San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-08

less to the petitions of localities, is
set forth. The equipment of the en-
: tire army with new magazine arms is
noted, and the recommendation made
that as soon as possible the liz, $40 or
ganized militia be similarly armed.
r The condition of the coast defences
and the value Of the work done i'm that
direction is:
During the past year rapid progress
has been made toward the completion
of the scheme adopted for the cree
ton and armament of Notifications
along our sea coast, while equal pro-
gress has been made in providing the
material for submarine defense in
connection with these works. In De-
cember 1898, | informed the congress
of the approaching completion of nine
II inch, 20 10 inch and 81 8 inch nigh
power steel guns, and IS II inch rifled
mortars, this total seemed inSignifi-
cant when compared with the great
work remaining to be done. Yet it
was none the less a source of salts
faction of every citizen when he re-
Elected that it represented the first in
stallment of the new ordnance of
American design and American manu-
facture, and demonstrated our abili-
| ty to supply from our own resources
| guns of uneXcelled power and accura-
cy. AT that date. however. there
were practically no carriages upon
which to mount these guns and only
81 emplacements for guns and Ga for
mortars. Now were all these en-
placements in condition TO receive
their armament. Only one high pow
er gun was at that time in position
for the defense of the entire coast.
Since that time the number of guns
actually completed have been increas-
ed to total of 20 81 inch, 56 10 inch
guns, 81 Sinch high power breech
loading steel guns, 10 rapid fire guns,
and so II inch rifed mortars. In ad-
dition there are in process of con-
struction 100 Is inch high power guns
and 66 II inh rifled mortars in all 42S l
guns and mOrtars. During the same l
year. Immediately preceding the mes l
sage referred the first modern gun av- |
erage had been completed and II Il
more were in process of construction L
In the attorney generals depart
ment: the substitution of salaries for
fees is referred to as showing graft
Tying results: national penitentiaries
advocated for the confinement of Fed
eral prisoners; the experiment at
Leayenworth approved by which the
old military prison has been transfer
red into a Federal penitentiary.
Postal service showing is made in |
the following figures: ''The total re-
ceipts during the year were So, 499,-
20S.40. The total expenses were $780,
GIG, 1860, exclusive of $1,559, S9S.27,
which was earned by the Pacific rail
roads for transportation and credited
on their debt to the government.
There was an increase of receipts over
the previous year of $5,516,OSO.21 or
II per cent, and increase of expendi-
lures of 1886. 125.02, or 4.42 per cent.
The deficit was $1,679,95619 less
than last year.
Weight of mail matter (Other than |
above) transmitted through the mails
for the year ending June 80, 1896:
Domestic and foreign-Letters, pos
tai cards. weight 65,337 ,343; revenue
sec, 624 AGA.
2. Newspapers and periodicals, l
cent per pound. weight. 34S, 9SS, $40; |
revenue, 1896, 403.
3. Books, seeds, ETC., 8 cents pound
weight 7S,701, Jas; revenue, S10,324,-
O69
A. Parcels. etc.. Is cents al
pound, weight, 1880 1871; revenue S.
129,321.
Total-weight, 512.977. 326;revenue,
ST., O44,257
The progress of the navy depart
ment and the work of the war college
are commended. More prudence in
giving away the public domain is re-
commended.
Change is declared necessary in the
relations Of the Indians of the i've
civilized tribes to the United States.
The usual harpings Of the presi-
dents messages against the pension
bureau IS found in this one also, and
the complaint made that the decrease
in the pension list does not materalize,
but the figures show that the amount
paid in pensions is less than that paid
last year.
A column Of the message is devoted
10 kick against the free distribution
Of seeds by the agricultural depart
ment, the work Of the weather bu-
reau, civil service reform success and
the need Of some changes in the in
terstate commerce laws, and then it
Jumps on to tariff with both feet.
The present law is defended, and ex-
cuses and explanations and special
pleadings INDUCED in to show why
the revenues under the present tariff
have fallen so far below the expendi-
lures Of the government, but they fail
to explain the deficit of $S,0O0,OOO a
month.
The message declares that the gov
eminent must go out of the banking
business. and proceeds with the rea-
sons that influence the Clevelandic
mind to that conclusion, and winds
ND with thrust at the trusts, which