Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-12-14

footing by improved postal conventions.
And arrangements recently concluded
with the leading commercial countries
in Europe and America. and the graft
fving statement is made that, with the
conclusion of a satisfactory convention
with France, the details of which have
been definitely agreed upon by the
French Postal Department, subject to
the approval of the Minister of France,
little remains to be accomplished by
treaty for some time to come. In re-
spect to the reduction of the rate for
the improved facilities of the postal
service, Your favorable consideration is
respectfully invited to the recommended
tons of the POstmaster-G General for an
increase of the service from a monthly
to q semi-nlonthly trip on the mail
steamships to Brazil; for q subsidy in
Old of the establishment of an Ameri-
can line of mail steamers between San
Francisco, New Zealand and Australia;
for the establishment of post-officc saw
ings banks, and for the increase of the
salaries of the heads of bureaus. I
have heretofore recommended the abo-
ltion of the ranking privilege, and see
no reason now for changing my views
on that subject. 1t not having been
favorably regarded by Congress, how
ever, l now suggest modification of
the privilege to correct the glaring and
costly abuses. 1 would suggest, also,
the appointment of committee of COM
mission to take into consideration the
best method equitable to private cor
porations who have invested their time
and capital in the establishment of tel
esraph lines, of acquiring title to all
the telegraph lines now in operation,
and of connecting this service with the
nation. 1t is not probable that this
subject could receive proper considera-
ton during the limit of the next ses-
sion of Congress, but it may be initiated,
so that farther action may be fair to the
Government and to parties concerned.
There are but three lines of ocean
steamers, namely-the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company between San Fran
cisco, China and Japan, with provision
made for a semi-monthly service after
October l, 1873, the United States and
Brazil line, monthly, and the Califor-
mia and New Zealand and Australian
line, monthly-plying between the
United States and foreign ports, operat-
ed under our flag. I earnestly recon-
mend that such liberal contracts for
carrying the mails be authorized with
those lines as will ensure their contin-
uance, if the expediency of extending
the aid of the Government to lines of
steamers which hitherto have not re-
ceived it should be deemed worthy of
consideration of Congress. Political
and commercial objects make it advisa-
BILE to bcstow such aid on the line UNI
der our flag between Panama and the
South American ports. BY this means
much trade now turned to other coun-
tries might be brought to US, to the
mutual advantage of this country and
those lying in that quarter of the CONT
nent of America. The report of the
Secretary of the Treasury will show an
alarming falling off of our carrying
trade for the last ten or twelve years,
and even for the past year. l do not
believe that the public treasure can be
better expended in the interests of the
whole people than in trying to recover
this trade. An expenditure of few
million dollars annually for the next
years, if it would restore to us our pro-
portion of the carrying trade of the
world, would be proftably expended.
The price of labor in Europe has so
much enhanced within the last few
years, that the cost of building and
operating ocean steamers in the United
States is not so much greater than in
Europe, and I believe the time has
arrived for Congress to take this subject
into serious consideration.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
A detailed statement of the disburse-
ments through the Department of JUS
tice will be furnished by the report of
the Attorney General, and though these
have been somewhat increased by the
recent Acts of Congress to enforce the
rights of citizens of the United States
to vote in the several States of the
Union, and to enforce the Fourteenth
Amendment of the Constitution of the
United States, and other amendments
thereto, cannot question the necessity
and salutary effect of the enactments.
Reckless and lawless men, regret to
say, have associated themselves together
in some localities to deprive others of
the rights guaranteed them by the Con-
stitution of the United States, and to
that end have committed deeds of vio-
lence; but the detection and punish
ment of many of these persons has
tended greatly to the repression of
such disorder. do not doubt that q
great majority of the people in all
parts of the country, however, are in
favor of the full enjoyment by all
classes of persons of those rights to
which they are entitled under the Con-
stitution and laws, I invoke the aid and
influence of all good citizens to pre-
vent organizations whose objects are by
unlawful means to interfere with those