Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-12-13


biaatiOns of capital commonly called
''trusts" is matter Of federal jurisdiction,
when OrganIzedas they often are to crush
out all healthy competition and to mOnOp-
Ollie the production or sale of sn article
Of commerce and general necessity. They
are dangerous cOnsplracies against the
public good and should be made the sub
5eet of prohibit0ry and even penal legis-
latiOn.
THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION.
The subject of an international copy
right has been frequently commended TO
the attention of congress by my prede-
cessOrs. The enactment of such q law
would be eminently wise and just.
NATUR AI-IzATI0N-A
Our naturalization laws should be so
revised as to make the inquiry into the
character and good disposition towards
our government OF the persons applying
for citizenship, more thorough. This can
only be done by taking fuller control Of
the examination, by fixing the time for
hearing such application and by reguif-
ing the presence of some one who
shall represent the government
| in the inquiry. Those who
are enemies of social order or
who come TO our shores TO swell the in
furious influence and to extend the evil
practices of any association that defes our
laws should not only be denied citizen
/ ship, but a dOmicile.
THE BANKRUPT Law.
The enactment of national bankrupt
! law of q character to be q permanent
/ part Of our general legislation is desir-
/ able. 1t should be simple in its methods
and inexpensive in its administration.
THE POsTOFFICE.
The report of the postmaster general,
not only exhibits the operations of the
a ont 81 anE Frrf
I contains many valuable suggestions for
| the improvement and extension of the
service which are commended to your at
/ tentiOn. No other branch Of the govern
ment 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 transmission Of the
/ great commercial mails has an actual
! and possible value that only those
! engaged in trade can understand
/ The saving of one day in the transmits
! sion of mails between New YOrk and
/ San Francisco, which has recently been
! accomplished, is an incident worthy of
mention. The plan suggested Of a SUI
! pervisiOn cf the pOstOfices in separate
/ districts that shall involve instruction and
/ suggestion and range OF efficiency Of
/ the pOstmasters would, L have no doubt,
! greatly improve the service.
/ A pressing necessity exists for the cree
! ton of a building for the joint use Of the
! department and the city pOstOfice. The
! department was partially redeved by rent
! ing outside qnBrters Tor a part OF Its force
/ but it is again OvercrOwded. The build
! ing used by the city Office never was fit
! for the purpose and is now inadequate
/ and unWhOlesOme.
The unsatisfactory condition of the law
] relating to the transmission through the
mails Of lottery advertisements and re-
I 80 e1ao r1vr rFn cd oy~ Fnrav
| master general, and his sug-
! gestiOn as to amendments should have
| your favorable consideration.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy
! shows a reorganization of the bureaus Of
/ the department that viii, do not doubt,
/ promote the efficiency Of each. In gen
eral, satisfactory 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
submitted to very. severe trial tests, and to
! very much adverse criticism, but 1t is
/ gratifying to be able to state
/ that a cruise around the world
! from which she has recently
returned has demonstrated that she is q
/ first-class vessel of her rate. The report
of the secretary shows that while the eff
fective force of the navy is rapidly in
creasing by reason of the improved build
and armament of the new ships, the num-
/ Der of our ships fit for sea duty grows
very slowly. We had on the fourth Of
March last, thirty seven serviceabIe ships
| and though four have since been added
to the list, the total has not been increased
because in the meantime four
have been lost or condemned.
Twenty-six additional vessels have
| been authorized and appropriated
for, bat it is probable that when they are
completed our list viii only be increased
to fOrty-tWO, gain OF I'VE. The old
wooden ships are disappearing almost as
fast as the new vessels are added. The
facts carry their own argument. One Of
the new ships may in fighting strength
be equal to two of the old, but it cannot
do the cruising duties Of two. 1t is i'm
pOrtant therefore that we should have a
more rapid increase in the number OF
serviceable ships. concur in the recon-
mendation of the secretary that the con
structiOn of eight armOred ships, three
gun boats, and five torpedo boats be au-
thOrized.
THE SAMOAN DISASTER.
An appalling calamity befeH three OF
our naval vessels on duty at the Samoan
Islands in the harbOr Of Apia in March
last, involving the loss of four officers and
forty seven seamen, of two vessels, the
1 Trenton and the VaHdalia and the dis
abling of a third, the Nipsie. Three yes
sells Of the German navy also in the har-
boz suffered with our ships the force Of
the hurricane, and suffered even more
heavily. Mourning the brave officers and
men who died facing, with high resolve,
periIs, greater than those Of battle, it 1s
most gratifying to state the credit Of the
{ American navy for seamanship, courage
and generosity, was magnihceRtly sus-
tanned in the storm beaten barber Of Apia-
THE INDIAN TRIBES.
The report of the secretary OF the In
terror exhibits the transactions of the gov
eminent with the Indian tribes Substan-