Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-12-16

| Attorney no greater than is necessary for the
/ these revenue litiga.ions cannot bo considered.
In default OF tho adoption by Congress OF n
plan for the general reorganization OF the
Federal courts, as has heretofore been recon-
mended, urge the propriety OF passing law
permitting the appointment OF an additional
Federal Judge In the district where thess Gov
| ernment suits have accumulated. 80 that by con-
tinued sessions Of the courts devoted to the trial
these cases may be determined 1t is entire
ly plain that great saving to the Government
| the suitors who have honest claims would not
be denied justice through delay.
| THE ARMY.
Tho report of tho Secretary Of War gives de-
| tailed account OF the administr alton of his de-
partment and contains sundry recommended
! tions for the Improvement OF the service, which
fully approve. Tho army consisted at the dato
OF the last consolidated return Of 2IO3 officers
| and 24.0i6 enlisted men. Tho expenses of tho
| department for the last fiscal year were
$50, 800 003 49, including S629i, ,905 43 for public
especially direct the attention of Congress
| to the recommendation that officers be required
] TO submit to an examination as q preliminary
| to their promotion. 1 see no objection but
many advantages in adopting this feature,
which has operated B. bene1cially In our Navy
papgytment as Well as in some branches OF the
| COAST DEFENsEs.
The subject OF coast defenses and fortihca-
| tions had been fully and carefully treated by
| the Board on Fortihcatons, whose report was
| submitted at the last session of Congress; but
Il no construction Work OF the klnu recommended
| by the Board has been possible during the last
/ year from the lack Of appropriations for such
purpose. The defenseless condition Of our sea-
coast and lake frontier is perfectly palpable !;
that certain Of our cities named in
the report Of the board should be for
portant OF these Notifications should be
| commenced at once. The work has been
thoroughly considered and laid out, the Secre-
| tary Of War reports, but ali is delayed in de-
/ fault OF Congressional action. The absolute
necessity, judged by all standards Of prudence
and foresight, OF our preparation for an enectual
/ resistance against the armored ships and steel
gnns and mortars Of modern construction which
/ may threaten the cities on our coasts, is so
| apparent that hope effective steps will be
| taken in that direction Immediately. The
| valuable and suggestive treatment OF this ques-
/ tion by the Secretary of War is earnestly COM
mended to the consideration Of Congress;
THE APACHE WAR.
| In September and October last tho hostile
| Apachies, who, under the leadership Of Geron-
/ inc, had for eighteen months been on the war
path. and during that timo had committed
| many murders and been the cause Of constant
terror to the settlers of Arizona, surrendered to
/ General Miles, tho military commander who
succeeded General Crook In the management
/ and direction of their pursuit. Under the terms
i OF their surrender as thon reported and in view
/ OF the understanding which this murderous
savage seemed to entertain OF the assurances
given them, it was considered best
to imprison them in such manner
| rs to prevent their ever engaging in such out
/
Fort Pickens having been selected as n safe
| place of confinement, all the adult males were
| sent thither, and will be closely guarded as
| prisoners. In the meantime the residue Of the
band who, though still remaining upon the
reservation, were regarded as unsafe, and sus-
| pected OF furnishing aid to those on the war
| women and larger children of the hostiles were
| also taken there and arrangements have been
made for putting the children Of proper age in
| Indian schools.
THE wAR-vEssELs.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy con-
| tains detailed report 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-turreted monitors, none OF which
fv9sh lq6 I iffe 6S-
lete, and thoy only be relied upon as auxil-
iary ships in harbor defense, and then after such
an expenditure upon them rs might not be
| deemed justihable Second, five fourth-rate
| vessels of small tonnage, only one OF which was
| designed as a war vessel, and all of which are
auxiliary merely Third, twenty.seven cruising
ships three of which are built Of iron and of
| small tonnage, and twenty-four of wood. OF
J these wooden vessels it is estimated by the
chief constructor Of the navy that only three
| will be serviceable beyond period of six years,
| at which time it may be said that Of the present
naval force nothing worthy tho name will re-
| main.
All the vessels heretofore authorized are un-
| der contract or in course Of construction, ex-
| cept the armored ships, tho torpedo dynamite
| boats. and one crusier. As to the last OF these,
the bids were in excess Of the limit fixed by
| Congress
ARMoR AND GUN STEEL.
The production in the United States OF armor
and gun steel is n question which it seems
necessary to settle at an early day, IL the
| armored war vessels are to be completed with
those materials Of home manufacture. This
two boards and by two special commit
| tees of Congress within the last three
years. The report of the Gun Foundry Board
| in 1884, Of the Board OF Fortihcations made in
January last and the reports of the select COM
| mittees of the two houses made at the last ses-
sion OF Congress have entirely exhausted the
| involved, and in their Recommendation they are
| substantially agreed.
the department for bids to furnish such OF this
material as is now authorized shall fail to
| induce domestic manufacturers to under
| take the large expenditures required to
! prepare fer this new manufacture, and
no other steps are taken by Congress Mt its COM
ing session, the Secretary contemplates with
! dissatisfaction. the necessity of obtaining
| abroad the armor and tho gun steel r tho
authorized ships 1t would seem desirable that
| the wants Of the army and the navy in this re-
| gard should bo reasonably met, and that by
| uniting their contracts such inducement might
| be offered would result in securing the do
mestication Of these important interests.
TIE POSTAL SERVICE.
| The affairs of the postal service show marked
/
year. particular account OF its transactions
| and condition is given in the report OF the
| Postmaster General, which will be laid before
you. The reduction OF the rate OF letter post
aga in 1888, rendering the postal revenues made
quate to sustain the expenditures, and business
depression also contributing, resulted in an
| excoss of cost for the fiscal year ended June
! 80, 1895, Of eight and one-third millions of
dollars. An additional check upon receipts by
doubling the measure OF weight in rating sealed
correspondence, and diminishing one-half
| the charge for newspaper carriage, was inn
posed by legislation. which took effect with the
beginning OF the past fiscal year; while the
const INT demand of our territorial develop
| ment and growing population for the extension
| and increase Of mail facilities and machinery
| necessitato steady annual advance in outlay.
| The careful estimate of n year ago upon the
plated the unavoidable augmentation of the de-
| hciency in the last fiscal year by nearly two
millions OF dollars. The anticipated revenue
| for the last year failed OF realization by about
so satisfactorily limited the growth of expendi-
| lures that the total deficiency, in fact fell be-
| low that OF 18S and at that time the increase
OF revenue is in gaining ratio over the increase
| Of cost, demonstrating the suf1ciency OF the
present rates Of postage ultimately TO sustain
| the service. This Is the more pleasing because
| our people enjoy now both cheaper postage,
proportionately to distances. and vaster and
| more costly service than any other upon the
/ globe.
Retrenchment has been effected In the cost
| OF supplies some expenditures unwarranted by
law have coased, and the outlays for mail car
riage have been subjected to beneficial scrutiny.
At the close Of the late fiscal year tho expense
nual rate Of cost less by $780, 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, expan-
| sion of carrier delivery conveniences, and
| additions 60 the railway mail facilities In ac-
| COrdnnco with the growing oNigoDCipg of the