The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-06
AS TO VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
The Chinese Question Again-Our Seal
Fishe ries-Coast Defenses.

Fishe ries-Coast Defenses.
The enforcement of the Chinese exclusion
act has been found to be very difficult on the
northwestern frontier. Cinnamon landing at
Victoria finds It easy to pass our border owing
to the impossibi with the force at COM
n man Oh in in customs ocers OF guard 9g SO
treasury has authorized TIE employment of
additional officers. who, will be assigned to
enforce the law. The Dominion exacts a head
tax of $50 for each Chinaman landed and
when these persons, in fraud OF our law, cross
into our territory and are apprehended, our
officers do not know what TO do with hem, as
the Dominion authorities will not suffer them
to be sent back without seconi payment of
the tax. An effort will be made to reach an
understanding that will remove this difficulty.
Coast Defenses BADLY Needed.
Judged by modern standards we are practi-
cally without coast defenses. Many of the
structures we have would enhance rather
than diminish the perils of their garrisons il
SUBJECTED to fire of improved guns and very
few are so located as to give full effect to the
greater range of such guns as we are now max
ing for coast defense use. This general SUBJ
ject has had consideration in congress for
some years. and the appropriation for the con-
struction of large rifled guns, made one year
ago, was, i am sure, the expression of pur-
pose to provide suitable works in viii, h these
guns might be mounted. An, appropriation
the completion Of the s' WORKS beyond hey oi " our
ability to supply them with fairly effective
guns.
eign attack should not rest altogether on the
friendly disposition of other nations. There
should be second line, wholly in our own
keeping. very urgently recommend an ap-
preparation at this session for the construction
of such works in our most exposed harbors
Relief for the Supreme Court.
The necessity of providing some more speedy
method of disposing of the cases which now
come for final adjudication to the supreme
court becomes every year more apparent and
urgent. The plan of providing some intermed-
late courts, having final appellate, Jurisdiction
of certain classes of questions and cases, has,
l think, received a more general approval
from the bench AMI bar of the country than
any other, Without discussing details. 1
recommend that provision should be made for
the establis hment of such courts.
Trusts and Copyrights.
Earnest attention should be given by con-
gress to a consideration of the question how
far the restraint Of those combinations called
trusts" is a matter of federal jurisdiction,
when organized as they often are to crush out
all healthy competition and to monopolize the
production or sale OF an article of commerce
and general necessity, they are dangerous
conspiracies against the public good and
should be made the subject of prohibitory and
The subject of an international copyright
has been frequently commended to the atten-
ton of congress 10y my predecessors. The en-
actment OF such n law would be eminently
wise and just
The Postal Service.
The report of the Postmaster-General not
only exhibits the operations of the department
for the fiscal year, but contains many valuable
suggestions for the improvement and extension
of the service, which are commended to your
attention. No other branch of the government
has so close q contact with the daily life. of
the people. Almost every one uses the service
it offers, and every hour gained in the trans
mission of the great commercial mails has an
actual and possible alue that only those en-
gagged in trade can understand. The saving Of
one day in the transmission of the mails be-
tween New York and San Francisco, which has
re SS1 S @snSn IS an nfd s
frcts that shall lnc1de instruction Ss90 a %
eqsss s sna rS %dnd SaN efficiency SS
A pressing necessity. exists for the erection Of
and of the city postoflice. The department
was partially relieved by renting outside
quarters for a part of its force, but 1t Is again
Office never was fit for its purpose, and is now
inadequate and unwholesome. The unsatis-
factory condition of law relating to the tran
ments and remittances is clearly stated by
the postmaster general and his suggestion as
to amendment should have your favorable
consideration.
The NAVY Department..
The report of the secretary of the, navy
shows reorganization of the bureaus of the de-
partment that, will, do not doubt, promote
progress has been made in the Construction Of
the new ships of war authorized by congress.
The first vessel of the new navy, the Dolphin,
was subjected to very severe trial tests and to
very much adverse criticism. But it is crafty
ing to be able to state that cruise around the
world, from which she has recently returned,
has demonstrated that she is first-class vessel
of her rate. The report of the secretary shows
that while the effective force of the navy is
rapidly increasing, by reason of the improved
build and armament of the new ships,
the number of our ships fit for
sea duty, grows very slowly. We had on the
4th of March last thrty-seven serviceable
ships and though four have since been added to
the list the total has not been increased, be-
cause in the meantime four have been lost or
condemned. ,Twenty-six additional vessels
have been authorized and appropriated Tor, but
IL is probable that when they are completed
our list will only be increased b 20 SisS
pearing almost as fast as the new vessels are
added. These facts carry their own argument.
One of the new ships may In fighting strength
be equal to two of the old, but IL can not do the
cruising duties of two. IL is important, there
fore, that we should have a more rapid increase
in the number of serviceable ships. concur
in the Recommendation of the secretary that
the construction OF eight armored ships, three
gun boats end eight torpedo boats i author
lied.