The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-12-20
rco,.tia,lsd from first page

inc June 30, 1873, amounted to S22,99b,-
74I 81. and the expenditures OF all kihds
S29. O84. 945.67. The increase in revenues
of 1872 was 81, 0S1, 315. 20, and the increase
in expenditures, $246, 5!3.36. !ndepend-
ent of payments made from specl;u appI,o-
priaions for mail steamship nnes, tlle
amount drawn from the general treasury
to meet deficiencies was S9,zoo.4io' LUG
constant and rapid extension OF our postal
service particularly upon railroads, and
fine improved facilities for the collection,
transmission. distribution and delivery OF
mails which are constantly being provided,
account for the increase of the eXpendl-
lures of this popular branch OF pubic ser
vice. The number of postroifices IN opef-
alton on the Both of June, 1873, was 1914,
net increase.of 1,3S1 over the number re-
ported the preceding year. The number
of presidential offices was 1868; increase
of l63 duringIthe year. The total length
of railroad mail routes at close OF the year
was 6.345, 40, an increase OF 5,96o miles IN
the year of 1872. F'ifty-nine railroad post
office lines were in operation on Ihe 5uth
of June, 1878. extending over Il, $50 miles
of railroad routes, and performing an ag-
ereeate service of 64,925 miles. The num-
her of letters exchanged with foreign
countries was.77 ,459, 185. Increase of 3d.
996, $50 over the previous year, and the
postage thereon amounted TO 1902, l31, 0S6,
and the total weight of correspondence eX-
changed in mails with Europe exceeded
9I2 tons, an increase of 90 tons over the
previous year,
The total cost of the United States ocean
mail steamship service, including $780, 900
paid from special appropriations to subsl-
died lines of mail steamers was $l04, H.
1876.
New or additional postal connections
have been concluded with Sweden, Nor
way, Belgium, Germany, Canada and Ja-
pan, reducing the postal rates ofcorrespon-
dence exchanged with these countries.
Intellectual efforts have been made to con-
clude a satisfactory convention with
France, but without success.
[ invite the favorable consideration of
Congress to the suggestions and recon-
mendations Of the Postmaster-Ge General for
an extension of the Office delivery system
in all cities of not less than ten thousand ;
the prepayment of postage on newspapers
and other printed matter of second-class ;
for uniform postage and limit of weight OF
miscellaneous matter; for adjusting COM
pensation of all post-maSters not appoint
ed by the President by the old method of
commissions on actual receipts of offices
instead of the present mode of fixing sala-
nv in advance in special returns. Especial
ly do / urge favorable action by Congress
on the Recommendation of the Postmaster
General for the establishment ofthe Postal
Saving Depository.
Your attention is also called to consid-
Grafton of the postal telegraph and the ar
guments adllliced in support thereof, in
the hope that you may take such action in
connection Herewith as in your Judgment
80 nj
the whole 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..
Englebrechty decided that the United
States Marshal of that Territory could not
lawfully summon Jurors for district courts,
and those courts hold that the Territorial
Marshal faithfully performs that duty,
though he is elected by the Legislative As
sembly, and lis not appointed as provided
in act organizing the Territory. All pro-
ceedings at law are practically abolished
by these decisions, and there have been
but few or NO jury trials in the District
Courts of that Territory since the last SEES
sion of Congress. The public is left with
out protection by courts, and crimes GO
unpublished! To prevent. anarchy there il
is absolutely necessary that Congress pro-
vide the courts with some mode of obtain
ing jurors, 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
to try criminal cases, and in questions as to
land titles, be denied all jurisdiction not
possessed ordinarily by courts of that des-
cription.
have become impressed with the belief
that the act approved March p, 1867, emit
tied, an act to establish uniform system
of bankruptcy throughout the United
States is productive of more evil than good
at this time. Many considerations might
be urged for its total repeal, but if this is
not considered advisable think it will
not be seriously questioned that those
portions of said act providing for what is
called involuntary bankruptcy operate to
increase financial embarrassment of the
country. Careful and prudent men very
often become involved in debt in transac-
lions of business, and though they may
possess ample property if lit could be made
available for that purpose, to meet all their
liabilities, and yet on account of the extra
ordinary scarcity OF money they may be I'M
able to meet all their obligations as they
become due, in consequence of which they
are liable to- be Frustrated by proceedings
in bankruptcy at the instance of unrelent-
ing creditors. People are SO easily alarmed
as to money matters that the mere filing OF
petition in bankruptcy by an unfriehdly
creditor villa embarrass and oftentimes ac-
complish financial ruin of responsible
business man. Those who otherwise
might make lawful and just arrangements
to relieve themselves from difficulties
brought onby the present stringency in
the money market, are prevented by their
constant exposure to attack and disap-
pointment by proceedings against thenin
bankruptcy and besides the law as made
operates to allow in many cases obdllrate
creditors to brighten or force debtors into a
compliance with their wishes and into acts
ofinjustice TO other creditors, and to them
selves. recommend that so much of said
act as provides for involuntary bank
ruptey on account of suspension of pay
ment, be repealed.
Your careful attention is invited to the
subject of claims against the Government
and facilities offered by existing laws for