Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-12-04

from Ocean Steamer Mail service and other special oil
iects assigned supervision OF this Department.
The Report OF the Post Master General herewith
communicated, presents interesting view Of the pro
gress operations and condition Of his Department tn
close Of the last fiscal year.
The length Of mail routes within the United State
29O miles. The annual transportation thereon
53272 252 miles, and the annual of such ranspor
tatioa 50, 42I,754. The length Of the foreign mai
is estimated IS ,3f9 miles, and the annua
transportation thereon at 6I5 zoo miles. The annua
cost Of this service is ST. Az 1877 Of which S4lS 1927
paid by the P.st Office Department and S1O2 ,325
paid through the Navy department The annual trans
poraton within the United States, excluding the service
Of California and Oregon, which is now for the frs
time reported and embraced in the tabular statement:
nf the department exceeds that OF the preceding yea
6,l62 $50 miles, at an increased cost Of S547 ITO.
The whole number Of Post Offices in the United
States the Both day of June last, IS, 796, anC
there 69S Post Offices established and 256 dis
contnHed during the year.
The gross revenue of the Department for the fsca
year, including the appropriations for the ranked mat
ter Of Congress and Of the Departments and officers
government, and excluding the foreign postage collect
ed and payable the British Post Office, amounted tc
So, $50 49, The expenditures for the same period
excluding $50 500 40 paid under award OF the Audit
in pursuance OF resolution of the last Congress fo
mail service the Ohio aud Mississippi rivers in 1885,
and 1888 and the paid TO the British Post Office
for foreign postage and collected for and payable thai
office, amounted Sc 024 565 49, leaving balance oil
foreign postage collected for and peyabe to the British
Post Office amounting TO Sc TAT 81. being an in.
crease OF S99 9I orc 90 or s65 100 per the
Ike receipts for the preceding year.
The reduction of postage under the act OF March last
did not take effect until the % the pres
ent fiscal year The accounts for the first quarter I'M.
der the operation Of reduced rates will not be settled
before January ncxt, and reliable estimate of the
receipts for the present year yet be made IL IS be-
eved however that they will fall far short o! those OF
the last The surpi1< of the hand
is however, SO large that further appropriation from
TIE Treasury in aid of the Of the Dept Is
quired for the fiscal year but additional ap
propration for the year ending june go 1888 will pro-
hall o fho frs
quarters Of the fiscal year fully ascertaied.
In his last annual report the P Master General recon-
mended reduction Of postage rates, which he deemed
as low could be prudently adopted, unless Congress
prepared 10 appropriate from the Treasury for the
support Of the Department sum more than equivalent
the mail service performed by it for tho government
The recommendation OF the Post Master General in
pecs leiters from and to California ard Oregon
substantially adopted hy tue last Congress. He now
recommends adherence the present letter rates. and
advises against further reduction, until justified by the
revenue Of the Department.
He also recommends that the rates of postage Of
printed matter be 81 revised TO render them
simple and more Uniform in their operations upon all
classes Of printed matter. submit the rccommenda
tons Of the report 10 your favorable consideration
The pahlic statutes Of the United States have
hsen aecumulatng for than sixty years. and, inter-
speTsed with private scattered through numcr
volumes and from the cost of tho whole have be-
almost inaccessible the great Of the
innnity They also exhibit much OF the incoaeruy ard
lmperecon OF hasty legislation, rs u seems to he
ccded that there is no common law of the United States
supply the defects of their leGsat0in il is i'm
Portant thar that Legislation should be perfect pos
sblc; defining every power intended he conferred;
every crime intended to be made punishable; and pre-.
serihing the punishment to tie inflicted.
In attention to particular spoken OF more
at length of the whole criminal code is lamentaby
defective Some oAenccs mrerecly described, and
others entirely omitted that fragrant crimes may
be committed with imphnity The scale Of punishment
Is not in MI graduated to The degree and nature Of
ri the offence AMI Is Often rendered more unequal by the
different modes Of imprisonment Of penItSailaY coninc
ment in the difsrcrt States.
Many laws OF permanent character have been in
troduccd into the appropriation bills and is Often diff
fcnlt 10 determine whether particular clause expires
with the temporary act Of which II is pant continu
I'd IN Jorge 1t has also, frequently happened that
acincRts and provisions Of law have been Introduced
ato bills with the title general subject Of which they
have l:ttle connection relation. In this mode
oil Legislation 50 many enactmens have been heapcd on
each other. and often with but little consideration, that
IN many instances il is dcst to search cut deter
mine what is the law. The government OF the Upite
States is emphatically government OF written laws
The should therefore practicable
ony be accessible to ALL bnt be expressed in Ian
guage plain and simple TO be understood by all,
and arranged in such method as to give crspieuity to
every subject.
Many OF the States have revised their public acts with
great and manifest benefits, and recommend that
provision be made by law for the appointment of
mission revise the Public Statutes of the United States
arranging them in order Supplying deficiencies, correct
ing neongrHes simplifying their language, and repor-
ting them TO Congress for its action.
An act oil Congress approved SUN ot september, !
1850 contained provision for the extension of tho Cap
io according TO such plan might he approved by the
President. and appropriated 100000 be expended
under his direction by such architect he should
ront 10 execute the same. On examining the various
plans which have been submitted hy different architects,
IN pursuance of adver sement of committee of the
Senate found to he entirely satisfactory and
1t was, therefore. deemed advisable to combine and
adopt the advantages Of several The object to
be accomplished was make such an addition would
afford ample and convenient Halls FOR the deliberations
Of the two Houses Of Congress, with sufficient accom-
nodatons for spectators, and suitable apartments for
the committees and officers of the Houses of egs
laion. IL was, ALSO desirable not to the harmony
and beauty of the present structure which speci
men oil architecture IS universally admired. Keep
ing these objects in view concluded to make the al.
don by wings, detached from the present building get
connected with it by corridors This mode OF enlarge
Inent will leave the the present Capitol unnIured and
afford great advantages for ventilation and the adms-
sion Of light, and enable the work progress without
nterrupIng the deliberations of Congress. To carry
this plan into effect, have appointed experienced
and competent architect. The cornerstone was laid
the 4h day OF July last, with suitable ceremonies
since which time the work has advanced with commend
able rapidly and the foundations of both wings
nearly completed
OF the District OF Columbia and deem it only
sary remind you that although its inhabitants have
voice in the choice Of representatives in Congress-
they the less entitled just and liberal
sideraiion in your legislation My opinions this SUBJ
jec were more fully expressed in my last annual
mnnfcaton.
Other subjects brought the attention OF Con-
gress in my last annual message, TO which would
spectfully refer. But there Of moro than or
binary interest to which again. invite your special at
tention. hllude to the recommendation for The ap
poinment Of commission to settle private claims
against tho United States. Justice to individuals,
more convenient and expeditions mode than appeal
CONGRESS should lie adopted.