The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-12-04

after dedu:ting the amount ot the specific p.
preparation, were $l3,s43. 3.Sl7.79. But this il
! subject to = reduction of 1888. 725. 80, that
amount having been drawn upon warrants, but
not paid ont during the year. The amount Of
appropriations applied TO the last fiscal year
WAS *l4, ,535, ,646.7. There was therefore bsI-
anoe of $i,479.054.S7 remaining unexpended
AID to the credit of the d. partment on June so.
The estimates for tho fiscal year ending June
80, 1881, are $l4, 1864. 1888, which exceeds the
appropriations for the present fiscal year 1901, =
S97: ~. The reason for this increase is ex-
planned in the secretary's report. The appro-
priatlons available for the present fiscal wear
are $14 500 25O.67. which will, inthe opinion Of
toe secretary. answer all the ordinary demands
treasury frOm July lst to Nov. IA, 1879, was
e5. no 404.l2, of which 81, ,095, ,44O 33 has been
refunded. leaving IN tho expenditures for that
period $4,G74, ,96s.79. If the expenditures of
the remaining two-thirds of the year do not
exceed the proportion for these four months
| thtre will reMaln unexpended at the end of
the year 9477, ,S59. 80 of current appropriations.
The report of the secretary shows the
| gratifying fact that among all the discussing
officers of the pay corps of the navy, there is
not one who is defaulter to the extent of =
| single dollar. I unite with him in recon-
mending the removal Of the Observatory to =
more healthful location. That institution re-
fleets credit upon the nation and has obtained
the appreciation of scientific men in all parts
OF the world. Its rem0Yal from its present To-
| cation would not only be conducive to the
health OF its officers and professors hut would
greatly increase its usefulness.
DEPARTMENT or JUSTICE.
The appropriation for judicial expenses which
has heretofore been made for the department of
justice in gross was subdivided at the last ses-
| sion OF Congress, and no appropriation what
| ever was made for the payment Of the fees Of
| marshals and their deputies either in the ser
vice OF process or for the discharge of other du.
ties. and since June 80 these officers have con-
tlnued the performance of their duties without
compensation from the government. taking
upon themselves the necessary incidental out
lays. as we'll as rendering their own services.
| In only = few unavoidable instances has the
proper execution of process of the United States
failed by reason of the absence of the requisite
appropriations. This cou1 SO of official conduct
| on the part Of these officers, highly creditable
to their fidelity, was advised by the st-
| torney general, who informed them, how.
ever, that they would necessarily have
to rely for their compensation upon the pros
| pect Of future legislation by Congress.
therefore especially .ccommend that an imme-
| date appropriation be made by Congress TO,
this purpose.
| The act making the principal appropriation
l NSP"Au1AAoae "a JAaGACo 6I pAct40uS.S .S6S'
sions ha, uniformly contained the following
clause: "And for defraying the expenses which
may bc incurred in the enforcement of the act
approved Feb. rs, 1870. entitled an act to
| amend An act approved May 80, 1870, entitled
| an act to enforce the right of citizens in the
United States to vote in the States of the
United States, and for other purposes, or any
acts amendatory thereof or supplementary
! thereto"
No appropriation WAS made for this purpose
for the current year. As no general election for
members of Congress occurred, the omission
was matter of little practical Importance.
Such elections will, however, take place during
the ensuing year, and the appropriation for the
pay of marshals and deputies should be sutti.
cient to embrace compensation for the services
they may be required to perform at such elec-
tiOns.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The business of the supreme court il At prcs-
ent largely in arrears. 1t cannot be expected
that more cases can be decided than are nov
dlaposel Of in the annual session, or that by
any assiduity the stineuished magistrates
sh.n who compose the court can accomplish more
courts Of many Of the cirouits tho busine.s
has increased to such an extent
that the delay Of Justice will call the attention
Ut Congress to An appropriate remedy. 1t ia
believed all is done in each circuit which can
be fairly expected, aud the evils arising from
delay are less heavily felt by the United States
than by private suitors, rs its causes are i'd
vanced BY the courts when it is seen that they
involve tho discussion of questions of public
character.
The remedy sugeested by the attorney gen.
erai Is the appointment of additional ci.cuit
judges and the creation of an Intermediate
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 circuit duties. I recommend
this suggestion 10 the consideration of Con-
gress. 1t would seem to afford q complete
remedy and would involve, if ten additional
the present rate of salaries Of not more than
100000 year. which would certainly be small
Ia comparison with the objects to be attained
THE PosToFr1cE.
The report of the postmaster general bears
testimony 10 the general revival in business
throughout the country. The receipts of
the poatofice department for the fiscal year
ending June go 1879, was $30, ,04l, 1872 Sc, being
S763 1881 more than in the preceding year,
and ~, 3S7 % more than in 1877. The ex.
f bth Of the ths sszs
paid on liabilities Incurred in preceding years.
Thc expenditures during the year we're &S01,-
2037 less than IN the preceding year. This
reduction is to be attributed mainly to the ope-
ration of the law passed on June II. 1877,
| changing the compensation of postmasters
| from commission on the value of stamps sold,
to commission on the stamps cancelled.
The amount drawn from the treasury on ap-
| propriations, in addition to the revenues Of
! The department, was Ss0S. "6. being g.
! ZIG S6 less than in the preceding year.
| The expenditures of the fiscal yea- ending
Jane 3o, 1854, estimated at $39. .32O, 900,
SID he receipts from all sources at $33, ,2l0,
Coo, leaving deficiency to be appropriated for
out of the treasury of S7,7l0,9O0.
| The relations of the department with the
| railroad companies have been harmonized,
Notwithstanding tho general reduction by
Congress of their compensation by the appro.
priation for general facilities, and the railway
postoffice lines have been greatly extended, es-
pecially in the Southern States.
The interesta of the railway mail service
would be greatly promoted and the expendi-
lures cou:d be readily controlled by the csssi-
fcation of the employees of the railway mail,
"a recommended by the postmaster general.
The appropriations for services with respect to
which the maximum limit il already fixed by
law to be made in gross.
| The postmaster general recommends An
| amendment to the law regulating An increase
| of compensation for increased service and in
creased speed on Star routes 50 ~ to enable
him to advertise for proposals for such in.
| creased service and speed.
Ho also suggests the advantages to accrue To
the commerce Of the country from the enact
ment of general law authorizing contracts
with American built steamers carrying the
American flag for transporting the mail be.
tween the United States and ports of the West
Indies and South America at q fixed maximum
per mile, the amount to be expended being
eqaalated BY annual appropriations in like
manner with the amount for the domestic Star
service.
The Arrangements made by the postmaster.
general and the secretary of tho treasury fo,
the collection of duties upon books received in
the mail from foreign countries has
proved 80 satisfactory in its practical opera
eion that the Recommendation is now made that
of March 3, 1879, under which this arrange
ment was made, 70 - 70 apply to all other