previous year, ah'
steamboat and mail messenger service 4.
nearly 800. 900 less than the service ma
been: i'm the meantime enlarged by IN
establishment of new offices, increase @
routes Of carriage, expansion oil carrier ue
livery. convenitpCeS and additions 10 IN
railway mail facilities in accordance VIII
the growing exigencies of the country an
the established policy Of the government
The postmaster general calls attention L
the existing law compOnsa ing raiiroau
and expresses the opinion that method
NAV toe devised which will prove more JUS
to the carriers and beneficial to the govern
mcnt. aud the subject appears worthy Q
your early consideration.
The differences which arose dullng IN
year with certain of the ocean steamship
companies have terminated by the acquie>
cence of nll in the policy of the govern
ment approved by the congress In the pos
tai appropriation al its last session, ana IN
drpsrtmrnt now enjoys the utmost serNl'
afforded bv all vessels which sail from on
ports upon either ocean, "A service Seuei
ally adequate to the needs OF on
intercourse. Petitions have, however
been presented 10 the department b
numerous merchants and manufacturer
for The establishment of 4 direct service
the Argentine Republic for semi-m"nthi
DISPATCHES TO the empire Of Brazil, and til
subject is commended to your considers
ton. 1t is an obvious duty 10 provide IN
means of postal communication which on
commerce requires. with prudent torcca'
Of results. The wise extension Of It ma
lead 10 stimulating intercourse and be IL
harbinger of q profitable traffic which vi
ons, now revenues for the dlsp'
sition of the products Of Il