Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-01-09
NO.'A9.

accumulated. The cash on hand on tho
,hirtierh ultimo, was about S206,70I 50,
and the current income of the Department
varies very liule from The rate of current
expenditures. Most of the se vice suspen-'
ded last year has been restored, and most
of,he new routes established by The ACT Of
9TH July, 1888, has been set in operation
at IN annual cost Of S436.963. Nolhwith
stand the pecuniary difficulties ofibe cnun4
try, the revenue of the Department op.,
pears to be increasing; and unless it shall
be seriously checked by the recent suspen-
sion of payment by so many Of The hanks,
il will be able no, only 10 maintain the
present mail service, but in short time 10
extend il. 1t is gratifying 10 witness the
promptiude and fidelity with which the
agents ol this Department in general per.
form their public duties.
Some difficulties have arisen in relation to
contracts for the transportation Of the mails
by railroad and steam boat companies. Is
appears that the maxium of compensation
provided by Congress for The transportation
of the mails upon railroads, is not sufficient
to induce some Of the companies 10 convey
them al such hours as ale required for the
accommodation Of the public. |, is one Of
the most important duties of the General
Government TO provide aud maintain for
the use Of the people ofthe States The best
practicable mail establishment. To az
rive at that end il is indispensable that The
Post Office Department shall be enabled
TO control the hours at which The mails
shall be carried over railroads. as i, now
does over all other roads. Should serious
inconveniences arise from the inadeuuacy
ofthe compensation now provided by law,
or from unreasonable demands by anv cs
the rail road companies, The subjects IL Of
such general importance as to require tho
polnpt attention of Congress.
Ia relation to steam boat lines, the most
efficient remedy is obvious, and has been
suggested by the Postmaster General
The War and Navy Departments already
employ steam boals in their service, and
although II is by no means desirable that
the Governments should undertake tho
transportation Of passengers or freight rs
business, there can he no reasonable obiec-
tion TO running boats, temporarily, when-
ever it may be necessary to pur down at
Temps at ex'oriion, to be discontinued az
soon as reasonable contracts can be OH.
tanned.
The suggestions of the Postmaster Gen.
eral relative 10 The inadequacy of The le-
gal allowance 10 witnesses in cases of
prosecutions for mail depredaIions, merit
pour serious consideration. The safery Of
the mails requires that such prosecution.
shall be efficient, and justice to the citizen
whose time is required 10 he given to The
public, demands not only that his expenses
shall be paid, but hat he shall receive a
reasonable compensation,
The Reports from lhe War, NAVY and
Post Office Departments will accompany
the communication, and from bis Treasu.
ry Department will be presented to Con.
gress in few DAYS.
For various details in respect to the mat
ters in charge ofIhcse department, 1 would
refer you 10 thuse important docunlents.
satisfied that your will find in them many.
valuable suggestions, which will be found
we'll deserving the alleution of The Legis.
lature.
From report made 10 December Of
last year by the Secretary of State, to tho
Senate. showing the trial documents Of
each ofihe Circuit Courts. and the number
of miles each judge has to travel in tho
performance of his duties, great inequali.
ty appears in the amount of labor assigned
10 each judge. The lumber of terms to
he held in each of the courts composing
the ninth circuit, the distances between
the places at which they sit, AMI from
thence to the seat of Government, are rep.
resented TO be such as to render il impus.
sibIe for the judge Of that circuit to per.
form, in manner corresponding with the
public exisencies. his term and circuit du-
lies. A revision, therefore, of the present
arrangement of the circuits seems to he
called for, and is recommended TO your
notice.
think it proper to call your attention
to the power assumed by Territorial Le-
gislatures to auihorize the issue of bonds
by corporate companies on the guarantee
of the Territcry. Congress passed law
in 1886. providing that no aci of Terrific. :.
iidi pduhS
have the force of law until approved by
Congress, bul acts of a very exceptionable
character previously passed by the Legisla-
ture of Florida, were suffered to remain in.
force, by virtue of which bonds may he is
sued To very large amount by those in
stitulions, upon the faith of the Territory.
A resolution intending TO be a join. one
passed the Senate al the same session, ex-.
pressing the sense of Congress that rhe%
laws in question ought not TO be permitted
10 remain in force unless amended in many
material respects, but it failed in The
Houseof Representatives for want of time,
and the desired amendments have not been
made. The interests involved are of great
Importance, and The subject deserves your
early and careful attention.
The continued.agitation of the question
relative to the best mode of keeping and