The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-07


my constant encouragement"
The President refers to the unpre-
cedcntcd interest shown by the people
IN the approaching Paris Expositicn.
IIo speaks In flRtteripg terms OF the
work accomplished by the United
speaks tudlous and liberal appropria-
ton for q credItable national exhibit.
THE NAVY.
Coming to the subject OF the navy,
the President speaks in terms OF high
praise Of the excellent character OF our
naval force. He regards 1t as of great
Importance that Congress should I'M
mediatcly provide for the armor for
the three battleships now under con-
structlon. He recommends very, little
new construction. but Bays.
THE great increase of the navy
which has taken place In recent years
was justified by the requirements for
national defense, and has received pub
He appreciation. The time has now ar
rived. however. when this increase, to
which the country is committed. should,
for a time. take the form of Increased
facilities commensurate with the in
crease OF our naval vessels. 1t Is an
unfortunate fact that there Is only one
dock on tho Pacific coast capable of
docking our largest ships, and only one y
on the Atlantic coast, and that the
latter has for the last six or seven
months been under repair, and. there
steps Should be taken to provide three
or four docks of this capacity on the
Atlantic coast. at least one on the
Pacific coast and n floating dock in tho
Gulf. This is the recommendation OF a
very competent board, appointed to in
vestiEate the subject There should
also be ample provision made for pow
prnt lbs
tons OF war and for an Increased num-
Der OF officers and enlisted men. Some
additions are aso necessary to our
haVy-yards, for the repair and care of
our larger number of vessels AS there
are now on the stocks five battleships
OF the largest class, which cannot be
completed for n year or two I concur
with the recommendation of the Sec
rotary Of The Navy for an approprla-
tion authorizing the construction of one
battleshlp for the Pacific coast, where
az present there is only one in commits
sion and one under construction, while
on the Atlantic coast there are three
III commission and four under construc-
ton; and also that several torpedo
boats be authorized In connection with |
our general system Of coast defense"
ALASKA
The territory of Alaska is said to
lion of Congress. The conditions now
existing demand material changes in |
the laws and much remains to be done |
Tor that vast and remote, yet promls- |
mg portion Of our country. II, in the |
ensuing year the conditions Justify It, |
the additional land district authorized |
by law will be established with an
office at some point in the Yukon VAL
ley and an appropriation is now nee. |
essary for that purpose. The President |
concurs with Secretary Alger as to the |
necessary Of military force in the ter |
ritory and also urges the establishment |
OF some flexible system OF Government. |
Referrng TO the startling. though pos
sibly exaggerated reports, of the pro-
bable shortage OF food for the miners |
the President says that although ac-
cess to them In the winter Is a most !
dlilicult and perhaps impossible task, |
yet II these reports be verified every |
effort at any cost should be made to |
carry them relief.
Reference is made to the fact that
there is no provision for the protection |
OF right or property OF the many white |
citizens now in the Indian Territory;
that thousands Of their children are OF |
school age, but the doors of the schools |
or the nation are closed against them. |
1T Is said that leading Indians have
absorbed great tracts OF land to the |
exclusion OF the common people and |
that government by Indian aristocracy |
has beun practically established. The |
work OF the Dawes commission Is sue
clnctly described. 1t Is said that the |
Chocktaws and Chickasaws have rati-
lied the agreement reached by the COM |
mission, and If the other tribes OF the |
nation failed to cnter into similar ar
ranEements then Legislation must be
had. FOR says the President, az concur
SpnrntHrN- nf hn Tn
there can be no cure for the evils en-
gendered by the perversion of these
great trusts excepting by the Govern
mcnt which created them"
The President concurs In a recon-
mendation of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury that the quarantine laws be
amended 10 give the Treasury Depart
ment requisite authority to prevent The
introduction OF epidemic diseases from
foreign countries, and he also suggests
the appointment of an expert commits
sion to discover the exact cause of
yellow fever.
PACIFIC RAILROAD SALE.
The message deals briefly with tho
history of the Pacific railroad sale az
the past season. 1t is said that the up.
set price on the sale of the Kansas
Pacific will yield the Government $4,000
900 over all. and II no better bid Is
made that is all that the Government
viii receive cn lts claim OF nearly slS,-
0O0.OO0. 1t is not known whether n bet
Ter bid will be received, so the uucs-
ton presented is whether the Govern
ment Shall not purchase or redeem the
road in the event that bid Is not
made by private parties covering the
entire Government claim. The Presi-
dent says he believes he has the au
thority to do this asid unless Congress
takes action he shall direct the Secre-
tary of the Treasury TO deposit the
100000 required TO qualify as a bid
der. and to bid sum equal to the
principal of the debt due to the Gov