The record-union., 1892-12-07
THE MESSAGE.
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been nearly doubled in the past four years.
ana the number Of money order offices more
than doubled in that time.
FOR three years ending June 80, 1892, the
postage revenue amounted to $l97, ,444, 800,
winch was an increase OF S52.263, 80 over
tne revenue for the three years ending June
Years being more than three and half times
as great as Inc increase during the year end
ing June 80, 1883. No such increase as that
shown for these three years has ever previ-
ously appeared in the revenues OF the depart
ment.
The Postmaster-CIeneral has extended to the
Postofices in he larger cities the merit sys-
TEN OF promotion introduced by my direction
into the departments here and il has resulted
there, as IN other departments, in large vol
ume # worG and that better done
Ever since our merchant marine was driven
rom the sea by tue rebel cruisers during the
war of the rebellion, the United States thus
paying an enormous annual tribute to foreign
countries in the shape of freight and paSsa se
money, our grain and meats have been taken
at our own docks and our large imports there
lad down by foreign shipmasters. An in
cfeasing torrent of American travel 10 Europe
mas contributed vast sum annually to the
dividends OF foreign ship-owuers. The balance
OF trade shown by the books of our Custom
houses nave been largely reuEced, and in
many years altogether eXtinguished by this
constant strain. In the year 1892 only 1873
per cent. OF our imports were brought in
American vessels. The foreign steamships
maintained by our traffic are many of them
under contract with their respective Govern
ments by which III time of war they will be
come part of their armed naval establish
Inents. Prohting by our commerce in peace,
they VIII become the mOs5 formidable de
suoyers of our commerce in time OF war. 1
1elt and have before expressed the feeling
mat TINS condition OF things vas both intoleT-
aole and disgraceful.
A whol some cnange of policy and having
so much promise as II seems to, was begun by
the law of March 3, 1891. Under this law
hglN M Dose
General for eleven mail rouIes. The expend-
1ture involved by these contracts for the next
fiscal year approximated 1855, 1913 33. AS
one of The good results reached, s. iXteen Amer
lean ships OF an aggregate tonnage of $500
IONS costing 81, 100000, have been built or
contracted TO be built in American shipVards
The estimated tonnage Of all steamships
required under existing contracts is 1G5 SO2,
and when the full service required by these
contracts is established there will be forty-one
mail ste amers under the American flag, with
the PROBABILITY of "a farther necessary addi-
ton IN the Brazilian ana Argentine service.
The contracts recently lei for transatlantic
service viii result in the construction OF five
ships of 10000 tons each, costing So, 100000
or 100000, ana will add with the City
of New York and the City OF Paris, TO which
the Treasury Department was authorized by
legislation at the last session to give Amer
lean registry, seven OF the swiftest vessels
upon the sea 10 our naval reserve.
The contracts made with the lines sailing 10
Central and South American ports have in
creased the frequency ana shortened the time
tained some lines that otherwise would al
most certainly have been Withdrawn. The
service to BuenOs Ayres is the first to the Ar
gentine Republic under the American flag.
The service TO southampton, Boulogne ana
Antwerp is also new and is to be begun with
the steamship City of New York and City of
Paris in February next
earnestly urge continuance of the policy
inaugurated by this legislation, and that APP
propriations required to meet the obligations
of the Government under the contracts NAV
be promptly made, so that the lines that have
entered into the engagements may not be en-
barrassed.
MERCHANT MARINE.
We have had by reason of connections with
the transcOntinental railway lines constructed
through our own territory some advantages
IN the gain OF trade OF the Pacific that we did
not possess on the Atlantic. The construction
OF the Canadian Pacific Railway and the es-
adjustment under large Subventions from
Canada and England of fast steamship service
rom Vancouver with Japan and China seri-
ously threaten our shipping interests in the
Faclhc. This line OF English steamers re-
ceived, as stated by the Commissioner of
Navigation, q direct subsidy OF S4OO, 600 an
nually, or S30,767 a round trip, thirteen
voyages, in addition TO some further aid from
The admiralty in connection with contracts
by which the vessels may be used for naval
purposes. The competing American Pacific
Mail under the Act OF March 3, 1891 receive
only S6, ,3S9 per round trip.
Efforts have been making within the last
year, as l am informed, to establish under
similar conditions a line between NancouNe er
and some Australian Port, with a view of
seizing there a trade in which we have had a
large interest. The Commissioner of Nayig3-
tion states that a very large percentage of our
imports from Asia are now brought to the
United States by English steamships and their
connecting railways il Canada. With view
OF promoting this trade especially in tea
Canada has imposed u discriminating duty OF
10 per cent. on tea and coffee brought INTO the
dominion from the United States If This IN
equal contest between American lines without
subsidy, or with diminished subsidies and
the English-Canadian line To which l hal e re-
8 n I frl- al,.,, ii
least see that the facilities OF custom entry
and transportation across our territory are
not such as TO make the Canadian route a ia
Noied one, ana that the discrimination as TO
duties 10 which have refereed is met by a
like discrimination as to the importation of
these articles from Canada.
No subject l think, more nearly touches
the power and the prosperity of our country
than this OF the development of our meT-
chant marine upon the sea. Ifwe could enter
INTO conference with other competitors and
all would agree to withhold Government aid
we could, perhaps, take our chances with the
rest, but our great competitors have estab-
hshed and maintained their lines by Govern
ment subsidies, until now they have practi-
cally excluded us from participating. In my
opinion, no choice is lett TO US but to put the
issue moderately, at least, on the same lines
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy ex-
hibits great progress in the construction of
cur new navy. When the present Secretary
entered upon his duties, only three modern
steel vessels were in commission. The vessels
since put IN cOIllhlsSlOn ana 10 be put in COM
mission during, the winter, VIII make a total
of nineteen during his administration of the
department.. During the current year ten
war vessels and three navy tugs have been
launched. Two other large ships and n tor
pedO-boat are under contract and the work
upon them well ad vanced, and the four mOni-
tors are awaiting only the arrival of their
aTmor, which has been unex xpectedly DELAYED
or they would have been before this in com
mission.
Contracts have been let during this Admin
1stration, under the appropriations for the in
crease of the navy, including new vessels and
their appurtenances, to the amount of S3T-
100000, and there have been expended dur
ing the same period for labor at the navy
yards upon similar work SS.00O,OOO with
out the smallest scandal or charge Of fraud or
Partially.
The enthusiasm and interest of our naval
officers, both OF the staff and line has been
greatly hindled. They have responded mag
nihcently to the confidence of Congress and
have demonstrated to the world an uneXcelled
capacity TO construct in ordnance. and in
everything involved in the building, equip
ping and sailing of great Warships
At the beginning of Secretary Tracy's ad-
mIniStratlon several difficult problems re-
malned To be gTappied with and solved before
this efficiency in the action of our ships could
be secured. 1t is believed that as the result OF
the new process in the construction of armor
plates, our later ships will be clothed with de-
1enslNe plates of higher resistance than are
found on any war vessel ahOat. We We're
without tOrpedoes. Tests have .en made 10
ascertain the relative efficiency of different
constructions. torpedo has been adopted
ana the work OF construction is now being
carried on successfully. We were without
armor piercing shells. We are now making
what is believed 10 be projectie superior to
any before in use. A smokeless powder has
been adopted, and a slow-burning powder for
guns of large calibcr. High explosives capa-
ble OF use in shells fired from heavy puns
cotton has been developed, and the question
OF supply is no longer in doubt.