, 1888-12-01
CAPITAL NEWS.
Annual Report of Secretary Of
the Navy Whitney.
Resignation of Indian Com
missioner Upshaw.
Other News Notes of General
Interest.
Washington Notes.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3O.-Assistant In
dian Commissioner IJpshaw has resigned.
The president has appointed James G..
Saunders. of Arkansas, to be an Indian
inspector vice Morris Thomas. Saunders
has been executive clerk at the white
house three years.
Charles f. Beach, who was prosecuted
upon the recommendation of the com
missioner of the general land office, for
subornation of perjury in connection with
certain fraudulent timber land entries in
the Humboldt, California, land district,
has been sentenced to three years hard
labor in state prison and a fine of s., 600.
United States consul at Port-au Prince
informs the department Of state that the
Schooner William Jones, captured on the
Goth Oct, has been released and an in.
demnIty of $40, 600 paid.
Secretary Whitney has presented his
annual report to the president. After
giving a brief review of the condition of
the navy as it will exist on the 4th day of
March, 1889, in comparison with the
same as it existed on the 4th of March,
1885, and furnished the list OF armored
vessels heretofore authorized by congress,
the secretary says: so far as armored
ships are concerned the subject is to be
treated in a broad way by the department
and congress. At the present time the
conditions are such that everything neces-
sary to first-class fighting ships can be
produced and furnished to the depart
ment in this country. The efforts of the
department in ship construction have
necessarily since March, 1885, been de.
voted to unarmored vessels. As to others
the department is able to report that when
the ships in course OF construction and
those authorized shall be finished, the
United States will rank second among
nations in the possession of unarmored
cruisers or commerce d~estroyers,' having
the highest characteristics, viz: of size,
5000 tons and upward and possessing a
speed of nineteen knots aud upward.
The secretary quotes authorities as to
the value of this class of vessels and CON
tinues:
I'VE cannot at present protect our
coast, but we can return b low for blow,
for we shall soon be IN a condition to launch
a feet of large and fast cruisers against
the commerce of the enemy and able to
infilct the most serious and lasting injury
thereon.
With regard to the production of pow
er by machinery, the report says the stan
dard In 1889 was ten horse power TO the
ton of machinery. All contracts since
then have been upon the highest standard,
and at the present time the department
has reached a point where entire reliance
can be placed upon it for the production
of war vessels equal in character to those
of any other country. Its gratifying to
be able to report, says the secretary,
that Notwithstanding the large cxpen.
diturcs for a new navy in the last three
years, the reduction in other directions
made the total expenditures Of the depart
ment less for those years than
for the three years ending June 80,
1854, the ordinary expenses OF the de-
partment having been reduced over 20
cent.
The total expenditures for the three
years ending June 80, 1881, compared
with the three years ending June 80,
1855, were S47. 97g, 397, and $40, $50, G3O.
Under the head of coast and harbor de-
tense vessels" the secretary states:
In the last annual report OF the
department considerations were
given leading to the conclusion
that 1t would be unwise for the depart
ment to follow the course of European
powers in building unprotected torpedo
boats, and in the present uncertainty re-
garding the practicability of marine boats
aud whIle waiting a practical trial of the
dynamite gunboat, it has been deemed
wise for the department to build one light
draught, heavily armOrcd, harbOr defense
floating battery or ram, for which q de
sign has been prepared by advertisements
for this vessel and a call for the submis-
sion of bids in February next, the char
actelistics of which will be found stated
in the table Of armed vessels
The secretary considers the subject OF
improved powder projcctiles AMI torpedo
boats, saving in regard to the latter that
recent naval manGuvres abroad sh,sy that
they must still be regarded as tn most
useful for coast and harbor defense. The
estimate for navy and marine corps for
the current tiscal year amounts to So,
0O3, ga, those for the next fiscal year
$26, 7G7, 677. The appropriations for the
current fiscal year are $lg. 042. 4Sl.
A contract has been signed by Gen.
Black and Chairman Britton ofthe inaug
ural commit ee Tor the use of the
pension building in which TO hold the in
augural ball. Mr.. John G. Douzherty.
secretary of the committee, has arranged
for quarters and a place in the inaugural
procession for the committee, which is
composed of one delegate from each rate
and territory and the Dist let of CUlImOtu.
1t is expected that many members of the
committee will be accompanied by their
wives.
Geo. L. Inman has just received a new
line of musical instruments which he is
selling at very low prices.