Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-13
VOL. [.
Continued from fotrh page.

miles daily.
The number of letters exchanged with
foreign countries was 27450,1s5, an Increase Of
5000, ,6S5 over the previous year, and the post
age thereon amounted to 81 2l3l0.S6. The
total weight of correspondence exchanged IN
the mails with European countries exceeded
g12 TONS an increase OF 90 tons over the preyt-
Que year, The total cost OF the United States
ocean Mail Steamship Service, including
S725,OOO paid from special appropriations TO
subsidies sd lines of mail steamers was 81 1,047,
27l,35.
New or additional postal conventions have
been concluded with Sweden, Norway, Bel
gium, Germany, Canada, Newfoundland aud
japan, reducing postage rates on cOrrespOn-
deuce exchanged with those countries, and
further efforts have been made to conclude a
satisfactory pOstall lconventtou with France,
but without success.
invite the favorable consideration of Con-
gTess to the suggestions and TeCOmme ndatiOns
OF the Postmaster General tOr an extension of
the free delivery system III all cities having
Il population of not less than 10, 900; for the
Jrepavment of postage OH newspapers and
Utuef ptiuted matter of tue second class; for
a uniform postage and limit of weight on mis-.
cellaneous matter; for adjusting the compen-
satlon of all pOstmasters not appointed by the
President by the !oid method Of commissions
on the actual receipts of tne office. instead of
the pOesent mode of fixing the salary in ad-
vance upon special ret rms; and especially do
Iurge favorable action by Congress on the i'm
portant recommendations vt the Postmaster
General for the establishment OF United
States postal savings repositories.
Your gIfentlon is also again cllled to q con-
stderation of the question of postal telegraphs,
and the arguments adduced III support thei eof,
IN the hope that YOU may take suCh acJOn in
connection there with as IN your judgment will
most contribute to the b0st interests of the
country.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
J. Affairs 10 Utah require your earlv ana spe-
Gial attention. The Supreme Court of the
United States, IN the case of Clinton against
E1giebrecht. decided that the United states
Marshal Of that territory could not lawfully
summon jurors for the district courts, and
these courts hold that the territorial marshal
clnnot lawfully perform that duty b ecause he
is elected by tue legislative assembly and not
appointed, as provided for IN the act Organiz-
lug the territory All proceedings al law are
practically abolished by these decision, and
there have been but few or no jury Irlals
in the district courts of that territory since
the last session of Congress. Property is left
without protection by the courts, aud crimes
go unpunished.
To prevent anarchy there it is absolutely
necessary that Congress provide the courts
with some mode OF obtain ~; jurors and
recommend legislation to tnat end ana also,
that the probate courts of the territory now
assuming to issue wits of injunction and
babeas corpus, aud to try criminal cases. and
III questions as to land titles, be denied all
lurisdcuOn not possessed ordinarily by courts
OF that description.
THE BANKRUPTCY LAW.
L have become Impressed with the Delel
that the act approved March g. 1867, entitled
:" An act to establish q uniform system of
bankruptcy throughout the United States," is
productive OF more evil than good at this
lime. Many considerations might be urged
for Its total repeal; but, if this Is not con-
sidered advisable, think it will not be seri-
ousiy questioned that those portions OF SAID
act, providing for what is called involuntary
bankruptcy. operate to increase the financial
embarIas3mentS of the country. Careful aud
prudent men very often become involved
IN debt in the transaction OF their
business, and though they may possess
ample property, If it could be made available
for that purpose, to meet all their liabilities,
yet, on account OF the extraordinary scarcity
OF money, they may be unable to meet all
their pecunary obligations as they become
due, in consequence of which they are liable
to be prostrated in their business by proceed
ings In bankruptcy at the instance of unre-
lenting creditors People are now so easily
alarmed as to monetary matters that the mere
filing of petition in bankruptcy by an un-
friendly creditor will necessarily embarrass
and oftent1mcs accomplish the financial rum
of responsible business man. Those who
otherwise might make lawful and just ar.
rangements to relieve themselves from diff
culties produced by the present stringency in
money are prevented by their constant ex-
posure to attack and disappointment by pro
ceedings against them IN ban kruptcy; and
besides, the law is made use or IN many cases
by obdurate creditors to trghten or force
debtors into a compliance with their wishes
and into acts of injustice to other creditors
ana to themselves
I recommend that so much of said act as
provides for involuntary bankruptcy on ac
count of the suspension of payment, be re-
pealed.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT,
Your careful attention is invited to the sub
iect of claims agalnss the government and the
facilities afforded by existing laws for theit
prosecution. Each of the Departments of State
Treasury and War has demands for many mil
lions OF dollars upon its files, and they are
rapidly accommodating. To these may be added
tnOse now pending before Congress, the Court
of Claims and the Southern Claims Commls.
sion, making in the aggregate an immense
sum, Most OF these grew out of the Rebellion
and are intended to indemnify persons on bott
sides for their losses during the war. and not 8
few of them are fabricated and supported by
false testimony. Projects are on foot, it is be
l1eved, to induce Congress to provide for new
classes OF claims and to revive old ones
through the repeal or modification of the stat
ute OF limitations by which they are now
barred. presume these schemes,if proposed
will be received with little favor bV Congress
and recommend that persons having claimt
against the United States. cognlzable by any
tribunal or department thereof, be required tG
present them at an early day, and that 1egis
lation be directed as far as practicable to the
defcal of unfounded and unjust demands upor
the government.
And would suggest as a means of prevent
ing fraud that witnesses be called upon to ap
pear IN person to testify before those tribu
nails having said claims before them for adiu
dlcation. Probably the largest saving to The
National Treasury can be secured by timely
legislation on these subjects of any of tht
economic measures that will be proposed.
You Will be advised OF the operations of the
Department Of Justice by the report of the
Attorney General, and l ihvlte your attention
to the amendment of existing laws suggested
by him with the view OF reducing the eXpense
Of that department..
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The policy inaugurated towards the indiana
Mt the beginning of the last administration hal
been steadily pushed, and believe with bene
flclal results. IL Will be continued with only
such notifications as time and experience
NAV demonstrate as necessary.
With the encroacbment of civilization upoT
the Indian reservations and hunting grounds
disturbances have taken place between th
Indians and whites during the past year, ant
probably VIII continue to 40 +. g.
G9 thar eas eaeh c mes be
ed. The policy has been to collect tn
Indians as rapidly as possible on reservations
and as far as practicable within what is known
as the Indian Territory. and to teach them tht
found off their reservations and endan
gerlng the peace aud safety of th
whites, they have been punished ant
will continue to be for like offences. ThI
Arkansas IS sufficient in area and agriculture
resources to support all the Indians of th'
Rocky Mountains. In time, no doubt, all o
them, except few who may select to make
their homes among white people, will be col
Iected there as preparatory step for this con
summation.
am now satisfied that territorial form o
government should be gwen them, which will
secure the treaty rights of the original set
tiers, and protect their homesteads from
alienation for period of twenty years.
The operations of the Patent Office ar
growing to such magnitude, and the accumu
IattoD of material is becoming so great tha
th necessity for more room Is becoming more
obvious day by day. W.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
respectfully invite your attention to th