The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-19
High.Priced Lots in the Aristocratic Dupont
Circle That We're Once Given Away for
Cow.Pasture to Senator Jesse Bright.
Coming Census Bulletin on the Mer-
camille and Manufacturing Progress.
Interesting Statistics Concerning the PrOduc.
tion of Sugar from Both Cane and Beets
TOW "Green. Goods Swinders Work.
CHANCE FOR PROMOTION.

Secretary Tracey Has q Plan Whereby Amer
lean Boys May BE Glad to Enter the Service.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. July 18.-One of the most
important features of the postal law is it's
purpose to build up an American merchant
marine. The vessels must be American
bottoms, manned by American officers. The
crews must be, during the first two years
of the contract with the government. at
least one-fourth of American citizens, and
in this proportion increased every year.
until finally, In the last years of the con-
tract, at least one-balf of the crew must
be American citizens. Provision is
also made for encouraging American
boys TO enter the merchant marine service
by providing that every ship shall carry
one apprentice boy for every Thousand tons
of register, these boys to rank as petty off,
GERS. This, it will be seen. will give every
stimulus and encouragement to recruiting
the American merchant marine, which at
present seems to have wholly vanished
from the face of the ocean. 1t is in this
work that the Secretary has taken the
deepest interest, for il is an undoubted
fact that the American crews, so far as the
forecastle Is concerned. 10 composed of
everything except Americans. and Mr.. Ira
cy believes that gradually our war ships
can be recruited and equipped with Ameri-
cans drawn from this new merchant ma
rine
As matter of fact. no one can blame an
American boy for refusing to join the navy.
There is absolutely no inducement held out
to him. no matter what may be said to the
contrary. The American boy. if he be
worth any thing at all. has innate ambition.
and our navy holds out nothing To crafty
his ambition. unlike the army, where every
Intelligent man has chance of earning a
promotions are made on examination from
the ranks. The American boy of the navy
has nothing to look forward to. except
the stripes OF a petty ofhcer
after long service. 1t was said
that as q matter of fact there is at present
not an officer in the navy who rose to the
quarter deck from the fOrcastle, with one
exception, and that is a reverend gentle
man who now is a ranking chaplain in the
navy. He was q sailor during the W ar. and
after the war was over persuaded PTesi-
dent Lincoln that having lived among the
sailors several years. he knew better than
any one else what the sailors needed in the
way of spiritual consolation and advice,
and he therefore asked to be made
chaplain. This was done. aud the Rev.
Jack Tar. by outliving all of his
other fellOw-choplalDs is now commodore
on retired service. He is the only one. how.
ever. that can claim to have worked his
way up. and when he dies, as he must in
year or two, the unpleasant fact remains
that not an American who entered the
navy has worked his way up to commits
sion. 1t is expected that if the provisions
-of the pOstal.ald law succeed In inducing
some bright young men to enter the serv
ice As apprentices. some provisions will be
recommended by the Secretary of the Navy
whereby from among these apprentices
officers can be appointed after competitive
examination In the navy.