Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-01-03

and fidelity with which the agents of'h'1
department IN genera perform their pub
lie duties.
Some difficulties have arisen in relation
to contracts for the transportation OF ,nal1
by raj road and steamboat companies. 1t
appears that the maximum Ut compenss.
ton provided by congress for the trans
pOrtatinn OF mails upon railroad, is not
sufficient to induce sone Of he companies
to convey them at such hours as are tcqui'
red for the accommodation OF the public
II Is one Of the most important duties Of
tho general Government to provide and
maintain for the use Of the people Of the
states the best practicable mail establish.
ment. To arrive at that end il is indis-
pensabe that the post office department.
shall be enabled to control the hOnrs at
which the mails shall be carried over raj
roads as il now does over oil other roads.
Should seriOns inconvenience arise from
the insdequacy ofthe compensation now
provided by law, or from unreasonable.
ness in the demands made by any of th.
raI road companies, the subject Is Of such
general importance as to require the i'm
mediate attention OF congress.
In relation to steamboat lines. the most
efficient remedy is obvious, and has been
suggested by the postmaster general
The war aud navy departments already
employ steamboats, IN their service. and
although It Is by no means desirable that
the government should undertake the
transportation IF freight or passengers as
business, there can be no reasona BILE Oh.
lection to running boats. temporarily,
% 1 h,l tf,p Il
attempts at eXt0ttIon. to be discontinued
as soon as reasonable contracts can be
made.
The sue ges'ions Of the post master gen.
eral relative to tt I insdequacy OF the legal
allowance To witnesses IN case Of prosecu.
tons for mail depreda'ions, merit your
serious consideration. The safely OF the
mails requires that such proseculi ions shall
be efficient. and justice to The citizen whose
time Is required to be given to The public,
demands not only that his expenses shall
be paid, but that he shall receive a reason.
abb" compensation.
The reports from the war. navy. and
post office departments. Will accompany
his communication, and one from tho
| treasury department will BIZ presented to
congress IN lew days.
From q report made in December of
last year, by The Secretary Of S ate. to
the Senate, showing the tria docket Of
each Of the circuit courts and The number
Of miles each person has to travel, in the
nerfc'manrr NJ hlI duties, y,eat me
quality appears IN the amount Of labor
assigned |" each Judge. The number of
terms 10 be held 10 each of the courts
composn. The ninth circuit. the distances
between The places at which they s,t, and
from thence to the seat Of government.
are represented to be such as To render ,t
Impossible for the Judge to perform in "a
manner corresponding with public exieen,
cles, his term and circuit duties. A reyi-
sion, therefore of the present arrangement
OF tho circuits seems TO be called for, and
IL recommended To your notice
think It proper 10 call your alienio 10 ,hs
power assumed by territorial legislatures TO aulho.
rise the issue Of bonds by corporate companie. on
the guarantee Of the territory. Congress pas.sd a
law IN 1886. providing that M act of IA territorial
| legislature Incorporating banks should have the
'orce oi law uu'l approved by Congress bur acts
Of very excepl'onable character, pcy iou.lv mas.
sed by The legislature of Forida were suffered 10
remain IN fnrce, by virtue of which bond, NAV he
issued 10 very large amount by those in .,u,ioos
tended TO be joint one, passed the senate \, The
same session, expressing the sense of Congress-
lhat the laws ~ question ought not to remain in
iorce' unless amended in mauy material respects :
but IL tailed in The house of rep esena,es for want
OF t.me' ami the desired amendments have not beeu
made. The interests involved are Of grea, impor.
lance. and The subject deserves YOUR early and
careful attention.
The continued agitation Of the question re Iaive
10 The best mode of keeping and disbursny tho
pubic money, still nur iousy affects The bu, ,ue.s
OF the county. The suspension of specie payments
in 1887. rendered the Of depaslle banks, ~
prescribed by The acs of 1886. "a source rather of
embarrassment than AID, and Of necessity placed
the custody OF mosl Of the public money afterwards
collected, in charge Of The pubic officers. The
new securities for lis safety which this required.
| we're principal cause of my convenins an extra
session oil Cong ess, but IN consequence of d.a.
greement between the two houses neither then.
nor AT any subsequent period, has there been any
legislation on the subject. The effort made at the
last session TO Obtain the anlho, NV of congress 10
punish the use Of public money for private uurpo.
SEES, as crime. u measure ~ ended under o,her
governments wan signal advantage, was also IA.
successful from diversiles Of opinion in that body,
outstanding the anxiety doubtless let by il tn
afford every practicable security. The result Of
'h's Is sun I" leave me custody Of The pubic mo.
ney without those safeguards which have been for
several years earnest y desned by The executive,
and, as remedy Is only To be found in the action
OF the legislature, il imposes on me the duty of
again s"bml''n. to you The proprieiy Of passing "a
law, providing for the safe keeping Of The public
moneys, and especially ask thar it's use for mi.
vae purposes by any officers entrusted with it, NAV
be declared TO he felooy, punishable with PENAL.
Ties prOporloned To the mag niiude Of The offence
These circumstances, added TO known defec,s in
the existing laws, and uousual dei in th,,
general operations Of trade, have during The last
three years much increased the difficulties a,,end.
ant on the collection, keeping and disbursement If
he revenue, and called forth corresponding exer.
ions from those having them in charse Happily.
,nese nave been successful beyond expecl alton
vast sums have been collected and d,sbursed bv
the several departments with unexpec,ed cbe.n
ness anu ease transfers have been readily made 40,
every part VI The Union, however distant: line de-.
'a'calio"s have been far less Than might have been
| anticipated, fom The absence OF adeoun,e Iea.i