Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-15

serve The contracts made with the lines sail 1
ing to Central and South American ports have /
increased the frequency and shortened the time /
o. the trips, added new ports OF call and SuS- 4
tanned some lines that otherwise would almost /
certainly have been vi hdrarR The service 70 /
BuenoS Avrcs IS the drst Ia the Argentine re /
public under the American flag The service "a |
Southampton, Boulcgne and Antwerp Is also !
new, and is 70 be begun -i:h TIE steamships City
OF New FORK and City OF Paris N FEBRUARY next
earnestly urge continuance of tie policy in, |
augurltod oy his legislation AMI that the au- |
propriasloas required 10 meet the obligations |
OF the government under the contracts l
lnaT be promptly made 50 that the liaes |
That have entered into these en- Sagernsnss |
may not be embarrassed We have had by ]
reason OF connections with the trans-conti-
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 esia5-
hshUaent under large subTentioaS from Canada
and England OF fast steamship service from
Vancouver with Japan and China seriously
threaten our shipping interests in the Pacific.
This line OF English steamers received, as
stated by the commissioner OF navigation, \
direct subsidy OF SI0J 90 annually, or S2a go
per trip for thirteen voFages in addisio TO
some fur; her aid from the admiralty IN connec-
ton with contracts by which the vessels nav
be. used for naval purposes The competing
American Pacific Mail Inc, under the act OF
March 3 1891, receives only IS $50 per round
trip
Efforts have been making within the last
L
similar conditions, a line between Vancouver
and some Aus tralian port with q view of secur-
ing there = trade in which we have had a large
interest The commissioner OF navigation
states that 4 very large Per cent OF our imports
from Asia are now brought 20 by English
steamships and their connecting RAILWAYS IN
Canada Hitha view CT promoting this trade.
especially IN tea, Canada has imposed \ dis
eliminating duty OF 10 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 %
which have referred Is TO continue, think
we should al least see that the facilities for
customs entry and franspoTt ation across cur
territory are not such as 10 make the Canadian
route Z favored one and that me oiscriLl-Ils-
ton Us 10 duties, to which I have referred. is
met by 4 like discrimination 70 tho
| importation Of these articles from Canata-
No subject, think, more nearly touches The
poseTand prosperity OF our country Than Ihis OF
| the development of our merchant marine upon
/ the sea- Il NC could enter into conference with
other competitions and all would agree TO with
hold government aid, could perhaps take our
chances with the rest, but our great competitors
/ 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 put the ISSUE
moderately al least. the same lines
THE NAVY
The report of the secretary Of the navy ex-
hlDitS great progress in The construction OF our
new navy When the present secret ry entered
upon his duties only three modern steel vessels
were in commission. The vessels since put in
commission and to be put in commission during
| the winter Will make d total OF nineteen during
| his adm inis tration Of the department During
| the current year ten vessels and three
i navy tugs have been launched. Two other large
| ships and a torpedo boat under
| contract and the work upon them well
| advanced ana the four monitors are awaiting
| only the arrival of their armor which has been
| unexpectedly delayed, or they would have been
| before this in com mission
| Contracts have been let during this adrninis-
| tratlon. under the appropriations Tor the in
crease OF the navy, including new vessels and
! their appurtenanceS to the amount Of S35 co.,
| COZ, and there has been expended durinE the
same period for labor at navy yards upon SINH
lar work % 010, 090. without the smallest seam
dal or charge OF fraud or partially The en-
! thuSl3Sm and interest OF orr naval officers both
of the staff and lire. have been greatly kindled.
| They have res ponded magnifcently to the con-
| ndence OF congress and have demonstrated TO
J the world unexcelled capacity 10 construct
| II ordnance and IN every thing involved in the
building. eQuipping and sailing Of great war
ships st the beginning Of Secretary Tracy 3
admins tration several difficult problems re-
NAMED 20 be grapDled with and solved
| before the efficiency in action of our steam
ships couid be secured L IS believed that
as the result Of new processes in the cons true
ton of armor plate later ships viii De
| clothed with defensive plates of higher resist
ance Than are found any vessel af1oat
| We were without torpedoeS- Tests have been
made to ascertain the relative efficiency of diff
ferent cons tructionS, j torpedo mas been adopt
| ed and the work of construction Is being
| carried successfully. We are without armor
| piercing shells We are now making what is
believed to be projectile superior tc
any before in a sE1okeleSS pow
! der has been adopted and slow burning
| powder for guns of large caliber- High explo-
sives. capable OF use in shells fired from heavy
guns have been found and the manufacture of
gun cotton has been developed and the Ques ton
of supply is no longer in doubt
| The development of 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 organiza-
lions 1850 men and they are likely to be
greatly extended I recommend such legisla-
ton and appropriations will encourage and
develop this movement The recommends
tons of the secretary, VIII do not doubt, re-
ceive the friendly consideration OF congress
for he has enjoyed, as he has deserved, the con-
fidence OF all those interested in the develop
| ment of navy, without any division upon
partisan lines I earnestly express the hope
| that work which, has made such noble pro-
| gress may not be stayed The wholesome in
! f1uence for the peace and increased sense OF
security which citizens don1ciled in other
! lands feel when these magnificent ships
under the American flag appear, is already
most gratefully apparent The sseanshi pS
| from our navy which will appear in The harbor
Of New York, viii be convincing demons ira
lion TO the world that the United States is a
great naval power
| THE INTERIOR
The work of the interior department. always
very buriensome, has been larger than ever be-
fore, during the admins iration Of Secretary
Noble. The disability pension Law. taking the
eleventh census, the opening Of vast areas of
Indian lands to settlement the organization Of
Oklahoma and the Iegotfn tons Tor the cesson Of
! Indian lands furnish SOME OF the particulars of
| the increased work and the results achiev ed
! testify 10 the ability, fidelity and industry of
| the head OF the department aud his efficient as
sistants-
Several important agreements for the cession
of Indian lands negotiated by the Indian mission
/ appointed under the act OF March >, 1889, are
| awaiting the act of congress- Perhaps the
most important OF these is that for the cession
! of the Cherokee strip. This has been !
! source of great Texation the exec
! utiTe representative and great friction
| inureS between the settlers in their desire 70
occupy il and the Indians who assert title. The
| agreement which has been male by the COM
mission is perhaps the most satisfactory that
! could have been reached It VIII De noticed
| thai Il IS conditioned upon its ratification By
congress before March 4. 1923 The secretary
OF the interior, who has given the subject care
full thought, recommends the ratification Of the
agreement and was inclined to follow this -ec-
! ornnendaiion- Certain it is that some action
! by which this controversy shall be brought 10
| an end and the lands opened 70 settlement is
| urgent