Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-10

/ age on newspapers and other printed
matter of second class for uniform postage on
miscellaneous matter for adjusting the COM
| pensatlon OF all postmasters appointed by the
President by the old method of commissions,
| On actual receipts on Office, instead
LOT the present mode of fixing the
! salary; an advance upon special re-
turns. urge favorable action by Congress on
the important recommendation of the Post
Master General for the establishment of Uni
ted States postal savings sdepositories. Your
attentlOn is also again called to a considera-
ton OF the question of the postal telegraph,
and arguments adduced in support thereof
IN the nope that you may take such action as
IN your Judgment will contribute to the best
interests OF the country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Affairs in Utah require your early and
special attention. The Supreme Court of the
United States, in the case of Clinton vs., En-
glebrecht, decided that the United States
Marshal of that territory could not lawfully
summon juror for District Courts, and those
Courts held that the Territorial Marshal must
faithfully perform that duty, because he is
elected by the legislative academy, and not APP
pointed as provided for in the act organizing
the territory. All proceedings at law are
practically abolished by these decisions, and
there nave been but few or no Jury trials in
the district north of that territory since the
last session Of Congress. Property is left
without protection by the courts, and crimes
60 unpunlshed there. It is necessary for
Congress to provide courts with some means of
obtaining juties, and recommend legislation
to that end. Also that the probate courts of the
territory, which now assume to issue writs of
injunction and habeas corpus, and try crimi-
nal cases, and II questions as to titles, be de.
MED all jurisdiction not possessed ordinarily
by courts Of that description.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
i nave become IMPRESSED with the he,
lief that the act approved March 3D..
1867, entitled an act to establi sh
| uniform system of bankruptcy throughout
the United States is productive of more evil
might be urged for its total repeal, but if this
is not considered advisable, think it will not
be seriously questioned that the portion of SAID
act providing for what is called involuntary
bankruptcy operates to increase the financial
embarrassment OF careful and prudent men
who very often become involved in debt on
transactions Of their business, and thus they
may possess ample property if it could be
made available for thst purpose to meet
all their liabilities. Yet on account OF
the scarcity of money they may be unable to
meet all OF their pecuniary obligations as they
become due, in consequence they are liable
to be Frustrated in business by proce edings
in bankruptcy, at the instance OF unrelent-
ing creditors. People are alarmed
that the mere filing of petit
ton in bankruptcy by an unfrendly cred
itor Will necessarily embarrass and often times
accomplish the financial ruin CT respon-
sible man. Those who otherwise would make
lawful and just arrangements to relieve them
selves from the difficulty produced by the
present strlngency III money are prevented
by their constant exposure TO attacks and
disappointment by proceedings against them
in bankruptcy; and besides the law is made, in
many cases, by obdurate editors to frighten
OF force debtors into compliance with their
wishes and Into acts OF injustice to other cred
itors and themselves. [ recommend that 80
much OF said act as provides for involuntary
Bankruptcy on account Of suspensions Of pay
ments be repealed.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.
Your careful attention is invited to the sub
ject of claims against the Government and
the facilities afforded by existing laws for
their prosecution. Each of the depart
ments of the State Treasury and
War has demands for many millions of dol
lars upon it's files, aud they are rapidly &C
cumulating. To thrse may be added those
now pending In Congress, the Court of Claims
and the Southern Claims Committee, making
IN the aggregate az immense sum. Most OF
these grew out Of the rebellion. and are
intended to indemnify persons on both sides
for losses duling the war, and not few of
them are fabricated and supported by false
testimony. Projects are Oh foot to induce
Congress to provide for new classes
OF claims and revive old ones
through the repeal or modification of the
statute of limitation presume, the schemes,
ii pressed, W,li be received with little favor by
Congress, and recommend persons having
claims against the United States or commits
sions Of any department thereof, be re-
and that legislation be directed as far as
practicable to tae defeat of unfounded
and urgent demands upon the Government,
and would suggest, as means of preventing
fraud, that witnesses be called upon to appear
in person to testify before those tribunals
having claims before them for adjudication.
Probably the largest saving to the national
treasury can be secured by timely legislation
on these subjects of any of the economic
measures that may be proposed.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
You will be advised of the operations of the
Department Of Justice by the report of the
Attorney General, and invite your attention
to the amendments of existing laws suggested
by him. with the view of reducing the expen
ses of the department.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The policy inaugurateS towards the Indians
at the beginning of the last Administration
has been steadily pushed and with beneficial
results. 1t Will be continued with such lnodi-
hatiOnS as time and experience may demon
strate as necessary. With the encroacament
of civilization upon the Indian reserves
duU uu1.4aSo Siou1GS, S.StNI NaIEc- Iaf6 ldbEu
place between the Indians and whites during
the past year, and probably it will continue
so until each race appreciates .that the
| other has rights which must be respected.
The policy has been to collect the indians as
| rapidly as possible on reserves, and as far as
practicable within what is known as the In
dian Territory, and teach them the arts of
civilization and support, When found off re-
! serves and endangering the peace and safety
of stttlers, they have been punished
and will continue to be for like offenges The In
dian Territories south of Kansas and west of Ar
kansas are sufficient IN area and agricultural resour
ces to support all the Indians of the Rocky noun
who may select to make their homes among the
white people, will be located there as preparatory
step for this contamination. am now satisfied
that territorial form of government should
be given them, which will secure the
treaty rights of the original settlers and
protect their homesteads from alienation
for period of twenty years.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The operations of the Patent Office are growing to
such magnitude, and the accumulation of material
is becoming so great, that the necessity for more
room is becoming more obvious day by day I re-
specuy invite your attention to the reports of the
Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of Pat
ents on this subject.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The business of the General Land Office exhibits
material increase in all it's branches during the last
fiscal. during which time there were disposed
out OF the public lands 13,0396O6 acres
being an amount greater by 1,165, 631 acres than
was disposed of in the preceediug year. OF the
amount disposed of 1621 $50 acres sold for cash:
/ - Ill Il