The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-04

Heved ts sufficient for ordinary crulslnk -.
poses in time Of peace. we have nov sompisys,
and in prOcess Of construction but four nrsii,,
class battle ships and but few torpedo oosvs. /.
offensive. and defensive. We certainly ought Y
increase both the number Of battle ships sno
the manufacture NJ srmor requires expensive
plant and the aggregation Of many skilled work.
vessels now building will be delivered before the
LIST OF June next. IL no new contracts sre Elssn
and their plants must lie idle. Battle ship, su-
thorized At tbi, time would not pc wen unos.
leas. three wears and a halt from the date Of the
contract would be required for their complexion:
cent. Of the cost Of such ships need be included
In. the appropriations Tor the coming year. a..
constrUetion ot add addltIonsi battle ships and tor.
The Secretary the msnufactrre
not only Of n reserve supply Of ordnance and
ordnance material for ships of the navy, but
also a supply for the auxiliary fleet. Gnrs and
their appurienances should be prOvided and
Kept on hand for both these purposes. We have
not to-day = single gun that could be put upon
the ships Paris or New York Of the International
Navigation Company or any other ship OF our
reserve navy The manufacture Of guns At the
toriiy. snd none Of our new ships will be re.
CURED to wait for their guns or ordnance equip
ment.
An important order has been issued by the
Secretary oi tne Navy cojrdinating the duties OF
ton OF ships. This order. il is believed, will Sc
cure. TO greater extent than has heretofore been
| nusSlDIe. IRE harmonious action OF UtS several
bureaus, and make the attainment of the best re-
| suits more certain.
During tine past fiscal year there has been an
unusual and pressing demand in many quarters
OF the world for the presence OF vessels TO guard
American interests. In January last during
the Brazilian insurrection. q large fleet was
concentrated in the harbor OF Rio de Janeiro.
The vigorous action OF Rear Admiral Benhsm
In protecting the personal and commercial
rights OF our citizens during the disturbed con-
ditions afforded results which will. II is be-
lieved. have a far-reaching. and wholesome in
fusnce whenever In like circumstances IL may
become necessary for our naval commanders to
ports. The war now in progress between China
and japan has rendered it. necessary or expedi-
ent to despatch eight vessels TO those waters.
Both the Secretary of the Navy and the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury recommend the transfer OF
the work OF the Coast survey proper to the Navy
Department. I heartily concur in this recon-.
mendation. Excluding Alaska and a very small
ing our coast has been completed. The hydro
graphic work, which must be done over and
ing depths Of water. consequent upon the action
OF stream- and tides. has heretofore been done
n "tS e ine e q, dir ,hs "L nayai oticsrs IN SUI,
survey. There seems to be no good reason why
the navy should not have entire charge. here
after OF such work. especially as the Hydro
graphic ONCE Of the Navy Department is
now, and has been for many years, engaged in
prepared by the Coast survey.
feel it my imperative duty to call attention
gard to the personnel OF the line OF the navy.
The stagnation Of promotion in this. the vital
OEhlltI VI az Is - kTthl n . seriously
Iconsider 1t OF the utmost Importance that the
Young and iniddle-aged officers should. before
the eve Of retirement. De permitted to reach a
grade e~ntioling them To active and important
duty.
The system adopted a tew years ago regulating
the employment OF labor at the navy yards is
usefulness and eypediency. 1t is within the do
main OF civil service reform. inasmuch as work
men are employed through a Board OF labor Sc
lected al each navy yard and are given work
without reference to politics and in the order of
their application. preference. however, being
having former navy yard experience.
Amendments suggested by. experience have
been made to the rules regulating the system.
Through its operation the WORK at our navy
yaTds has been vastly improved in efficiency
and fairly awarded to willing and competent
applicants.
Ii is hoped that il this system continues to be
strictly adhered TO there Will soon be as a natural
consequence such AN equalization OF party bene-
abandon t..
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary OF the Interior
exhibits the situation Of the numerous and in
teresting. branches Of the public service con-
nected with his department. ! commend this
report and the valuable recommendations OF the
Secretary to the careful attention VI the Con-
gress.
The public land disposed Of during the year
"s.s75.05 of Indian lands. II is stimated that
the, public domain still remaining amounts to a
however. about 800. 600, 900 acres in Alaska. as
well as military reservations aud railroad and
other selections of lands yet unAdjudicated
The total cash ~r-ceipts from sale of lands
to S?;31i,:so:1p 3, including S9l. 9sl .O3
received for Indian lands.
Thirty-fye thousand patents were issued for
egricnitural lands, and thirty-one hundred pat
their holdings in severaity. the land so allotted
being, inal:enable by the Indian ~allottees for a
Of I'VE emit year after patent. There
s ri. az ara d wsEenoggsd grants AN during the year
NeaP IN DDN pUl acres NyAra apnhrarah in sha ltata
of selections made by railroad and wagon-road
c9mpanies, and awaited settlement.
The selections OF swamp lands and that taken
as indemnity therefor since the passage of the act
for the same in 1919 amount 10 mar
have been patented to States. About $4,000
acres were patented during the last year. Near
were approved during the year. and al its close
J, 250.t83.sl acres remained unadjusted.
rent year on account Of special service for the
Of the public, lands and. the timber
Years and inadequate for an efficient perform
ance OF the work. A larger sum OF money than
Essr. D ses, az sPP pSp asceG,, during a number Of
he Government as a result OF the labors Of
hose employed in the particular service men
iloned, and | hope IL Will not be crippled By in
,~urhcient appropriation.
| fully endorse the recommendation of the
secretary that adequate protection be provided
Tor our forest reserves. and that a comprehensiyr
system be inaugursted. such keepers
SUPERINTENDENT as are necessary To project
ne forests already reserved should be provided.
am OF the opinion that there should be an
abandonment ofthe policy sanctioned by present
avs under which the Government for a very
mall consideration is rapidly losing title TO i'm
nense tracts OF land covered with timber which 4
mould be properly reserved as permanent ,
ources of timber supply. ,
The suggestion that a change be made in the ,
manner. " securing surveys Of the public lands :
: especially. worthy of consideration. | am sat
shed that these surveys should be made by = ,
orps OF competent surveyors under the imme- :
iate control and direction OF the Commissioner ,
4 the General Land ONCE. ;
An exceedingly mDOFtAnt FapnuD n and afIon 81 .
ne secretary, relates To the manner in which !
and Irrigated cases growing out OF ef- =
nrts TO obtain Government land are determined. !,
ne entire testimony upon which these contro- :
ersies depend In all their stages is taken before q
ne local registers and receivers. and yet these :
Hhcers have no power Ia subpoena witnesses or =
D enforce their attendance u testify, These =
asses, numbering three or four thousand annual :
/, are sent by the local officers TO the Commits =
loner OF the General Land Office for his action. :
ne exlgenGies II rs other duties nblige him 10 :