National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-12-12

been ana II now being done promptly and O
. able ships, and every authorized man OF n
American navy VIII be ready TOR whatever ~
ton Ia required for the safety OF our citizen
or tho maintenance OF our honor.
This ~ course VIII require tho expcnditur
In short tine ot course OF the Appropriation
! which were calculated TO extend through tn
fiscal year. but Congress VIII, ! doubt no
undcfstand ana appreciate the emergency an
WIZ provide adequately not Only FOR IN
present preparation but Tor the future man
fcnhnco OF our naval force.
The Secretary OF the Navy has, during tn
past year, been quietly putting some Of on
most effective monitors IN condition for ser
vlcr,and mus the emergency finds MS In mucl
better condition for work than we cou Il pos
s'hly nave been without MS action
rosT.orFIcE DEPARTMENT
complete exhibit Is presented IN the nc
compnnylng report OF the Postmaster Genera
or the operations OF the Post-Otce depart
mcnt during the wear, The ordinary posta-
revenues for the fiscal wear ended June 80
1873, amounted 10 S22 096,7il,57. aud the ex-
/ peuditures OF all kinds to $40, 0ss 9i6,67. Tue
Increase OF revenues over 1872 was 81 0sl 1880,
ana the increase Of expenditures. s2,425.7 1886,
! Indr9eud mt OF the payments made from
/ special appropriations for mail steamship
| lines, the amount drawn from the general
treasury To meet Deficiencies was S5235,a75.
The constant and RAPID extension of our
postcl service, par Icnlary upon railways and
the improved facilities for the collection, trans.
mission, distribution ana delivery OF the malls
WHlcH are constantly btlng PROVIDED, account
tor the increased expenditures of this popular
branch OF the pubIc service, The tota mum.
Der OF post-oices IN operation on June 80. 1873,
was 332ii--a net Increase OF 1881 over the
number reported the preceding year: the
number Of presidential Offices was 1863 an
Increase of 1863 during tho year the total
length of railroad mail routes AT the close of
the year was 63,i57 mIles--an increase OF 55iG
miles over the year 1872 so raiw post Office
lines were In operation on June 80, 1873, eX-
tending over l4,s66 miles OF railroad routes
ana performing AN aggregate service OF 3i925
miles daily,
The NJ Der OF letters EXCHANGED with
foreign countries was 27.t59ls6, an increase Of
S,W6 6s5 over the previous year. and The post.
age thereon amounted to 81 021, 3lOS6 The
total weight Of correspondence exchanged IN
the mails with European countries exceeded
9l2 tons. an Increase OF 90 tons over the previ.
one year. The total cost OF the United States
Ocean Mail Steamship Service, including
S25OOO paid from special appropriations TO
subsdl2td lines " mail steamers was 81 .047,
271.35.
New or additional postal conventions have
b zen concluded with Sweden, Norway Bel.
gun, Germany, Canada Newfoundland aud
Japan reducing postage rates on corrcspon-
d"nce exchanged with those countries, and
fur ther eiior,s have been made To conclude a
satisfactory postal convention with France,
hut without success.
invite the favorable consideration OF Con. |
gtess to the suggestions and recommendations |
or the POstnaste r General Tor an extension OF |
the free delivery system IN all cities having |
II population OF not less than 10000 for the |
prepayment of postage oil newspapers and |
other printed matter OF the second class; for |
a uniform postage and limit OF weight on mis- |
cellhhcous matter Tor adjusting tue cOmpen |
shtlon of all pOstmasters not appointed oul "a |
on the actual receipts of the office, instead of |
the ppesent mode of fixing the salary IN ad- |
vance upon SPECIAL returns and especially do |
urge favorable action by Congress on the i'm,
porlaut recommendations Of the Postmaster
General Tor the establishment OF United |
states postal savings repositories.
Your attention is also again called to Il con
OF the question of postal teleeraphs.
and the arguments adduced III support thereof,
IN the hope that YOU may take such ACTON IN
connection herewith rs IN your judgment Will
most contribute to the bost interests of the
country.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Affairs III Utah require your early and spe-
'lal attention. The supreme Court of the
United states, IN the case of Clinton against
Eng ehrecht. decided that the United States
Marshal Of that territory could not lawfully
summon jurors for the district courts and
hese courts hold that the territorial marshal
'InnOt lawfully perform that duty because he |
: elected by the legislative assembly and not
appointed, IA provided for IN the act orgdniz
ng the territory. All proceedings at law are
practically abolished by these decisions, aud
here have been but few or no jury trials
II the district courts OF that territory since
he last session of Congress. Property Is left
Without protection by the courts, and crimes
20 unpunlshed.
To prevent anarchy there 1t is absolutely
necessary that Congress provide the courts
WITH some mode OF Obtaining jurors, and |
commend legislation to that end ; ana also, |
hat the probate courts of the territory now
assuming to issue writs of injunction and
labeas corpus. aud to try criminal eases. and
II questions as TO land titles, be Denied all
Jurisdiction not possessed ordinarily by courts
II that description
THE BANKRUPTCY LAW,
| have hpromp tntprpssp1 with the haIiaf |
hat the act approved March 2, 1867, entitled
An act TO establish a uniform system OF
ankruptcy throughout the United states" Is
roductive of more evil than good at this ,
me. Many considerations might be urged
n ITS total repeal; but, II this Is not con i
dered advisable, think II will not he seri- +
usy questioned that those portions OF said r
ct, providing for what is called involuntary
ankruptcy. operate to Increase the financial !
disbursements of the country. Careful and :
rudent men very often become involved | +
debt In the transaction OF their /
usiness. and though they may possess il
mple property. If It could he made available 5
n that purpose. TO meet all their liabilities, 5
ot, on account OF the extraordinary scarcity | n
money. they may be unable to meet all | +
leir pecuniary obligations AS they become |
ne, In consequence of winch they are liable G
be Frustrated in their business by proceed II
KS IN bankruptcy at the instance of unre
ming creditors, People are now so easily II
armed ms to monetary matters that the mere II
ing Of petition III bankruptcy by an m "a
ID oftentimcs accomplish the financial rum Il
responsible business man. Those who
herwise might make lawful aud Just al. II
ngements TO relieve themselves from diff Is
lttes produced by the present strlngency in
oney are prevented by their constant ex- n
'sure to attack and disappointment by pro. a
edlngs against them IN bankruptcy and, | IL
sides. The law is made Use OF in many cases | Is
obdurate creditors to brighten or force n
btOfs INTO a com pllance with their wishes, | n
ID INTO acts of injustice TO other creditors te
"a to Themselves
recommend that much of said act as
DIVIDES for involuntary bankruptcy on ac-
unit OF the suspension of payment be re. h,
aied. :,
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. az a.
Your careful attention is invited to the sub. p,
't OF claims against the government and the hi
Cilltlcs afforded by existing laws for their RI
usecutton. Each OF the Departments of State W
eHsury ana War has demands for many mil IF
ms OF dollars upon Its files, ana they are be
pidy accumulating To these may be added
ose now pending before Congress. the Court til
Claims and the Southern CLAIMS Commls- +
~ making IN the aggregate an Immense ]e'
m Most OF these grew out OF the Rebellion, -
ID are intended 10 indemnify persons ON BON wi
les Tor THEN losses during the war, and nor a Ell
W or them are fabricated and supported by rtl
se testimony Projects are on foot il Is be. Gu
wed, TO induce Congress to provide for new eli
,ssos of claims and to rev We old ones de
rough the repeal or modification OF the stat
e of limitations by which they are now tn
rred. presume these schemes, II proposed Il,
u be received with little favor bv Congress- 1c
Il recommend That persons having claims
dinst the United States, cognlzable nv any
hunal or department thereof, be req nred to
''ent them at an early day. ana thit legls rio
ION be directed rs far as practicable to the tn
f'al OF uufounded and unjust demands upon u
government. pr
\nd would suggest as a means OF prevent an
fraud that witnesses be called upon to an al
n Ia person To testify before those trlbu.
Is having SAID claims before them for adiu
auon. Probably the largest saving TO The
ilonal treasury can be secured by timely me
lslatlon on these subjects of any of the pc
'n0mlC measures that will be proposed tn,
on VIII be advised OF the operations of the As
partmcnt of Justice by the report of tho OF
nrnc !. Grnernl- and inyltn rnnr nttn...,n,. | oM