The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-10

demoralizing to tb,. public service
and discreditable to the country
Though an officer sh ould be as free
as any other citizen to give his own
money in aid of his opinions or his
marty. he should aLo be as free as
any other citizen to refuse to make
such gifts. If salaries are but faic
compensation for the tine and laboi
of the officer, it is gross injustice to
levy a tax upon them. If they are
made excessive in order that they
may bear the tax, the excess IS an
indirect robbery Of the public funds.
recommend, therefore, such re-
! vision aud extension of present stat
lutes as shall secure to those in every
grade Of official life or public employ
meut the protection with which .
great and enlightened Nation should
guard those who are faithful in ~
service.
GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA.
The third article of the treaty wit
| Russia, OF March 80, 1867, by which
Alaska was eeded to the United
States, provides that the inhabitants
Of the ceded territory, with the ex-
ceptlon of the unciyilized native
tribes, shall be admitted to the en-
joyment OF 81 the rights Of eitiz ss
OF the United States, and shall ~
maintained and protected in the free
enjoyment of their liberty, properly
and religion. The uneivilized Tribes
are subject to such laws and regGla
tions as the United States may from
time to time adopt in regard to the
aboriginal tribes of that country.
Both the obligations of this treaty
and the necessities OF the people, re
quired that some organized form oi
government over the Territory of
Alaska be adopted.
There appears to be no law for the
arrest of persons charged with coln
mon-law offenses, such as assault,
robbery, and murder, and no magis
trate authorized TO issue or execute
process in such cases. Serious dr.
ficulties have already arisen frcn,
ofenses of this character, not oniv
among the original inhabitants, bU
among citizens of the UDited State
and other countries, VINO have engsg-
ed in mining, fishing and other busi-
ness operations within the Territory
A bill authorizing The appointment
OF justices OF the peace and eOns'a-
bes, snd the arrest and detention vi
persons charged with crImisal 0ffea-
sos, ana providing for an appeal &c
United States Courts for the District
Of Oregon, in suitable cases, will, at
proper time, be submitted TO CO..
gress.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR MARsHALs.
The appropriation for Judicial ez-
penses, which has heretofore been
made for tue Department of Jus
lice, in gross. vas subdivided at tue
last session or Congress, and no sp
preparation whatever was maie foI
the payment OF the fees of Tue ma
shals and their deputies, either in tie
service of process or the discharge OF
their duties and since June 80, these
officers have continued the perform
aHce of their duties, without compen-
sation from the government, taking
upon themselves the necessary incl
dental Outlsys, as well rs rendering
their own services. In only . lew
unavoidable instances, have tho
proper execution of the process OF
the United States tailed by reason
of the absence Of the requisite appro
priation. This course Of official con
duct on the part of these officers,
dighiy creditsoie TO their fidelity,
was advised by the Attorney General
who informed them, however, that
they would necessarily have to rely
for their compensation upon tie
prospect offuture legislation by Cou-
gress. therefore especially recon-
mend that immediate appropriation
by made by Congress for this puf-
pose.
The act making the principsl ap-
preparation for the Department of
Justice at previous sessions has uni
formly contained the following clause:
sand for defraying the expenses
which may be incurred in the enforce
nent of the act approved February
%, 1870. entitled An act To amend
an act approved May 80, 1870, en-
titled AN act to enforce the right Of
citizens of tue United States 10 vote
in tue several States Of the United
States, and for other purposes, or
any acts amendstory thereof or sup
Elementary thereto.
No appropriation was made for this
purpose for the current year. As no
general election for members OF Con-
gress occurred, the omission wss q
matter of little practical i'm portance.
Such an election will, however, take
place during the ensuing year, aud
the appropriation made for the ser
vices they NAV be required to perform
at such elections.
THE LAWS DELAY.
The business of the Supreme Court
is, at present, largely in arrears. 1t
cannot be expected that more causes
can be decided than are now dis
posed of in it's annual session, or
that by any assiduity the distine uish-
ed magistrates who compose the