The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-07

shlls required under the existing contracts Is
lbo,SO2 and when the full service required by
these contracts Is established there will be
forty-one mail steamers under the American
nag, with the probability Of further necessary
ADDITIONS In the Brazilian and Argentine serv-
ice.
The contracts recently let for transatlantic
service VIII result In the construction OF five
ships OF 10000 tons each, costing so 900, 900 or
Sl0,OU,ooO and will add. with the City OF New
YORK ana the City of Paris, 10 which the treas
ury department was authorized by legislation
at the last session to give American registry.
naval reserve.
The contracts made with the lines sailing TO
Central and South American ports have in
creased the frequency and shortened the time
OF the trips, added new ports OF call and sus-
tanned some lines that otherwise would almost
certainly have been withdrawn. The service TO
buenos Ayres is the first to the Argentine Re-
public under the American flag The service to
! Southampton, BouloRne and Antwerp is also
new, and is TO begin with the steamships City OF
New York and City OF Paris in February next
earnestly urge continuance of tae policy in
| augurated by this lie Eislaton aud that the appro-
| priation required TO meet the obligations
Of the government under the contracts may be
| made promptly so that the lines that have en-
tered into these engagements may not be en-
| barrassed.
COMMERCE. ON THE PACIFIC.
We have had, by reason OF connection with
| the transcontinental railway lEes constructed
through our own territory some advantages In
| the ocean trade of the Pacific that we do not
| have on the Atlantic. The construction of the
Canadian Pacific railway and the establishment,
| under large subventions from Canada and Eng
| land, of a fast steamship service from Van
| couver with Japan and China is seriously threat
| eninR our shipping interests In the Pacific. This
| line of English steamers receives as stated by
the commissioner of navigation, a direct subsidy
! OF 100000 annually, or $30,767 per trip for
| thirteen voyages, in addition TO some further
| aid from the admiralty in connection with the
| contract under which the vessels may be used
for naval purposes. The competing American
Pacific mail line under the act of March 3, 1891,
| receives only $6S89 per round trip. Efforts
| have been made within the last year as l am
Informed, TO establish under similar conditions
| line between Vancouver and some Australian
port with view Of Selling there trade in which
we have had large interest. The commits
sioner Of navigation states that a very large
| percentage of our imports from A sia are now
brought TO us by English steamships and their
connecting railways. In Canada, with a view of
promoting this trade especially In tea Canada
has imposed a discriminating duty OF 10 per
cent. upon tea and coffee brought into the do
minion from the United States IL this unequal
contest between American lines without subsidy
or with diminished subsidies and the English
Canadian line to which have referred is to con-
tinue, think we should at least that the
facilities of customs, entry aud transportation
across our territory are not such as to make the
Canadian route favored one, and that the dis =
elimination as to duties to which Ihave referred
IL met by q like discrimination as to the fmpor-
tation of the articles from Canada
No subject l think more nearly touches the
pride, the power and the prosperity OF our
country than this of the development of our
merchant marine upon the sea. II we 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-
lished and maintained their lines by govern
ment subsidies until now they have practically
excluded us from participation. In my opinion
no choice is left to us but to pursue, moder-
ately, at least, the same line.
THE NAVY.
The report OF the Secretary Of tho Navy ex.
tnfn afFa IT,
new navy. When the present secretary en-
tered upon his duties only three modern steel
vessels we're in commission. The vessels since
put IN commission and to be- put in commission
during the winter will 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 and during
the four years twenty-five vessels will have
been launched, Two other large ships and
torpedo boat are under contract and the work
upon them will advance rapidly and the four
monitors are awaiting only the arrival Of
their armorS which have been
unexpectedly detained or they would
have been before this In oompisslon.
Contracts have been let during this admins
tration under the appropriations for the In
! crease OF the navy, Including new vessels aud
their appurLeuances,t to the amount OF S35 600 900
| and there has been expended during the same
period for labor at navy yards upon similar
work Ss 900 without the smallest scandal or
charge of fraud or Partially. The enthusiasm
and interest OF our naval officers, both OF the
staff and line. have been greatly kfndled They
| have responded magnticontly to the confidence
OF congress and have demonstrated to the
| world an unexceled capacity in construction,
| in ordnance, and everything involved the build
ing eqmppiDg and sailing of great war ships.
AT the beginning OF Secretary Tracy's ad-
| minlstratlon several difficult problems re-
manned TO be grappled with aud solved before
the efficiency in action OF ships could be Sc
cured. II Is believed that as the result OF new
| processes In the construction Of armor plate
our later ships will be clothed with defensive
plates of higher resisting power than are found
, | on war
We were without torpedoes. Tests have been
made TO ascertain the relative efficiency of
, | different construction. torpedo has been
| adopted and the work of construction is now
| beng carried on successfully.
| We were without armor piercing shells and
| without q shop instructed and equipped for the
construction of them. We are now making
what is believed to be a projeotile superior to
any before In use. smokeess powder has
been developed and slow burning powder for
guns of large caliber. A high explosive capa-
bic of use in shells fired from service guns has
been found and the manufacture OF gun cotton
has been developed 80 that the question Of sup
ply is no longer in doubt.
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
The development OF a naval militia which has
been organized in eight states and brought into
cordial and cooperative relations with the
navy is another important achievement. There
are now enlisted in these organizations 500
men and they are likely to be greatly extended.
1 recommend such legislation and appropria-
tions as will encourage and develop this move
| ment.
The recommendations of the secretary will, 1
do not doubt, receive the friendly consideration
of congress. for he has enjoyed as he has de-
served the confidence OF all those interested In
the development Of our navy, without any d.
vision upon partisan lines. / earnestly express
| the hope that work which has made such
noble progress may not now be stayed. The
wholesome influence for peace and the
increased sense Of security which our
citizens domiciied in other lands feel
when these magnificent ships under the Ameri-
can shaR appear is already most great
fully apparent. The ships from our navy
which will appear in the great naval parade
next April in the harbor Of New York, will b9
convincing demonstration to the world that the
United States is again a naval power.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The work of the interior department, always
very burdensome, has been larger than ever be-
fore during the administration Of Secretary
Noble. The disability pension law, the taking
of the eleventh census, the opening OF vast
| areas Of Indian lands to settlement, the organi-
| cation Of Oklahoma and the negotiation for the
cession OF Indian lands furnish some Of the par
ticulars of the increased work; and the results
achieved testify To the ability, fidelity and In
dustry of the head Of the department aud his
efficient assistants.
Several important agreements for the eession
3 of Indian lands negotiated by the commissioner
? Amounted under the act of March q 1889. are