The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-25

ole OF tho States the best practicable mail establish
msnt To at that end Il is Indispensable that the
Post Office Department shall be enabled 10 control the
hours which tbs mails shall be carried railroads,
as il now does over all other roads. Should serious
Inconvenience arise from the nadequacy Of the CON-
pensation provided by law, or from unreasonable
demand. by any Of the railroad companies the subject
Of such general importance TO require the prompt
attention OF Congress
In relation 10 steamboat lines, the most efficient
remedy IL obvious and has been suggested by the
Postmaster General The War and Navy Depart
mens already employ steamboats, IN their service,
and although IL Is by no means desirable that The
Government should undertake the transportation OF
paSse lgrrs freight business, there can be
reasonable objection TO running boats temporarily,
whenever il may be necessary 10 put down attempts
al exlorlion, 10 be discontinued reasonable
contracts can be obtained.
The suggestions OF The Postmaster General rela.
tive 10 the nadequacy OF The legal allowance 10 wit
nesses, in eases OF prosecutions for mail depreda
lions, merit your serious consideration. The safety
of the mails requires that such prosecutions shall be
efficient, and justice 10 the citizen whose lime is re-
CURED TO BE- given to the public, demands not only
lha his expenses shall be paid but III at he shall
ctiv. reasonable compensation.
The Reports from the War and Navy Depart
nsnts, will accompany this communication, and one
from the Treasury Department will be presented 10
Congress in few days
For various details, in respect TO the matters in
charge Of these departments, would refer you TO
those important documents satisfied that you will
fad 10 them many vaIulbl suggestions, which will
BE- found well deserving the attention Of the Legisla-
lure.
From report made In December, of last year by
The Secretary Of State 10 the Senate showing the
Trial docke of each Of the circuit courts, and the
number Of miles each Judge has TO travel in the per-
furmance Of his duties, great inequality appears
10 The amount OF labor assigned to each Judge. The
number of terms 10 be- held in each of The courts
composing the ninth circuit, the distances between
the places Al which they Sill and from thence TO the
aTnft nj kac
render il impossible for the judge Of that circuit
perform, in a manner corresponding with he public
exigencieS, his term and circuit duties. revision,
therefore, OF the present arrangement of the circuits,
seems to be called for, and Is recommended to
your notice.
think il proper TO call your attention 10 the power
assumed by Territorial Legislatures, 10 authorize
the issue OF bonds by corporate companies, on the
guarantee OF the Territory Congress passed law
IN 1886, providing that act of Territorial Lee
gisature, Incorporating banks should have the force
OF a law until approved by Congress, but acts of
very exceponabe character iousy passed by the
Legislature Of Florida, suffered 10 remain in
force by virtue of which bonds may be issued 10
very large amount by those institutions, upon the
faith OF the Territory. A resolution, intending 10
be joint one, passed the Senate the session,
expressing the sense of Congress that the laws in
question ought TO be permitted TO rema in in force,
unless amended in many material respects, but it
failed In the House OF Representatives for want Of
ume and the desired amendments have not been
made. The interests involved are Of great import
and the subject deserves your early and careful
attention.
The continued agitation of the question relative to
the best mode OF keeping and discussing the public
money, still inuriousiy affects the business Of The
country. The suspension Of specie payments in
1881 rendered the use Of deposite banks, as pre-
scrlbed by the act OF 1886, source rather of EN-
barrassment than aid, and OF necessity placed the
custody OF most of the public money aiterward col
lected In charge OF the public officers The new
securities for its safety, which this required,
principal cause OF my converting extra session OF
Congress; but in consequence of disagreement be-
tween the Two Houses neither then nor at any sub
srquent period, has there been any legislation ON the
subject The effort made at the last session 10 OBJ
tain the authority OF Congress to punish the use of
public money Tor private purposes as crime a mea-
sure attended an Ter other Governments with signal
advantage, was also unsacsessfa from diversiteS of
opinion IN that body, notwithstanding the anxiety
doubtless felt by il TO afford every practicable Sc
curity. The result Of this is still 10 leave the Gus
tody Of the public money without those safeguards
which have been for several years earnestly desired
BY the Executives and as the remedy is only TO be
found in the action of the Legislature it imposes on
me The duty OF again submittingto you the proprety
OF passing law, providing for the safe keeping OF
the public moneys, and especially ask that its use
for private purposes by any officers nrusted with it.
may be declared to be felony, punishable with pen.
allies proportioned to the magnitude Of the offence
Tn Sc circumstances added TO known defects in
the existing laws, and unusual deran cement ia the
&c eral operations of trade, have during the last
three years much increased the difficulties attendant
on the collection, keeping, and diSburse ment Of the
revenue and called forth corresponding exertions
from those having them in charge Happily these
have been successful beyond expectation Vast
have been collected and dsbused by the sever
al departments with unex pecIed cheapness and ease:
transfers have been readily made every part OF the
Union, however distant; and defaIcaons have been
FAR less than might have been Anticipated ro n the
absence of adequate legal restraints Since fhe of.
II :ers If the Treasury and Post Office Departments
were charged with The custody of most OF the public
moneys received by thep, there have been collected
sixty six millions OF dollars, and excluding the case
OF the late collector at New York the aggregate
amount OF losses sustained in the collection cannot
il is believed exceed sixty thousand dollars The
deiacalion OF the late collector al that city, of The
extent and circumstances of which Congress has
been fully Informed, ran through all the modes Of
keeping the public money that have been hitherto in
use, and was distinguished by aggravated disre-
gard OF duty, that broke through the restraints Of
every system, and cannot therefore, be uselully re-
ferred TO as test Of the compar alive safety of finer
Additional information will also be furnished by the
report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury in reply TO
call made upon that officer by the House of Reprr-
sentaliyes at The last session, requiring detailed in
formation on the subject Of defaults by public officers
or agents under each Administration from 1889 10
1881 This document will be submitted to YOU in
lew DAYS. The general results, {independent of the
Post Office, which is kept separately and will b..
stated ny ITSELF so far as they bear upon this subject
are mat the losses which have been and are likev
70 oe' sustained BY any class OF agents. have been
me SfealeS oY banks including, required 10 the
resolution, thelr deprecated paper received for pub
nc dues; Ihat the next largest have been by dis
bursting olcers and the least by collectors and re-
celveIS, II lhe losses on duty bonds are included
and receivers Our whole experience, therefore
furnishes the strongest evidence that the desired e
gislaion Of Congress is alone waning to ensure IN
those operations the highest degree of security and
facility. Such also appears 10 have been The eyne
rience of other nations. From the results Of in
quTies made by the Secretary Of the Treasury, in
regard to the practice among them 1 am enabled to
state that in twenty two out of twentv.seyen foreign
GovernInenlS. from which nndnuhtnd inf -