New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-04

knowledge Of public offences to attend upon our
courts aud grand juries and 10 give evidence.
There is a manifest resulting duty that these wit
nrsses shall be protected from injury account
81 their testimony. The investigations Of criminal
offcaces often rendered futile and the punish
ment of crime impossible. by the intimidation OF
witnesses
The necessity OF providing some more speedy
method for disposing of the cases which now come
for final adjudication TO the Supreme Court be
comes every year more apparent and urgent.
The plan OF providing some intermediate courts.
having final appe late jurisdiction OF certain classes
OF questions and cases has. think. received u
more general approval from the bench and bar OF
the country than any other Without attempting
10 discuss details, / recommend that provision be
made for the establishment OF such courts
The salaries of the Judges OF the district courts
in many of the districts are. in my Judgment. IN
adequate, recommend that all such salaries sal ,ss
amount. cit is quite true that the amount Of labor
performed by these judges is very unequal but
as they cannot properly engage IN other pursuits
be such in all as TO provide an independent
and comfortable support.
TRUSTS
Earnest attention should be given by Congress
TO a consideration OF the question how far the
restraint OF those combinations Of capital com
monty called trusts" is matter of Federal iuris.
J dcton. When organized, they often are, to
crush out all healthy competition and TO monopolzc
the production or sale OF an article of commerce
and general necessity, they are dangerous con
spiracies 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 attention OF
| Congress by my predecessors. The enactment OF
such law would be cmnently wise and Just
Our naturalization laws should be 80 Slsed as
| to make the inquiry into the moral character and
good disposition toward 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 times for hearing
such applications, and by requiring the presence
of some one who shall represent the Government
in the inquiry, Those who are the avowed
enemies of social order, or who come to shores
10 swell the injurious Influence and TO extend the
evil practices of any ASSOCIATION that dehes our
laws, should not only be denied citizenship, but
! domcile.
The enactment of National bankrupt law
! of character TO be permanent part or our
general legislation is desirable. IL should be
! simple in its methods and inexpensive In its adj
ministraton.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The report Of the Posmaster-General not only
exhibits the operations of the Department for the
last fiscal year, but contains many valuable suS.
! gestiOns for the improvement and extension OF
| the service which are commended to your at
| tenton No other branch of the Government has
so close contact with the daily life of the Ieople.
Almost every one uses the service 1t Offers and
every hour gained in the transm silon OF the
! great commercial mails has an actual and possible
value that only those engaged IN trade can under
stand
The saving of one day in the transmission OF
} the mails between New-Iork and San Francisco
which has recently been accomplished, is an IN
cident worthy OF mention.
The plan suggested OF n SUPERVISION of the post
offices in separate districts that shall involve in
struction and suggeston and rating OF the Ell
iciency OF the poStmasters would nave no douDt,
greatly improve the service.
pressing necessity exists for the erection OF
building for the Joint use of the Department
and of the city postofice: The Department was
partially relieved by renting outside quarters for
a part Of its force. but it is again overcrowded.
The building used by the city Office never ft
for the purpose, and it is now inadequate and UNI
wholesome.
The unsatisfactory condition of the law relat-
ing 10 the transmission through the mails OF
lottery advertisements and rcmitances is clearly
stated by the Postmasrer-General, and his sugges-
ton as 10 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 will do not doubt, promote the efficiency
of each.
In general, 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 subjected to very
severe trial tests and to very much adverse
criticism But it is gratifying to be able TO state
that a cruise around the world, from which she
has recently returned, has demonstrated that
She is "A frst-class vessel of her rate. go
The report of the Secretary shows that while
ing by reason of the improved build and arma-
mcnt of the new ships, the number oil our smps
fit for sea dgy grows very slowly We naG On
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, but 1t
is probable that when they are completed our list
will only be increased to fortytwo gain OF five.
The old wooden ships are disappearing almost as
fast as the new vessels are added. These facts
carry their own argument. One OF the new ships
NAV in fighting strength be equal to two OF the
old but IL cannot do the cruising duty OF two.
II is important, therefore, that we should have
more rapid increase in the number OF servceablc
ships | concur in the recommendation OF the
Secretary that the construction Of eight armored
ships. three gunbonts and five torpedoboats be
authorized
vessels on duty at the Samoan Islands, in the
berbor of Apia in March last, involving the loss
of four officers and forty-seven seamen of two
vessels, the Trenton and vandalIa, and the dis
the German Navy. also in the harbor, shared with
our shius the force Of the hurricane, and suffered
even more heavily; While lI mourning the brave
solve perils greater thnn those Of battle il is |
most gratifying TO state that the credit OF tho
erosty was magnfcently sustained in the storm
beaten harbor Of Ara.
CARE FOR THE INDIANS.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior ex
hibits the transactions of the Government with
the Indian tribes Substantial progress has been
made in the education of the children of school
age and in the allotment of lands to adult Indians
It is TO be regretted that the Dolicy of breaking
up the tribal relation and OF dealing with the In
dian as an individual did not appear earlier in our
legislation. Large reservations held in common
and the maintenance Of the authority of the
chiefs and head-men have deprived the individual
of every incentive to the exercise of thrift. and
the annuity has contributed afiirmativ impulse
,-nrl u ~ ID Of mol nri.r