The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-12-16

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,naunsr OF fsss-isaivsry odicss has nssn
nearly dOublsd tae ls.s scSr ye--- aud
ine nurnber or mouey.order ofi1css more
than doubled Within that time.
For the three years ending June 3D. 1872,
which was an Increase Of sSa, 26s, i5) over the
revenue for the three years en- ling June 90.
1883, the increase during the last three years
bsiug more than three AMI q half times as
great as the ipcrease during the three years
A ~hoLasom, oaauye of policy aul ous
having in it much pronise as IL seems 70
me- was begun by the law of March y, 1871.
Under this law contracts have been made oy
the Possmastsr!G snerai fos eleven maui
routes Tho expenditure involved by these
contracts Tor the u3k6 fiscal year approxl-
mates $9t5, 123 sS. As oae OF the results al
ready reached 10 American steamships OF au
aggregate tonnage OF $500 tons costing
al. lOl'OO have been built or contracted to
be built in American snipyards.
No subiscr, l 6hiuS, moro nearly touches
che pride, the power aud the pro'osr'ty oil
our country thsn thts OF the Developments of
our merchant marine upon the sen. IL We
could enter into conference with other DOM.
petitors aud all would agrss 10 withhold
Govsrnment aid we could perhaps take our
chances with all the rest but our great COM
thsir fncs. by .Goyernpant sab,idies until
~ s6W nave practically excluief US from
|<<Sfkiclpation. In my opinion no choice Is
Ieft 70 US but to pursue, moderately at least
the Same lines.
OUR NAVAL PROGRESS
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy
exhibits great progress In tho construction
Of our new navy. When the present Score
tary entered upon his duties only three
modern steel vessels were in commission.
The vessels since put in commission ana TO
be put in commission during the winter will
aGa total nf 10 DURING his 1miulStra-
ton Of the Department.. During the cur
rent year 10 war vessels ald navy tugs
have been launched. and during the four
| years 25 vessels will havs been launche l.
| Two otaer large ships an 1 n torpedo boat
| are uuder contract an1 the work upon them
| we'll advanced, and tn, four monitors are
| awaiting only the arrival OF their armor,
| which has been unexpectedly delayed, or
they would have been bstore this In COM
| mission.
! Contracts have been let during this adj
| ministratiou, under the appropriations for
the increase of the Navy, including new yes
| sells aud their appurteuancss, to the amount
| Of $35, ,O00 900, and there has been expended
| during the same psrio for labor at navy
| yards upon similar work S., ,O0l 900 without
the smallest scandal or charge OF fraud OF
partiality. -
| PROCESSES in the construction Of armor plato
| our later ships will be- clothed with defen-
sge plates Of higher resisting power than
are found in any war vessels ahoat. We
were without torpedoes. Tests have been
made to ascertain the relative efficiency OF
different constructions, torpedo has been
adopted, and the work OF construc'
tion is now being carried ;.s on saS: sue
piercing shells and without /, shop in
structed and equipped for the construction
Of them we are now making what is be
heved to be a projectile superior to any be
fore in use. A smokeless powder has bee
developed and a slow burning powder fo
guns OF large calibre. A high explosive
capable of use in large shells firea from sci
vice guns, has been found. aul the manu-
facture OF gun cotton has been developed S
that the question o; supply is no longer
| doubt.
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
The development Of naval militia, whic
has bean organized In eight States an
brIu yht into cordial AMI co-operative relt
tioas with the Navy, is another imuortar
achievement There are now enlisted
these organizations 1870 men, and they al
likely to be greatly extended. / resommen
such legislation and appropriations as wi
encourage and develop this movement.
WORK IN TaE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The WORK Of the Interior Department. al
WAYS very burdens ome, has been large
tn III ever before during the aiministratio
law. the tax ng Of the Eleventh Census. th
opening of the vast areas of milan lands t
settlement, the organization o. Oklahoma
aud the negotiations for the cession OF IN
dian lands turnisn SO ne of the particulars @
the increased work aud the results acnieve
testify to the ability, fidelity and industr
of the head Of the Department and his ell
cient assistants.
The work in the Indian Bureau in the ext
cution OF the policy OF recsnt ssisation, ha
been largely directed to two chief PURPOSES
First, the allotment of lands in severalty, t.
the Indians an the cssson to the United
States OF the surplus lands; and, secondly, t.
the work Of educating the Indian for his owl
protection in his closer contact with TIN
white man and for the intelligent exercise oi
his new citizenship. ! have several time:
been called upon to remove Indian agent
appointed by me, aud have done 81
promptly upon every SUSTAINED com p!aint o
uuiitneSS OF misconduct. ! believe, how
ever, that the Indian service at tho agencie
has been improved aud is now administers
on the whole with gool degree OF eiiic
iency. Ii any legislation is possible by
which the selection of Indian agents can bt
wholly removed iron all partisan sugges
tions or consi ierations, an sure it wouli
J be great relief to the Executive and
great benefit to the service.
THE SUBJECT OF PENSIONS.
The report Of the Commissioner o
Pensions to which extenle led notice is giver
| by the Secretary of the Interior in hi
report, will attract great attention
|
done the last year has been tn, greatest il
ths history Of the ofiic,. ! believe that the
, organization Of the Office is efficient, ano
that the work has been done with fidelity
The passage of what Is known as the disabI
itv bill has, as was foreseen, very largely
increased the annual disbursements &
the disa 5led veterans OF the civil war. The
estimate for this fscll year was S14i
6,000 and that amount was appro
priateh. A deficiency amounting to SO,
50S, ,65l must be provided for at this session
The estimate for pensions for the fiscal yca
! ending June 81, 1891, is sl6j, 10000. Tn
Com missioner OF Pensions be.i:ves that ::
the present legislation AMI melho Is ar,
( maintained and futhe- ~d1itions to the pen
SION laws are not ma Ie. the maximum ex
= pen lture for pensions will be reached JUNE
: 81. 1894, ami will be at she highest point
$l8S, 0)J 900 per annuh
/ adhere to the views expressedin in previou
messages that the care Of tho disabled sol
ders of the war of the rebellion is a matte
OF national concern anl duty. Perhaps N
emotion cools sooner than that of gratitu lie
q. but cannot believe That this process ha
a yet reached a point with our people tha
would sustain the policy OF remitt!ng til
care of these disablei veterans to the made
quats agencies, proviiel 10y local laws. Tn
, parade on the goth of September last upo