The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-06
THE MESSAGE is READY
The President Has Completed His Annual
Letter 10 The Assembled Lawmakers.
ITS CONTENTS ARE ONLY GUESSED AT
Secretary Herbert Recommends In
His Report Iui!ding of ves~ci. of
Lighter Draft &" Go Up the Smaller
RiNcrs-Mnny Important Keeon,.
incndntions TO Congress.

Washington. Dec. 5.--Col w. II. Cook,
diSbursing clerk of the White House.
who has been so long associated with
that position. and has SO frequently
been made the confidential depository Of
advance copies of the Presidents an
nual' message will leave this city to-
morrow afternoon charged With the duty
or distributing the message TO the press
SO that II can be published in the great
newspapers of the country contempp-
raneously with its delivery to Congress.
THE MESSAGE COMPLETED.
President Cleveland completed the
preparation OF the messa"e to Congress
to-day. He had a consultation with
Secretary Olney In the morning In rela-
tion TO the treatment of foreign rela-
lions. This portion OF the message is
always left open till the last. inasmuch
as the Secretary of State Is the only
cabinet officer who has not the right
OF making report directly to. the Con-
gress, and nj the final moment there is
always liable to be a change In the atti-
tude OF our relations with other gov
ernments. which may necessitate q
change In the message The Govern
ment Printer will complete the printed
copy Tor the press and individual MEM
Ders OF Congress by tomorrow morning
The two official copies Intended for for
mai presentation to the Senate and
House VIII be in writing, according 10
0ntailing custom. The copy for the
Senate VIII be written by Assistant Pri-
Nate Secretary Pruden. and the one for
the House by Executive Clerk Young
Doth expert pennen. The preparation
OF these manuscript copies Is no light
task. inasmuch as the present message
Is understood to make nearly $4,000
words.
WILL BE SENT TO NEWSPAPERS
In the course OF tomorrow night or
early Monday morning the agent of the
PRESIDENT VIII deliver the printed copies
or his message to the postmasters Of
baltimore. Philadelphia and New York
with directions to furnish these copies
TO the managers of the United Associ-
ated Presses, to be manfolded and
placed on the wires for release lust as
soon as the message reaches the halls
OF Congress. Usually the Presid cnt's
intention to communicate to Congress
n message In writing is made known
by the respective committees appointed
Tor that purpose shortly after p. m,
and is Immediately followed by the APP
pearance of Private Secretary Pruden
with the message itself
HERBERTS REPORT.
Secretary Herbert i'm his annual re-
port asks Congress at the coming ses-
SION 10 authorize three light draft bat
tieships and twelve torpedo boats
he recomends that these ships be plan
ned for an extreme deep load y. Iught
of not more than 23 feet. and suggests
mat considerations of strategy upon our
Atlantic and Gulf coasts render this an
essential To the success of naval cam
paigns.
"ihis reasoning" he says. "is the
hnai result of much study by able Of
hcers Of conditions as they exist on
onr Southern coast. Battleships thai
Couiu enter the harbors of Savannah.
Brunswick. Key West, Tampa. Pensa-
cola, Mobile and the mouth of the Mis-
slsslppi al all times would have an I'M
nense advantage over the battleships
ot foreign nations. few OF any of which
could enter these ports. Light draft
battleships. II we had them could make
any OF those ports basis of supply. could
sally forth from them or retire info them
at will and could therefore almost al
ways offer battle on their own terms
There are also many of our ports fur
ther north which would give the same
advantages to such ships"
AN te.esilng feature of the report Is
4 resume of the progress OF the upbutl6
ing of the new navy from the tire of
us Inauguration under Secretary Chan
dler Cong e : has authorized during
the pre-: cnt administra ion twenty-elrhI
vessels, with a total tonnage OF G.. SAG
TONS. Of these five are frst-class bat
tlesh!ps and sixteen torpedo boats
Large as the above increase appears"
says The Secretary. lit yet dees not
suffice to place the United States navy
in satisfactory condition. !f we mean
70 De able at all times to defend our
long line of seacoas,, afford unquestion-
abe protection TO our citizens In for
eiGn lands, render efficient aid 10 our
diplomacy. and maintain under all cir
cumstances our national honor"
The Secretary, calling attention TO the
comparative naval strength OF the prin-
opal powers states that while the re-
sul:s achieved by the United States a:e
highly cretlitable 10 the country, vet II
Is clear that the great powers with
which we are brought Into close rela-
tion;hip llrgely exceed US net only In
the number fbat;leshirs and torpedo
boa:s actually in commission, bu; In
their naval programmes for the fu:u q.
The Secretary shows on June 80, 1898,
there were thirty vessels In commission
with tonnage OF 62 $50 tons" while on
December 10th. the t3tal tonnage In
commission will, be l3I, s59 tons.
Attention Is again called to the neces-
sity for some legi;ll ton by Congress
which viii nable the department. to
make use, In case OF an emergency, of
the tugs. yachts. and vessels engaged IN
the fishing fleets and co1s;wise and lake
trade and to call into the vice of the
navy the siiiors and officers necessary
to command and fit such ships IN ca a.e
Of threatened or actual war. lie recon-
mends an additional appropriation for
the purpose of supplying gun: and am