The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-12-11

/ l.,
Navy Department.
The annual transportation within the United
States lexcludlng the SUFFICE inCalforna and
Oregon, which is now for the first time, re-
ported and embraced in the tabular state menls
OF the Department. exceeds that of the pre-
ceding year6 i62, 1855 miles, at an increased
cost of SAT, 7,1l0.
The whole number of pos, Offices in the
United. States on the 30lh day of June last,
was 1896. There were 1898 pos, offices es.
taolished, and 256 discontinued, during the
year.
The gross reve 1ues of the Department for
The fiscal year, including the appropriations
Tor the frauked matter of Congress of the
Department, and officers of Government, and
excluding The foreign postages, collected for
and payable to, The British post office, amoun-
ted TO Sc, 1871 ,s66,7s.
The expenditures for The same period [ex-
cluding sec, ,599, ,49, paid under an award of
andilor, III pursuance oil resolution OF the
last Congress, for mail service on the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers in 1892 and 1898, and
The amour! paid TO the British post office for
foreign posiages collected for and payable 10
that ofice1 amounted to SC, ,024, 566 10; leav-
ing balance of revenue over the proper ex-
pendilufes OF the year of S7O3, ,299 SO.
The receipts FOR poslages during the yeaI
| tic COleCtcu
and payable TO the British post office1 a.
mounted TO S6,3t5,747 81, being an increase
OF 1897 ,6l0 10 or 1865 100 per cents over the
like receipts for the preceding year.
| 1he reduction of postage, under the act of
March last, did not take effect until the COM
mencement OF The present fiscal year. The
accounts Tor tne first quarter under the oper-
allon oil the reduced rates, will not be settled
before January next and no reliable estimate
ct the receipts for the present year can yet be
made. il is believed. however, that they
viii fall far short ofthe last year. The surplus
OF the revenues how ON hand is however, so
large That no furher appropriation from the
treasury, in aid of the revenues of tho De-
partment is required for the current fiscal
year; but an additional appropriation for the
year ending June 80, 1853, will probably be
found necessary when the receipts of the
fiscal year are fully ascerlained.
In the last annual report the Postmaster
General recommended reduction of postage
10 rales which he doomed as low as could be
prudenly adopted unless Congress was pre-.
pared 10 appropriate from the treasury, for the
support OF tho Departmental summore than e.
qnivalent 10 the mail services performed by it
for the Government The Recommendations
OF the Postmaster General, ia respect to let.
Ter postage, except on letters from and to
California aud Oregon, were substantially
adopted BY the last Congress. He now re-
conmends adherence TO the present erer
rates, and advises against further reduction
until Justiced by the reversue of the Depart.
ment.
He also recommends that the rates of post
age on printed matter be so as tor ender them
more simple and more uniform in their upon
all classes OF printed matter. submit the re-
m m "a Iai aft he "a,
bic consideration.
The public statutes Of the United States
have been accumlaling for more than sixty
years, and inIerspersed with private acts, are
scattered through numerous volumes, aud
from tae'cost Of the whole, have becomes
almost inaccessible TO the great mass of the
the community. They also exhibit much Of
the ncongruily and imperfecion of hasty
legislation. AS il seems TO be genarally con-
ceded that there is no Common law" of the
United State. 10 supply the defects of their
legslation, is most important that The legisla-
tioa should be as perfect as possible, def.
ming every power intended 10 be conferred,
every crime intended 10 be made punish
able, and prescribing the punishment
10 be inflicted. In addition to some partcu-
lar cases spoken of more at length, the whole
criminal code is now lameniably Detective
Some offences are imperfectly described, and
others are entirely omitted so that fragrant
crimes may be committed with impuniy---
The scale of punishment is no: in all cases
graduated according to the degrees and ma
ture of the offence, and is often rendered more
unequal by the different modes of iinprison-
ment, or penilentiary confinement, in the diff
ferent States.
Many laws of permanen, character have
been introduced INTO appropriation bills, and
IL is often difficult TO determine whether the
particular clause expires with the temporary
act Of which 1t is part, or continues in force.
|, has also frequently happened that enact
ments and provisions of law have been intro
duced into bills, with the title or general sub
ject Of which they have little or no connection
or relation. In this mode of legislation so
many enact ments have been heaped upon
each other, and often with but little consider
alton. that, in many instances, 1t is difficult to
search out and deierRne whai is the law.
The Government oil the United States is
etnphaiically government of written laws
The statutes should, therefore, as far as prac.
iicabie, not only be made accessible, TO all,
but be expressed in language 50 plain and sim
pie as 10 be understood by all, and arranged
in such method as TO give perspcuity 10 eve.
ry subject. Many OF the States have revised
their public acts with great and manifest BEN
eft; and | recommend that provision be
made by law for the appointment of a COM
mission to revise the public statutes of the
United States, arranging them in order, sup
plying deficiencies, correcting incongruities,
simplifying their language, and reporting
them 10 Congress for It's action.
An of Congress approved 30h September 1885, con-
taned provision for the extension of the Capitol
dnr to such plan might be approved by the President
and appropriated hundred thousand dollars be expen
ded under his direction by such architect he should a
which had been submitted by different architects pur
OF advertisement by committee Of the Senate
found TO be entirely satisfactory IL there
fore deemed advisable to combine and adopt the advanta
ges Of several.
The great object be accomplished make such an
addition would afford ample and convenient halls for the
deliberations of the two Houses Of Congress- with sufficient
accommodations for spectators ind suitable apartments for
the committees and officers Of the branches of the Le
and beauty Of the present sircure which, specimen
OF architecture is universally admired Keeping these
objects in view concluded make the addition by wings
detached from the present building with n
by corridors. This mode Of enlargement will leave the
present Capitol uninjured and afford great advantage for
ventilation and the admission Of light and will enable
work 70 progress without nteruptng the deliberations Of
Congress- To carry this plan into effect have appointed
experienced and competent architect The
nies since which time the work has advanced with CON-
mendable rapdty and the foundations Of both wings
now nearly complete.
again commend your favorable regard the interests
of the District Of Columbia and deem IL only necessary
remind you that although its Inhabitants have voice In