Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-12-05

subjected 10 fire OF improved guns and very
few are so located as TO give fun eject TO thu
greater range OF such guns as We arc now
/! mailing for coast defense use. sist
This general subject has had consideration
incongress for some years and the appropria-
ton for tho construction Ut large rihed
| guns, made one year ago was.
am sure, tho expression OF q
and purpose to provide suitable works In
which these guns might be mounted. An
| appropriation now made for that purpose
would not advance the completion OF the
| works beyond our ability TO supply them
| with effective guns. Tho security OF our
coast cities against foreign attacks should
| not rest altogether In the friendly dispositions
| OF other nations. There should DO a second
| line wholly In our own keeping, Iurgently
recommend an appropriation at this session
| for the construction OF such works in our
| much exposed harboTs. taEe
| j approve the suggestion OF the secretary
of war that provisions be made for encamp-
ing companies of the national guard in our
works for q specified tmo each year, and for
! their training in the use of heavy guns, His
| suggestion that an increase OF the artillery
force of the army Is desirable, Is also In con-
| nection commended to the consideration of
| congress.
The improvement of our important rivers
and harbors should DO promoted by the neo-
| that the government is not committed to the
| prosecution of works not public and of gen.
| eral advantage, and that the relative use full
| ness Of works of that class Is not overlooked.
| So far as this work can ever DO said to be
| completed, do not doubt that the end would
| be sooner and more economically reached II
| fewer separate works were undertaken at
the same time and those selected for their
| greater general interest were more rapidly
pushed to completion. A work once consid-
erably begun should not DO subjected to the
| risk and deterioration (which interrupted or
insufficient appropriations necessarily oc-
| casion.
The assault made by David s. Terry upon
| the person of Justice Field, OF the supreme
| court OF the United States at Lathrop, CAL,
| In August last, and the killing of the assail-
| ant by deputy United States marshal who
had been deputiaed to accompany Justice
Field and protect him from violence at the
hands OF Terry IN connection OF the legal pro-
ceedings which have followed, suggest ques-
tions which In my Judgment are worthy the
attention OF congress. i recommend that
| more definite provision be made by law, not
only for the protection OF federal officers,
but for full trial for such,
cases In the United States courts. In recon-
| mending such legislation do not at all i'm
| peach either the general adequacy OF the pro.
| vision made by the state laws for the protec-
tion of all citizens, or the general disposition
| of those charged with the execution of such
| laws to give protection to the officers OF the
| United States. Tho duty OF protecting its
| officers as such, and OF Furnishing those who
assault them on account OF their Official acts,
| should not he devolved, expressly or by ac-
| quiescence, upon the local authorities.
| Events which have been brought to my at
| tcution, happening In other parts OF the
| country, have also suggested the propriety of
| extending by legislation fuller protection to
4 has xyh hA lla1 x.,tt Il, h.
courts of the United States The law COM
| pels those who are supposed to have knowl-
! edge OF the public ofrenses to attend upon our
| courts and grand juries and to give evidence,
| There is "a manifest resulting duty that these
witnesses shall no protected from injury on
account OF their testimony. The investiga-
! tons of criminal oiienses are often rendered
| futile and the punishment OF crime impossi-
| BILE by intimidation of witnesses.
The necessity of providing some more
speedy methods for disposing OF the cases
| which now come for final adjudication to the
| supreme court becomes every year more APP
parent and urgent. The plan OF providing
some intermediate courts having final APP
| pellate Jurisdiction OF certain classes OF ques-
| tions and cases has, ! think, received more
general approval from the bench and bar OF
| the country than any other. without at
| tempting to discuss details, i recommend
that provision should be made for the estab-
| lishment OF such courts. The salaries OF the
| judges of the district courts In many districts
| are, in my Judgment, inadequate l recon.
| mend that all such salaries now below $1,000
! per annum be increased to that amount. 1t
| 1t quite true that the amount of labor per-
| formed by these judges Is very unequal, but
| as they cannot properly engage in other pur
suits TO supplement- their incomes tho salary
| should be such In all cases as to provide an
independent and comfortable support.
Earnest attention should be given by con-
| gross to u consideration of the question OF
how far the restraint of those combinations
| of capital commonly called trusts" is mat
| ter of federal Jurisdiction. When organized,
| as they often are, to crush out all healthy
| competition, to monopoize the production or
| sale of an article of commerce and general
necessity, they are dangerous conspracies
| against the public good, and should be made
the subject of prohibitory and even penal
| legislation.
| The subject of an international copyright
has been frequently commended to the atten-,
ton OF congress by my predecessors. The en-
actmento of such a law would be eminently
! wise and Just.
| Our naturalization laws should be so re-
.vlsed as to make the enquiry into the charao.
| ter and good disposition toward our govern
ment OF the person appiyipg for citizenship,
more thorough. This can only be done by
taking fuller control of the examinations by
fixing the time for hearing each application
| anu Dy requiring tue pTeseHce VI some one
| who shall represent the government In tho
| inquiry. Those who are enemies OF social
| order, who come to our shores to swell the
| injurious Influence and to extend the evil
\ practices of any association that denies our
! laws, should not only be denied citizenship,
! but "a domicile. at..H.r
The enactment of a national bankrupt law
| of character TO be permanent part OF our
| general Legislation, IL Desirable. 1t should
/ be simple In its metod3 and inexpensive In
| its administration.
! The report OF the postmasterg general not only
exhibits the operations of the department for
/ the fiscal year. but contains many valuable
suggestions for the Improvement and extern
I sion of the service, which are commended to
| your consideration. No other branch OF the
| government has so closely contact With the
| daily life OF the people, Almost every one
| uses the service 1t offers, and every hour
| gained In the Transmission of the great com
| mercial mails arc an actual and possible value
| that only those engaged in the trade can un-
! derstand. The saving of one day la the trans
| mission of the mail between New York aud
! San Francisco which has recently been ac-
| complished Is an incident worthy of mcntion.
| The plan suggested of provision OF the post
offices In separate districts that shall involve
instructions and suggestions and a rating of
selIiclenty of the postmasters would, have no
/ doubt, greatly improve the service.
! A pressing necessity exists for the erection
| OF building for the Joint use of tho depars-
ment and of the city postofiice. The depart
ment was partially relieved by renting out
| side quarters for part OF its force, but II IL
| again overcrowded. The building used by
| the city Office never was TT for the purpose,
and is now inadequate and unwholcsome.
| Tho unsatisfactory condition of the law re-
! lating to the transmission through the mail
| of lottery advertisements and renittances IS
clearly stated by the postmaster general. and
his suggestion as to amendment should have
your favorable consideration.
The report OF the secretary of the navy
shows a reorganization of the bureaus of the
department that will, do not doubt, promote
the efficiency OF each In general. Satisfac-
tory progress has been made In tho construc-
ton of tho new ships of war authorized by
congress The first vessel of the new navy,
the Dolphin, was subjected to n very severe
trial test and TO very much criticism, but
1t Is gratifying to be able to state
that 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 etc ,tive force
OF the navy is rapidly Increasing by reason of
the improved build and armament OF the new
ships, the number of our ships ~ for sea
duty grows very slowly. Wo had on the 4th
OF March last thirty seven serviceable ships,
and though four have since been added TO the
list the total has not been increased, because
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