The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-08

u
Of where t joins the Otter Tail river. Both OF
these lines have such direction on approach
ing ,n the Red or sioux Woo. Wood rivers th =;
when continued westerly they VIII pass 10
the south OF and near the Cheyenne river
In Dacotah. The distance or the first il 232 miles and
Its estimated cost 1857 900, being an average per
mile OF SASSY. The distance OF the second ia 81
miles ana its estimated cost 900, being an
average per mile OF $S7, 236; The alignment IL IA
will not exceed thirty forty feet to the mile and
are of'limited extent. Upon the PACING side ,ne
cade range, with view to ascertain the relative
elevation and practcabity OF the passes. Three
We're found, the C0wlitz or Packwo0d, $500; the
Snoqualmie $780, and Cady's. 4,Soo feet ABOVE the
level OF the sea.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Company report
that they have surveyed only that portion OF lner
line lying between the towns Of San Jose and Glroy,
In the county OF Santa Clara, distance OF thirty
miles. The grading IL rapidly progressing. inc
expect to complete this thirty miles OF road by the
1st of April 1859. Their capital stock Is 81 500 ooo
Of which $4,000 has been actually paid In, and their
The following statement exhibits the amount Of
United states bonds issued TO the railroad compa-
nes:-1, 1887 miles, nearly $44, 337, 900.
The act Of July Is, 1868, authorized the sum of
So 500 Appropriated by the act OF March 3, 1865, TO
be applied to the Completion OF the bridge the
Dakota river. the line Of the wagon road between
Sioux City and the mouth OF the Big Cheyenne.
superintendent was appointed in August last and
the bridge IS in process OF construction.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS
The following statement shows the amount ad-
vanced to marshals OF the several districts during
the year ending June TO- 1865 for defraying the ex
penses Of the courts OF the United States, including
fees OF marsha5. jurors and Witnesses maintenance
of prisoners and contingencies, to be 81, 1877 o42.
The amount paid during the same period to dis
trct attorneys, their assistants and substitutes,
$l90,7O3; to United States commissioners, s7S,522;
to clerks Of the courts Of the United states S7G5Si;
and for miscellaneous expenditures, including rent
OF court rooms, S106,325. The aggregate amounts
TO 81 7S9 ~ being but $l5064l in excess Of the sum
expended for such purposes during the fiscal year
,.tne Inn Iarr
increased business transacted by the federal courts
AT the latter date the balance on hand amounted
70 reoeyea on 81 ines
penalties, and forieiture5 sos, 6s5, and from
repayments by marshals and Others $l0,3lo
The total amount at the disposal OF the de-
partmenl for this branch Of the service S4 800
SO that the balance at the commencement of the
current year was but $5s,192. Assuming that during
its progress the fines, penalties and forfeitures
would reach the same amount as during the pre-
cedng year, and satisfied that the expenses OF the
mated that ST. 600 would be required. Congress,
however. appropriated but $l,000,000 deficit OF
s4s9 OBS VIII occur unless the nnes &c, Should De
ated In the deficiency bill and that 900 be ap
prOpriated for the next fiscal year.
1t is proper to add that the large balance on the
Both of June, 1867, as compared with that at the
close Of the following fiscal year, was 0ccas0ned by
the great disparity in the amounts realized during
feitures 1t was S43o,o35 more during the former
than the latter year.
distribution by this department OF statutes OF the
United States and other official publications have, as
Tar practicable been carried into effect. invite
attention to the prOpriety OF revising the statutes
which relate to the printing and distribution OF dOcu
menls published by the authority OF Congress-
SALARIES OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, ETC.
One OF my predecessors, on the eve OF his retire.
ment from office, urged the prOprety OF an apprO.
priation for erecting ana furnishing suitable resi-
en- , Sr the wee 81 1ae limited states
alluding to the value OF money when the govern
ment went into operation and the salaries OF those
officers were originally fixed, as compared with
that which 1t bore in December, 1852, when his
port was submitted, he expressed tile opinion that
$8oO0 at the latter date, was not worth much more
than $1,000 at the former. The cost OF rent, pro.
visions, fuel and other necessarics OF life in tins
city had then risen to such degree that the most
rigid economy was required to enable those officers
to live within their incomes and he declared that as
far as his observation extended few Of them had
Congress did not accede to his recommendation;
they, however, passed the act Of March B. 1855 which
increased the salary OF the Vice President from $4,000
prescribed by the act OF September a. 1882 to 000
and gave TO the members OF the Cabinet the same
amount The addition thus made was estimated to
voted SINCE notwithstanding the constant apprecia-
ton or labor rent and every article OF consumption
My observation and experience enable me to affirm
with unhesltatng confidence that the income OF the
ONCE viii not equal the outlay II the incumbent
lives in style at all compatible with the propriees
OF his position and the relations which decent re-
gard to the just claims OF society compel him TO
maintain. 'sThe high Offices Of the country should
practical effect OF the present Of compensation
VIII soon be to exclude from the Executive councils
all who have not ample resources Independently OF
their Official salarles.n
several OF the annual reports Of this Department
refer to the compensation OF the judiciary. One OF
the most thoughtful writers OF the last century
marks that the administration OF justice seems 10
be the leading object OF institutions of government;
that legislatures assemble; that armies are EN-.
bodied and both war and peace made with sort OF
reference to the proper administration Of laws and
the Judicial protection OF private rights. While this
Is emphatcally true In every free country, the ju
dical department OF the United States Is charged
also with other duties aud Its power extends TO all
cases arising under the constitution and the acts OF
law has been thus connded to 1t. The SUI
preme Court decides, in the last resort, ques-
lions involving The constitutional authority OF the
federal government and Its various departments, rs
wen as the reserved powers OF the several States
and the consistency OF their legislation with the con-
stitution and laws OF Congress No foreign tribunal
possesses broad jurisdiction deals with issues
SO vitality Affecting national power, dignity and SOW
who, having gained the highest honors OF the bar,
bring to the discharge OF their exalted trust mature
experience and prc-eminent talents and learning.
Their salary, II not equal TO their former professional
income, should at least secure them Independent
support and bear just relation TO their arduous
employment. One OF the most eminent judges OF
that court resigned on account OF scanty salary
and venerable Chief Justice, whose labors dur
ing a long life conferred enduring benefits upon
his country, died a few years since, bequeathing
TO his family little beyond the legacy OF illusrlous
The salary Is far from being proportionate To
less than IL paid to some subordinate officers
In other branches OF the public service. 1t Is sim
gular and dsreputabe anomaly that the chiefs OF
bureaus OF the War Department, each received in
pay and emoluments, during the last fiscal year, a
larger compensation than the Chief Justice OF the
United States. Recent legislation recognized the
just claims OF the judges OF the district courts and
OF the supreme Court OF this district but Congress-
inadvertently, presume, omitted To make becom-
ing provision for the justices OF the supreme Court
OF the United States.
The proposition to erect and furnish houses for the
Vice President and Cabinet ministers may not meet
with more favor now than when IT was originally
made. earnestly recommend, therefore, that hfty
per centum be added TO their present salary and TO
that OF tho justices OF the Supreme Court. II win
then be much less than IL allowed to officers of
similar grade by any other first class government
lhe Cabinet ministers will not receive more than IL
now paid In coin to several OF our foreign repre-.
sentatiyes, who discharge much iess laborious du-
ties, in capitals not more expensive than washing
ton. Since the salaries In question were fixed at the
present rate Congress have by successive statutes,
increased their own by at least 200 per centum.
Their action met with general appreciation aud do
not doubt that the members or that honorable BODY
will render I'm some degree, to others the Justice