Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-09

I
Congress to the recommendation that Q
officers be required TO submit to an examin- 8
alton as a preliminary to promotion.
The defenceleHs condition OF our eeacoast |
and lake frontiers is perfectly palpaole, y
and 1t Ia absolutely necessary tina, wa should l
pr,,lare Ut once an ehaotnh resistance
against the arlored anlps and steel guns !
and mpftarB of modern construction which {
threaten our seaconst cities. The hostile
Apaches under Geronimo, who were on the
warpg,h fdr Is months, haVe surrendered
to General Miles and have beein imprisoned |
SO as "a prevent any such further ontriRes.
The braves and women are under guard at
Fort Piekeus nnd trs children will be sent
to Indian schools. The navy also needs the
attention OF Congress at once. The present
navy, aside from those under CONSTRUCTOR
Is:
First. IA single turreted monitors, none
az whJh IRE in commission, nor ny tue
praseut time servtceahle, The batteries o.
ID. So ships are obsolete, and they eau only
Oe relied upon az auxiliary siips In barboi
defence, and 1hen amer snch AZ ckPehut,
iurn nlipn them ~ might not 10 deemed
lustihab5. an
Second, Five fourth rate vessels Of small
tonnage, only one OF which was designed
| AS u war vessel, t.nd all of which are ahN-
Hilary, merely. a..
/ OF which are built of iron, OF small tonnage
and "a OF wood. 0fthese wooden vessels II
/ IL estimated by the chief constructor OF the |
| navy that only three will be servlceaple
beyond period OF six years, at Which tlme
| IL may be said that OF the present naval
| force nothing worthy the name will remain. |
All the vessels heretofore authorized are |
| under contract or in course Of construction,
| except the armored ships, the torpedo ana
dynamite boats and one cruiser. AS 70 the
last of these the bids were In excess OF tne
limit fixed by Congress. The production N
1 4 ys.fo md
question which 1t seems necessary 10
| settle ut an early day, II tho armored war
| vessels are TO be completed with those ma
terials OF home manufacture.
In the event that the present inyitation
OF the department for bids TO furnish suc9
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 us
coming session, the secretary contemporaries
with dissatisfaction the necessity OF obtain
ing abroad the armor and the gun steel fof
! the authorized ships. It would seem desir-
, able that the wants of the army and navy
in this regard should be reasonably met,
and that by uniting their contracts, such
: Inducements might be offered as would re-
! | suit in securing tho dOmesticatlon OF these
important interests.
ina reduction of the rate Of letter post
| age In 1888, rendering the postal revenues
| inadeuuate to sustain the expenditures, ana
business depression also contributing, re,
J, suited in an excess oil cost Tor me nscai
q YEAR ended June SOth, 1885, OF eight and
!. 'ne-third millions of dollars. An additional
! check upon receipts by doubling the meas
y ura OF weight Ia rating scaled correspond
i snee and diminishing one-half the charge
u for newspaper carriage was imposed by
u LEGISLATION which took effect with the pc
!, ginning Of the past fiscal year; and ut thls
1 81 Inn IA nf
ratio over the increase OF cost, demonstrate
y ing the suffleieney of the present rates OF
y postage ultimately to sustain the Service
y This is the more pleasing because our peo-
!, pie enjoy now both cheaper postage, pro-
y horizontally TO distances, and vaster and
y more costly service, than any other upon
n the globe.
le cost of supplies, some expenditures unwar-
u ranted by law have ceased, and the outays
u for mail carriage have been subjected TO
p beneficial scrutiny. At the close OF the last
fiscal year the expense Of transportation on
~ | star routes stood at an annual rate OF cost
a, less by over $500 900 than at the close OF the
"a previous year; and steamboat and mail
al messenger service OF nearly 1900 900 less.
We The differences which arose during the
" year with certain OF the ocean steamship
=, companies, have terminated by the acqui
~ escence OF all In the policy Of the govern
iN ment approved by the Congress In the posta
appropriation at Its last session; and the
T. department now enjoys the utmost service
=. afforded by all vessels which sail from GU
a ports upon either oeean-a service general!
"a adequate to the needs of our intercourse
~, Petitions have, however, been presented Il
ui the department by numerous merchant
~ and manufacturers for the establishment Q
~, direct service to the Argentine Republic
sss and for semi-monthy dispatches to the EN-
,n pire of Brazil; and the subject is com
~ mended to your consideration.
VI suggest that as distinguished from
- | grant or subsidy for the mere benefit 9
~, ~ any line of trade or travel, whatever outla
TX may be required TO secure additional posts
isn service necessary and proper and not othel
w ns wise attaina5le, should be regarded a
o or within the limit Of legitimate compensate
~ for such service.
nc The extension OF the fTea-deliyery servic
tts as suggested by the postmaster general b.
heretofore received my Sanction, and 1t
, is to be hoped suitable enactment may SOL
,an be 1gread upon.
If The request for an appropriatlonsufti eiel
~. to enable the general inspection Of fOurt
he. class Offices has my appreciation.
~ In the report submitted by the Attorne
M N, General at the last session Of the Oongre
ne strongly Ier1lantls4pi tne 5yctt0l 0i
go paniteniary for IL" Niln lent Of pr
SI | al. aro rCnyt5tl ] al s"rE cod In the Unit
M States court This is Il matter Of very gre
n,.a importance and should at once receive Co
\, - | RreSStOnht ugtl0n. UulLbu HLAIeS pflSOnE
49, | are now confined III more than 80 differe
IN state prisons and penitentiaries scattered
AZ, every part OF the country. They are su
,i;b iected to nearly as many different modes
LII treatment and discipline and are far L
!" much removed from the control and reg
40 lationuf the government. So fur as th
nod are entitled TO humane treatment and
en- opportunity for Improvement and reform
-, ton, the government is responsible to the
~ and society that these thugs are forthcoi
nv ing. But this duty can scarcely be-
bpajy charged without more absolute control u
,r;tb direction than Is possible under the prest
inw- system.
IN With prisons nnder its own control, I
Il To- government could deal with the somewl
NO. veXed question OF convict labor so far as
roe eOnvicts were concerned
Il ~ Upon consideration Of this subject
ghiIa might be- thought wise to erect more til
~ one of these institutions, located In 81
.asad places as would best subserve the purpo
~ ~ of convenience and economy III transpor
nil. tton. And by employing them In the mi
a in ufacture OF such articles as were needed
use by the government, quite a large pc
ment MARY benefit would be realized In part
VINES return for our outlay
"a N again urge change in tho Fede
eesent judicial system to meet the wants Of
aonIa people and obviate the delays necessal
,enne attending the present condition Of affair
shan our courts. All are agreed that someth
n ita should be done.
AHA INDIAN AFFAIRS.
leyed The present system OF Indian agent
legis- has become inadequate for the accompli
ment Of the object that has grown press
those In importance-the more rapid transit
con- from tribal organizations to citizenship
rectly such Indians as are capable of civil
er OF life. There is now no such thing as
en- of Indian frontier. As a race the Indians
,aged nolonger hostile few only are troubeso
Ii this Except the fragments Of several bands
g. hall are now gathered on reservations. 1t Ii
der or longer possible for them to subsist by
enact. chase and the spontaneous production
no in the earth. Their life Of dependence
ces TO government rations is no longer defensi
duets. Yet they are portion Of our PEG
81 and with a peculiar claim on the foste
,ulous care and protection of the nation.
their government cannon relieve itself of this
hIs- sponsibitty until they are so far trained
price civilized as to be able wholly to mai
profit and care for themselves- Agents have
ent, is to look after the improvement of but
rer. Indians the many are neglected and
ew all main Idle and dependent. Besides,
4 and compensation and conditions of the ser
income are not calculated to secure for this y
to the men who are fitted by ability and ski
venue plan and direct the methods adoptet
of the produce the most speedy results and pei
trance nent benefits. Hence the necessity
erean supplemental agency or system, direete
etable the end Of promoting the general and I
rapid transition Of the Indian from
hat Mt barism to civilization.
Of 1878 The appointment Of an auxiliary com
vaue sion for this purpose was recommendt
y-four last years message. 1t was designed
on the this commission should be composed o
silver Intelligent and capable persons-th
N up nntnIlah hi