Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-12-08

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session TO give American registry, seven Of tho
swiftost vessels upon the sea to our naval re-
, serve The contracts made with the lines sail
ing 20 Central and South American ports have
increased the frequency and shortened the time
Of the trips, added new ports Of call and sus-
tnined some lines that otherwise would almost
certainly have been Withdrawn. The service to
BuenOs Ayres Is tho first 10 the Argentine re-
public under the American flag The service 70
Southampton, Boulogne and Antwerp IS also
new, and Is TO be begun with the steamships City
OF New York and City Of Paris IN February next
l earnestly urge a continuance OF the policy in-
augurated by this legislation and that the ap-
proprations required 70 meet the obligations
OF the government under the contracts
may be promptly made 80 that the lines
that have entered into these engagements
may not be embarrassed. We have had By
reason OF connections with this trans CONT
mental railway lines constructed through our
own territory some advantages that we did not
possess on the Atlantic The construction OF
the Canadian Pacific railway and the estab.
lishment under large subventlons from Canada
aud England OF fast steamship service from
Vancouver with Japan and China seriously
threaten our shipping interests in the Pacific
This line OF English steamers resolved. as
stated by the commissioner OF navigation, a
direct subsidy OF $4,000 annually, or e20, 100
per trip for thirteen voyages. In addition 20
some further aid from the admiralty In connec-
be used for naval purposes The competing
American Pacific Mail line, under the act OF
March 3 1891, receives only 1850 per round
trip
Efforts have boen making within the last
! year, as / Informed, 70 establish under
similar conditions, line between Vancouver
/ nad some Australian port with view Of secur-
/ ing there trade IN which we have had large
! interest The commissioner Of navigation
/ states tnat very large per cent OF our imports
/ from Asia are now brought 10 US by English
steamships and their connecting railways in
| Canada With a view OF promoting this trade,
! especially In tea, Canada has imposed q dis
eliminating duty OF ~ per cent on tea and cof.
fee brought Into the dominion from the United
| States. II this unequal contest between Amer
| lean lines without subsidy, or with diminished
subsidies and the English Canadian line TO
which l have referred is TO continue, l think
we should at least SEQ that the facilities for
customs entry and transportation across our
territory are not such as 10 make the Canadian
route favored one, and that the dlscrimina-
tion as 10 duties, TO which / have referred Is
met BY Ike discrimination as to tho
importation OF these articles from Canada.
No subject, think more nearly touches the
powerand prosperity Of our country than this Of
the development OF our merchant marine upon
the sea. II we could enter into conference with
other competitions and all would agree TO with
hold government aid we could perhaps take our
NudNhth WIN tue rest out our great tOtnpetltOrN
have established and maintained their lines by
government subsidies until now they have prac-
ally excluded us from participation In my
opinion no choice Is left US but to pu, the issue,
moderately at least on the same lines
THE NAVY.
The report OF the secretary Of the navy ex-
hlbits great progress In the construction OF our
now navy. When the present secretary entered
upon his duties only three modern steel vessels
were IN commission The vessels since put In
commission and 10 be put In commission during
the winter will mako total Of nine teen during
his administrat OF the department During
the current year ten war vessels and three
navy tugs have been launched. Two other large
ships and torpedo boat are under
contract and the work upon them well
advanced and the four monitors are awaiting
only the arrival OF thsir armor which has been
Unexpectedly delayed or they would have been
before 4is in commission
Contracts hive boon let during this admins
tratton, under the appropriations for the in-
crease Of the navy, including new vessels and
their appurtonanees to the amount OF S3j 0OJ-
00), ana there hes been expended during the
same period for labor at navy yards upoa SINH
lar work 50 0OOOOJ, without the smallest scan
da or charge Of fraud or plrtialiiy The en-
thusiasm ana interest OF our naval onicers both /
OF the stan md line have been greatly kindled |
They have responded mAguIhcenuy TO the con- /
fdenee OF congress and have demonstrated TO |
Ia ordnance and IN everything involved Ia tho /
building equipping aud sailing OF great war /
ships At the beginning Of Secretary rracy's /
administration several dffficult problems re- /
mained 10 be grapped with aud solved 4
before the efficiency IA action Of our stea m. /
ships could be secured II Is believed that |
as the result Of new processes ia the ooustruo-
ton OF nrmor plate our later ships Will DO |
clothed with defensive plates OF higher resist
anee Than are found on any war vessel atioat
We were without torpcdoes. Tests have bceR
made to ascertain the relative efficiency OF dif.
fcrent constructions, torpedo has been adopt
ed aud the work OF construction Is now being
carried on successfully. We arc without armor
piercing shells We are now making what is
believed 10 be proiectile superior 10
any before in use. smokeless pow
der has been adopted and ! slow burning
powder FOR guns OF large ealiber High explo-
slyes, capable Of use In shells fired from heavy
guns have been found aud tic msuufaciGre o!
gun cotton has been developed aud the question
OF supply is no longer In doubt
The development OF naval mill Tia which has
been organized IN eight states aud brought into
cordial and cooperative relations with the
navy. is another important achievement
There are now enlisted in these organizl.
tions 1850 men and they are likely 70 be
greatly extended. 1 recommend snch egisla-
ton and appropriations as will encourage and
develop this movement The recommends
tons Of the secretary will l do not doubt re-
cciye the friendly consideration OF congress-
for no has enjoyed, as he has deserved, the con.
hdouce OF all those interested In the develop
ment Of our navy, without any division upon
partisan lines. l earnestly express the hope
that a work which has made such noble pro-
grcss may not be stay = The wholesome in.
nuence for the peace and increased sense of
security which our citizens domiciled ia other
lands feel when these mAgniac cent ships
under the American flag appear IS already
aFrsff ]
from our navy which viii appear in The haroo
OF New York, win be q convincing demonstra
zion to the world that the United States IS a
great naval power
TIRE INTERIOR
The work Of ths interior department always
very burdensomo, has been larger than ever be-
fore, during the administration Of Secretary
Noble The disability pension law. taking the. |
eleventh census, the opening Of vast areas Of
Indian lands 10 settlement the organization OF
Oklahoma and the negotiations for the ccssi0a Of
Indian lands furnish some Of the particulars Of
the increased work and the results achiev cd
testify to the ability, fidelity and Industry Of
the head OF the department and his efficient as
sistants
Several important agreements for the cession
OF Indian lands negotiated by tho Indian mission
appointed under the act Of M1rch 2 1889 arc
awaiting the act OF congress Perhaps the
most important Of these is that Tor the cession
Of the Cherokee strip. This has been
source Of great vexation 10 the exec
utive representative and great friction
inures between the settlers in their desire to
occupy It and the Indians who assert title Ths
agreement which has been made by the com
mission is perhaps the most satisfactory that
could have been reached II viii be noticed
that 1t Is conditioned upon its ratification by |
congress before March I. 1898 Tne secretary
Of the interior, who has given the subject care
ful thought recomm ends the ratncltIon Of the
agreement and was inclined 10 follow this REQ
Certain it Is that some action
by which this controversy shall be brought 10 {
an end and the lands opened TO settlement is ,
urgent
The rest of the presidents message
was devoted to departmental affairs, ,
much of which has already been pub
.ished. He concludes by hoping the
of congress will result TO
he material advantage Of the country,