Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-02

election for members Of Congress occurred,
the omission was matter of little practical
importance Such election will, however,
take place during the ensuing year, and the
appropriation made for the pay of marshals
and deputies should be sufficient To embrace
compen sation for the services they may he
required to perform at such elections.
The business of the Supreme Court is, at
present, largely in arrears. Ii cannot be ex-
pected that more causes can be decided than
are now disposed of in its annual session, or
that by any assduity the distinguished mag
strates who compose the Court can accom-
plsh more than is now done. In the courts
of MANY of the circuits, also, the business
has increased to such an extent, that the de-
Law of Justice will call the attention of Con-
gress to an appropriate remedy. 1t is be-
lieved that all is done in each circuit which
can fairly be expected from its Judicial force.
The evils arising from delay are less heavily
felt by the United States, than by private
suitors, as its causes are advanced by the
courts when it is seen that they involve the
discussion of questions of a public charac-
ter.
The remedy suggested by the Attorney
General is the appointment of additional
curcut Judges and the creation of an inter
mediate court of errors and appeals, which
shall relieve the Supreme Court of part OF
its jurisdiction. while larger force is also
obtained for the performance of curcuit
duties.
| commend this suggestion to the consider
alton of Congress. 1t would seem to afford
a complete remedy, and would involve, if ten
additional circuit judges are appointed. an
expenditure, at the present rate of salaries,
of not more than sixty thousand dollars a
wear, which would certainly be small in COM
nar;snn with IA obipcts a he attained.
The report of the Postmaster General
bears testimony to the general revival OF
business throughout the country. The re-
ceipts of the Post Office Department for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, were $780,
O4l ,9s2 Sc. being S764. 1851 more than the
revenues of the preceding year. The amount
realized from the sale of postage-stamps,
stamped envelopes. and postal cards, was
S764, 1861 more than in the preceding year,
and 80 ,3s7 559. % more than in 1877. The
expenditures of the Department were s33.-
449. 500. 45. of which the sum of 1916. 46l go
was paid on Liabilities incurred in preceding
years.
The expenditures during the year were
SOL, 209 II less than in the preceding year.
This reduction is to be attributed mainly to
the operation of the law passed June II, 1878,
changing the compensation of postmasters
from commission on the value of stamps
sold, to commission on stamps cancelled.
The amount drawn from the Treasury on
appropriations in addition to the revenues of
the Department was S3.03l, 45i &C. being
81. 276, 1871. SO less than in the preceding year.
The expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1881, are estimated at 39,920.900,
and the receipts from all sources at S32, 2l0,
600, leaving deficiency to be appropriated
for out of the Treasury, of S7,7l0,900.
The relations of the Department with rail-
road companies have been harmonized, not
withstanding the general reduction by Con-
gress of their compensation, by the appropri-
alton for special facilities, and the railway
post office lines have been greatly extended,
especially in the Southern States. The in
terests of the railway-mail service and of the
public would be greatly promoted, and the
expenditures could be more readily controlled
BY the classification of the employees of the
railway-mail service as recommended by the
Postmaster General the appropriation for
salaries, with respect to which the maximum
limit is already fixed by law, to be made in
gross.
The Postmaster General recommends an
amendment of the law regulating the increase
of compensation for increased service and in
creased speed on star routes, SO as to enable
him to advertise for proposals for such in
creased service and speed. He also suggests
the advantages to accrue to the commerce Of
the country from the enactment of a general
law authorizing contracts with American
built steamers, carrying the American flag,
for transporting the mail between ports Of
the United States and ports of the West In
dies and South America, at a fixed maximum
price per mile, the amount to be expended
being regulated by annual appropriations, in
like manner with the amount paid for the
domestic star service.
The arrangement made by the Post
master General and the Secretary of the
Treasury for the collection of duty upon
books received in the mail from foreign
countries, has proved so satisfactory in its
practical operation that the recommendation
is now made, that Congress shall extend the
provisions of the act of March 3, 1879, under
which this arrangement was made, so as to
apply to all other dutiable articles received
in the mails from foreign countries.
The reports of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
setting forth the present state of our rela-
tions with the Indian tribes on our territory,
the measures taken to advance their civiliza-
ton and prosperity. and the progress already
achieved by them, will be found of more than
ordinary interest. The general conduct of
our Indian population has been so satisfactory
that the occurrence of two disturbances,
which resulted in bloodshed and destruction
of property. is ali the more to be lamented.
The history of the outbreak on the White
River Ute reservation in Western Colorado
has become SO familiar by elaborate reports
in the public press, that its remarkable incl
dents need not be stated here in detail. 1t is
expected that the settlement of this difficulty
will lead to such arrangements as will pre-
vent further hostile contact between the In
dams and the border settlements in Western
Colorado.
The other disturbance occurred at the Mes
calero agency, in New Mexico, where Vic
toria the head of small band of marauders,
after committing many atrocities, being Wig
orously chased by a military force, made his
way across the Mexican border and is now on
foreign soil
While these occurrences, in which a COM
paratively small number of Indians were en-
gagged, are most deplorable, a vast majority
of our Indian population have fully justified
the expectations of those who believe that by
humane and peaceful influences the Indian
can be led to abandon the habits of savage
life and to develop capacity for useful and