The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-04
THE MORNING NEWS: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1885,

Issue early in December The guns win proba-
bly, be Of l5-inch calber and fire a pro1ecthe
that will carry charge each OF about oJO
pounds OF explosive gelatine with full caliber
projections The guns will probably be deliv
cred 10 from six to ten months from the date
of contract All the guns Of this class that can
be procured under the provisions of the law will
be purchased during the year 1889
earnestly request that the recommendations
contained In the SeCretarys report, all OF when
are, in my opinion, calculated to increase the
usefulness and discipline Of the army, may re-
ceive the consideration OF the congress Among
these the proposal that there should be provided
a plan for the examination of officers 70 test
their fitness for promotion Is OF the utmost I'M
portance. This reform has been before recon-
mended in the reports of the secretary; anu US
expediency is SO fully demonstrated ny the
argument he presents in its favor that lts
adoption should no longer be neglected
sHERIoAN's DEATH.
The death OF Gen. sheridan in August last
was national atfiiction. Toe army then lost
the grandeStof its Chiefs the country lost
brave and experienced soldier, wise anu dis
Greet counselor, and a modest and sensible man.
Those who in any way came Within the range
of his personal association will never fail to pay
deserved and willing homage TO his greatness
| and the glory of his career; but they viii cherish
with more tender sensbiity the loving memory
OF his simple, gen rous and conslderate nature.
MOUNT vERNoN's PRISONERS.
The Apache Indians, whose removal from
their reservation in Arizona followed the capt
ure of those OF their number who engaged IN
bloody ana numerous falu during part OF inc
years 1855 and 1856, are now held as prisoners II
war at Mount Nernon barracks, in the state OF
Alabama. They numbered on Oct. 81, the GATE
OF the last report, - men, 40 women, 20 boys
and 50 girls; in all, 3se persons. The command
ing officers state that they are in good health
and contented, and that they are kept
employed as fully as rn is oPP possible
as they arrive at suitable age are sent TO the
Indian schools at Carlisle and Hampton. Last
summer some charitable and kind people asked
tNa lam m
for the purpose of lnstructing the adults as
well as such children as should be found there.
Such permission was readily granted, accoms
modatiuns were provided for the teachers, ana
some portions of the buildings at the barracks
were made available for school purposes. The
good " rk contemplated has been commenced,
and the teachers engaged are paid by the ladies'
with whom the plan originated.
DON'T FAVOR THE RETURN SCHEME.
am not at all in sympathy with these oenev-
| oleut but injudiCiouS people who are constantly
| insisting that these Indians should be returned
their reservation. Their removal was an alb
absolute necessi ty II the lives and property OF
citizens on the frontier are to be at all regarded
| by the government. Their continued restraint
| at q distance from the scene of their repeated
| and cruel murders and outrages is still neces'
| sary. II is a mistaken philanthropy every
way injurious which PROMPTS the desire to see
these sayages returned to their old
ent location as the result OF
| the best judgment OF those having official
responsibility in the matter, and who are by ~
| means lacking in Kind consideration for the
| Indians A number OF these prisoners have for
| feited their lives to outraged law and humanity.
| Experience has proved that they are dangerous
| AMI cannot be tru ted This is true not only OF
| those who on the warpath have heretofore
actually been guilty of at oci rs murder. but OF
| their kindred and friends who while they re-
manned upon their reservation furnished and
| and com fort to those absent with bloody intent.
These prisoners should be treated kindly and
kept In restraint far from the locality Of their
| former reservations
They should be subjected to efforts calculated
| to lead to their improvement and the soften
| ing of their savage and cruel instincts, but their
return to their home should be psrsistently
resisted. The secretary in his reLort gives
| graphic history OF those Indians and recite'
| with painful vividness their bloody deeds and
| the unhappy failure of the government TO man
| age by peaceful means. It will be amazing If n
perusa of this history will allow the survival Of
desire for the return Of thess prisoners to their
| reservation upon sentiment or any other ground
Secretary Whitney's Report.
| The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy
| demonstrates very intelligent management IN
| that important department an disclo5es the
| most satisfactory progress IN the work of re
construction of the navy made during the past
| year. or the ships in course of construction
| five, viz: The Charleston, Baltimore, Yorktown,
| Nesuvus and the Petrol, have 10 that time been
laun he'd and are rapidly approaching compile
| ton, and 10 addition 10 the above the 'hiladel-
| phia, the San Francisco, the Ne Nark, the Ben
niuEtOn, the Concord and tue HerreshOR tor
| pedo roat are all under contract for delivery to
| the department during the next year. The
progress already made aud being made gives
| good ground for The expectation that these
vessels will be Incorporated part of the
| American navy within the next twelve months.
The report shows that notwithstanding the
| large expenditures for new constructions and
the additional labor they involve the total ordi-
| nary or current expenditures of the department
for the three years ending June 81, 1888 are less
| by more than % per cent. than such expendi-
| lures for the three years ending June 80, 1881
| The warriors steps which have been taken 10
| improve the business methods of the depart
| ment are reviewed by the secretary
| PURCHASES OF SUPPLIES.
| The purchasing OF supplies has been consol-
| dated and placed under a responsible bureau
| bead This has resulted in the curtailment Of
open purchases, which in the years iSsI-e5
amounted TO over 80 per cent. Of all the pur-
| chases OF the department, to less than ! / per
| cent, so tn ut at the present time about 80 per
cent of the total departmental purchases are
| made bv contract and after competition AS
| the expenditures on this account exceed an
average OF S9,00)000 annually, it is evident that
an important improvement In the system has
| boen lnaugllIated and substantial economy in
| troduced.
Tho Postal Department.
The report Of the Postmaster General shows
| a marked increase of busine in every branch
Of the postal service. The number OF postoffices
| on July /, 1885 was 1875. Increase OF 6,l2i
| in three years, and Of 2.2iJ for the last fiscal
year. The latter mentioned increase Is class.
| fled as follows: New England states, 5; middle
states, 1871. southern states and Indian territory
az. 140G: the states and territories Of the Pa
CHIC coast, 100; the ten states and territories OF
the west and northwest, 435; District OF Colum-
| bia @ Total, 2,2is.
Free delivery offices have increased from 1879
| in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, to S5s In
| the year ended June 30 1888. In the railway
| mail service there has been an increase In one
| year Of 1853 routes, and in the number OF miles
| Travelled per annum an increase Of 1895, 9i7 49,
| The estimated increase OF railroad service for
| the year was 5000 miles, but the amount or
new railroad service actually put on was
! 1874. 80 miles.
| The volume OF business In the money order
| DIVISION Including transactions in postal notes.
| reached the sum OF upwards OF $4,000 900 for
| the year
| During the past year parcel post conventions
| have bee concluded with Barbados, the Ba-
| hamas British Honduras, and Mexico and are
| now under negotiation with all the Central and
| South American states,
| INCREASED FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
The increase Of correspondence with foreign
countries during the past three years Ia crafty
| ing. aud is especially notable and exceptional
| with the Central aud South American STATES
| and with Mexico. AS the greater part OF the
| mail matter exchanged with those countric Is
| commercial In its character this increase is evil
| dence Of the improved business relations with
| them. The practical operation Of the parcel
! post conventions, so far as negotiated has
| served to fulfill the most favorable predictions
| as to their benefits.
| In January last a general postal convention
| was negotiated with the Dominion
! OF Canada, which went into operation on March
/ and vii oh 10 81