The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-02-12

ponCy Oi tIle government was 10 secure from lne
| established lines an improved service as con
dltion of giving to them the benefits of the law.
This in all instances has been attained
The postmaster-general estimates that an ex-
Penditure in an American shipyard of about
SIo, 900, 900 will be necessary to enable the
bidders to construct the ships called for by the
service which they have accepted. l do not
think there is any reason for Encouragement Or
for any turning back from the policy of the
legislation. Indeed, a good beginning has
been made, and as the subject is further con-
sidered and understood by capitalists and ship
ping people new lines will be ready to meet
future proposals, and we may date from
the passage of this law the revival of American
| shipping interests and the recovery of a fair
share OF the carrying trade Of the world. We
were receiving for foreign postage nearly 81
ooo, 900 under the old system, and the outlay
for ocean mail service did not exceed 5000, 900
per annum. 1t is estimated by the postmaster
general that if all the contracts proposed are
completed it will require $247,I s. for this year
in addition to the appropriation for sea and
inland postage, already in the estimates, and
that for the next fiscal year, ending June 80,
1893, there would probably need about
S5oo, 1000.
The Navy Department.
Inc report OF the secretary OF the navy
shows gratifying increase of new naval vessels
in commission. The Newark, Concord, Ben
nington and Miantonomah have been added
during the year with aggregated tonnage Of
something more than 1000 tons. Twenty
four warships of all classes are now under con-
struction in the navy yard and private shops,
but while the work VI on them is going forward
satisfactorily, the completion of the more i'm
portant vessels will yet require about years
toll. Some of the vessels now under construc-
ton, it is believed, will be triumphs of naval
engineering. When it is recollected that the
work of building modern navy was only
initiated in the year 1883, that our naval con-
structors and ship builders were practically
without experience in the construction of large
iron Or steel ships, that our eng inc shops were
unfamiliar with great marine engines, and that
The manufacture of steel forgings for guns and
plates was almost wholly foreign industry, the
progress that has been made is not only highly
satisfactory, but furnishes the that the
United States will, before long, in the construc-
ton of such vessels with those engines and arma-
ments, attain the same pre-eminence which it
claimed when the best instruments of ocean
commerce was the clipper ship and the
most impressive exhibit of naval power the old
wooden three-decker man-o war. The officers
of the navy and the propnetors and engineers
of our great private shops have responded
with wonderful intelligence and professional
zeal to the confidence expressed by congress in
its liberal legislation. We have now at Wash
ngon a gunshop organized and conducted by
naval officers that in its system, economy and
product is unexcelled. Experiments with
armor plates have been conducted during the
year with most important results. 1t is now
believed that plate of higher resisting power
than any one in use has been found, and that
the tests have been demonstrated that cheaper
methods of manufacture than those heretofore
thought necessary can be used. 1 commend to
your favorable consideration the recommended
ton of the secretary, who has, l am sure, given
to them the most conscientious study. There
should be no hesitation in promptly completing
navy of the best modern type, large enough
to enable this country to display its flag in all
seas for the protection OF its citizens and of its
extending commerce. The world needs no as
surance of the peaceful purpose of the United
States, but we shall probably in the future
more largely contribute to the commerce of the
world, and it is essential to the dignity Of this
nation and to that peaceful influence which it
should exercise on this hemisphere that its
navy should bd adequate both upon the shores
of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Grimes Against Chastity.
The work done by the encouragement and
the officers of his department, even under the
present inadequate legislation, has produced
some notable results in the interest of law and
order. The encouragement and also the COM
missioner of the District of Columbia call at
tention to the effectiveness and inadequacy Of
the laws relating to crimes against cheat
ing in the District of Columbia. A st ingent
code upon this subject has been provided by
congress for Utah, and it is matter Of surprise
that the needs ofthis district should have
been SO long overlooked.
Town Government for Alaska.
recommend that provision be made for the
organization Of simple form of town govern
ment in Alaska, with power to regulate such
matters as are unusually in the statutes under
municipal control Tne local organizations will
give better protection in such matters than the
present skeleton territorial organization. Proper
restrictions as to the power to levy taxes ard to
create debts should be imposed.
Rights of Criminals.
concur in the recommendation of the at
torney-genera that the right in felon cases to
review by the supreme court be limited 1t
would seem that personal liberty would have q
safe guarantee of the right of review in cases
involving only fine and imprisonments, if linn
tied to the circuit court of appeals unless a con-
sttutional question should in any way be in
voved.
The Interior Department.
The report Of the secretary of the interior
shows that very gratifying progress has been
made in all of the bureaus which make up that
complex and difficult department. The work
in the bureau of Indian affairs was, perhaps,
never SO large now, by reason of the numerous
negotiations which have been proceeding with the
tribes for a reduction Of the reservations, with
the incident labor of making allotments, and
was never more carefully conducted. The pro-
vision of adequate school facilities for Indian
children, and the locating of adult Indians
upon FARMS involve the solution of the ''Indian
question" Everything else-rations, annuities,
and tribal negotiations with the agents, inspec-
tors and commissioners, who distribute and
conduct them-must pass away when the In
dian has become a citizen, secured in the indi-
vidual ownership of farm, from which he de-
rives his subsistence by his own labor, protected
by and subordinate to the laws which govern
the white man, and provided by the general
government, or by the local communities in