Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-11-22

Dtallt, ludlS NOulN bG NttstlIItu ~ llC
offices hardly ever less than twelve
hours, and generally twenty-four hours.
Books, papers and packages passing
over great distances or circuitous routes
would be detained at more than one
such office III very many cases; and
there would be delay in the number
Of business transactions which arc I'M
tiated conducted and completed by
communication through the mails. In
bis opinion it would cause a shock 70
our postal system from which it would
not soon recover. Railway companies
which have been at the expense Of fur
nishing postal cars might be slow to
furnish us such conveniences a second
time, and there is no law to compel
them to do so.
In relation to the revenues Of the ser
vice the report says: Time and againit
has been shown that matter ofthe 2nd
and Sd class does not pay its way
through the mails, and congress has
been urged to increase the rates ofpost-
age thereon. The question has been
considered time and again by appro-
priation committees and discussed by
both branches of congress, and the re-
suits have shown that it was not expect
ed the department should be self-sus-
tanning, but deficiencies in Its revenues
should be met by appropriations from
the general treasury. The amount of
matter sent through the mails free is
very large, adding greatly to our expen-
ditures and giving us no revenue. The
franking privilege has been restored to
members and the chief officers of con-
gress, so as to allow them to send free
almost everything which they were
ever allowed to transmit through
the mails free except letters. Tons
and tons of books, documents, seeds,
shrubs and the like are placed in our
mails free of charge on this score. Now
| most respectfully but earnestly sug-
gest that it would be better policy to re-
duce the deficiencies of the revenues Of
the department by curtailing or abol-
ishing the list Of free matter and by in
creasing the rates of postage on mer-
chandise than by appropriating sums
inadequate to an efficient, prompt and
fast tranmission of mails. The post
master general recommends that suita-
bic provision be made by law for
the delivery to addresses in this
country for the customs duty OF
all newspapers and other articles Of
printed matter received in mails from
foreign countries, when dispatched in
accordance with the conditions pre-
scribed by the international postal
union.
PoLYGAMY BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.
Arguments was had in the supreme
court Nov. 10th upon the appeal in the
case of George Reynolds, the Utah poly
gamyist, convicted of bigamy. Counsel
raised two technical exceptions
exclusion Of a polygamist from the petit
jury and that only fifteen persons were
on the.grand jury and then proceeded to
the merits of the question,
arguing that since the poly
gamist acted conscientiously the
alleged crime lacked the evil intent
which constitutes the gravamen Of the
otiense. Further, in bigamy, deception
was the essence of the statutory crime,
and deception in this case did not exist,
while, without the statute, is doubtful
if bigamy could be held crime, not be-
ing mentioned in the decaluoge. Upon
the constitutional aspects Of the case
counsel argued at length that the acts
prohibiting polygamy were ultra uireS.
Acknowledgement Devens, of counsel
for the United States, urged in reply
that an Interpretation of the constltu-
ton, which would restrain congress
from attaching penalty 70 the crime
Of. poligamy on account Of its being an
article Of religious faith, would also
restrain it from attaching a penal
ty to any other crime which
might be sanctioned by religion; that
under this rigid Interpretation Of the
constitution Il sect Of East India thugs
VINO should settle in the territories might
commit murder with impunity on the
ground that 1t was sanctioned and enjoin
ed by their system ofreligion. He closed
with an eloquent and impressive refer
ence to the well-known Mountain Mea-
dow massacre by Mormon ayenging
angels" us an illustration Of the fanat
zeal extremes to which men unre-
strained by law, might be carried under
the mistaken conviction of religious
duty.
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