Huntsville gazette., 1892-12-10
HUNTSVILLE. ALA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1892.

them would enable the courts to exercise some
discretion in apportioning punishment and
would greatly relieve the executive OF what IS
coming to be very heavy burden-the exam
ination OF these cases on application for COM
mutation
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general shows
most gratifying increase and most efficient
ness Of that department. The remarkable in
crease in revenues. in ths numbsr OF post Offices
and in the miles of mail interchange furnishes
further evidences of the high state of pros
perity which our people enjoying.
In the calculations the payments to be made
under the contracts for ocean mail service have
not been included. There have been added
l,0S0 new mail routes during the year with a
mileage Of 1888 miles. and the total mum Der of
new miles of mail trips added during the year
is nearly 100000. Ths number Of miles of
mail journeys added during the last four years
s about 5000, 000 this addition being q ,000,OO
of miles more than were in operation in the
whole country In 1851.
The number of post offices has been in
creased by2. 2.7aJ during the year, and during
the past four years. up to October 20 last the
total increase in the number Of offices has been
nearly 1900. The number of fre s-delivsry
offices has been nearly doubled in the past four
years, and the number OF money order Offices
more than doubled within that time.
THE DECLINE OF OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
Ever since our merchant marine was driven
from the sea by the rebel cruisers during the
war of the rebellion, the United States has
been paying an enormous annual tribute to
foreign countries in the shape of freight and
passage moneys. Our grain and meats have
been taken at our own docks and our large i'm
ports there laid down by foreign ship masters.
Au increasing torrent of American travel to
Europe has contributed vast sum annually to
the dividends of foreign ship owners. the bal
ance OF trade shown by tns books of our Gus
tom HOUSES has been largely reduced and in
constant strain. In the year 1892
July 1913 per cent. of our imports were broug at
in American vessels. The foreign steamships
maintained by our traffic are, many Of them.
under contract with their respective govern
ments by which i'll time of war they will be-
come part OF their armod naval establish
ment
NEW DEPARTURE.
Profiting by our colnmercs in peace they will
become the most formidable destroyers Of our
commerce in time Of war. | felt and
have before expressed the feeling
that this condition OF things was
both intolerable and disgracaful whole
some change of policy, and having in it much
promise, as il seems to me, was begun by the
law Of March 3 1891. Under this law contracts
have been made by the postmaster general for
eleven mail routes. The expenditure involved
| by these contracts for the next fiscal year ap-
proximated 1854, l23. IS As one of the good re-
| suits reached, sixteen American ships, OF an
aggregate tonnage of B.! 400 tons costing 81 400.
600, have been built or contracted to be built in
| American ship yards.
No subject | think more nearly touches the
| pride, the power and the prosperity of ouI
! country than this of the development Of our
merchant msrine 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 estaO-
| lished and maintained their lines by govern
ment subsidies until no they have practically
excluded MS from participation. In my opinion,
no choice is left to US but to pursue, moderate
| ly at least, the same lines.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the secretary of the navy eX
| hbits great progress in the construction o.
our new navy. When thu present secretary
4 entered upon his duties only three steel yes
sells were in 90 n m iesaa Ths vessels si.ct
put in commission ana to be put into commits
| sion during tho winter will make total ol
nineteen during his administration of the de
partment. During the current year ten wai
vessels and three navy tugs have been launched
and during the four years twenty tive vessels
will have been launched Two Other
| large ships and a torpedo boat ar, are
| advanced, and the four monitors are awaiting
| only the arrival of their armor, which has been
unexpectedly delayed, or they woult have been
before this in commission.
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
The development OF q naval militia Which
has been organized in eight states and brought
into cordial and CO. operative relations with the
| navy, is another important achievement
There are now enlisted III these organ
izations 1900 men, and they are likely to be
greatly extended. | recommend such legisla,
tion and appropriations as Will encourages and
develop this movement
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The work Of the interior department, always
very burdensome, has been larger than ever
before during the administration Of Secretary
Noble. The disability pension law. taxing OF
the eleventh census the opening Of vast areas
Of Indian lands to settlement, the organization
OF Oklahoma, and the negotiations for the ces
sion 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 and his
efficient assistants.
THE GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA.
The form Of government provided by con
gress on May II, 1884, for Alaska. was, IN its
frame and purpose temporary. The increase
of population and the development OF soma i'm
portsnt mining ald commercial interests make
Il imperative that the law should be revised
and better provision made for the arrest and
punishment of criminals.
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
The report of the secretary shows a very
gratifying state of affairs to the condition OF
the general land Office The work of issuing
agricultural patents. which seemed to be hope
lessly in arrears when the present secretary
undertook tho duties of his Office, has been 80
expedited that the bureau is now upon cur
rent business The relief thus afforded to
honest and worthy settlers upon the public
lands, by giving to them an assured title to
their entries, has been of incalcuable benefit in
developing the new states and ths territories.
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS
The court Of private land claims, established
by congress for the promotion OF this policy OF
speedily settling contested land titles, is max
ing satisfactory progress in its work, and
when the work is completed a great impetus
will be given to the development of those
regions where unsettled claim under Mexican
grants have 50 long exercised their repressive
influence. When TO these results are added
the former sessions Of Indian lands
which have been opened to ssttlemsnt
aggregatng during this administration
nearly 26 000,000 acres, that agreements negoti.
ated and now pending in congress for ratifica-
ton by which about 100000 additional acres
will be opened to settlement, it viii be seen how
much has been accomplished.
THE INDIAN BUREAU.
The work in the Indian bureau in the execu-
ton of tho policy of the recent legislation has
first, the allotment Of lands in ssyeralty to the
Indian and the cession to the United
States Of the surplus lands. and, Sec
ondly, to the work of educating the Indians
for their own protection in close contact with
the white man, and for the intelligent exercise
of his new citizenship.
| have several times been called upon to re-
move Indian agents appointed by me and have
done SO promptly upon every sustained com
plant of unfitnes5 or misconduct. Deilsve,
however, that the Indian ser-ice at the
agencies has been improved. and is now ad-
ministered on the whole, with a good degree
of efficiency. II any legislation is possible by
which the selection OF Indian agents can ne
wholly removed from all partisan suggestion
and consideration, ! am sure it would be q
great relief to tho executive and great BEN
etit to the service.
THE PENSION BUREAU
The report Of the commissioner OF pensions.
to which extended notice is given by the secTs-
tarY Of the interior in his report. Will attract