Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-10

| TIE rosToFFICE.
The report of the Postmastcr-General cN-
hibits the continual growth and the high
state of efficiency of the postal service The
operations of no department OF the Govern
ment. perhaps represent with greater exact
ness the increase in the population and the
business of the country. In $50, the postal
receipts were -. 5lS. O61. 20 in 1850, the
receipts were SD, 3lj, Az. "a. All the inllb-
itants of the country are directly and per
sonally interested in having proper mail Ia
cilities, AMI naturally watch the postoiiice very
closely. This careful oversight on the part
of the people has proved a constant stimulus
10 improvement. During the past year there
was an increase of J. l3i postotiices, and the
mail routes were extended 2I,l miles,
! making an additional annual transportation
of O,S0i, 1871 miles. The revenues of the
postal service for the ensuing year are csti-
mated At S3S. S45. Ia 10, and the eNpendi-
lures at sac, 47j, 932, leaving a deficiency TO
be appropriated out of the Treasury of So
$50, 1890
! The Universal Postal Union has received
, the accession of almost all the countries and
colonies of the world maintaining organized
postal services, and it is confidently expected
that all the other countries and colonies now
outside the Union will soon unite Herewith,
thus realizing the grand IDEA and aim OF the
/ founders OF the union, of forming, Tor purposes
of International mail communication, a single
postal territory embracing the world, with
complete uniformity of postal charges, and
conditions Of international exchange, for all
descriptions of correspondence. 10 enable
the United States to do its full share of this
great work, additional legislation is asked by
, the Postmaster General, TO whose recon-
mendations especial attention is called.
| The suggestion of the Postmaster General,
I that il would be wise to encourage, by APP
propriate legislation, the establishment of
American lines of steamers by our own citi-
zens, TO carry the mails between our own
ports and those of Mexico, Central Amer
lea, South America and of trans-Pacitic
countries. is commended to the serious CON
sideration of Congress.
The attention of Congress is also invited
to the suggestions of the Postmaster General
in regard 10 postal savings.
TIE FEDERAL COURTS
The necessity for additional provision. to
aid in the transaction of the business of the
Federal courts, becomes each year more 3p
parent The dockets of the Supreme Court,
and of the circuit courts, in the greater num-
Der of the circuits are encountered with the
constant accession OF cases. In the former
court, and IN many instances in the circuit
courts, years intervene before it is practical
be to bring cases TO hearing.
| The Attorney General recommends the cS-
Enlistment of an immediate court OF errors
and appeals. 1t is recommended that the
number of judges of the circuit court in each
circuit, with the exception of the second cir
cult, should be increased by the addition of
another judge in the second circuit, that
two should be added; and that an intermc-
diate appellate court should be formed in
each circuit, 10 consist of the circuit Judges
and the circuit justice, and that in the event
of the absence Of either of these judges the
place of the absent judge should be supplied
by the judge of one of the district courts in
the circuit. Such an appellate court could
be safely invested with large jurisdiction,
and its decisions would satisfy sutors in
many cases where appeals would still be al
lowed TO the Supreme Court. The expense
| incurred for this intermediate court, will re-
quire very moderate increase of the ap
preparations for the expenses of the depart
ment of justice. This recommendation is
commented To the careful consideration Of
Congress.
| Ii is evident that delay Of justice, in
many instances oppressive and disastrous to
suitors, now necessarily occurs in the FEEDER
al courts, which will in this way beremedied.
| THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Int
rior, presents an elaborate account of the
operations of that department during the
past year. 1t gives me great pleasure TO say
that our Indian affairs appear to be in more
hopeful condition now than ever before.
| The Indians have made gratifying progress
in agriculture, herding, and mechanical pur
| suits Many who were few years ago in
| hostile conflict with the Government are
quietly settling down on farms where they
hope to make their permanent homes, build
ing houses and engaging in the occupations
of civilized life. The introduction of the
freighting business among them has been re
markably fruitful of good results, in giving
many of them congenial and rcmunerative
employment. and in stimulating their ambi-
ton to earn their own support. Their hon
esty, fidelity. and efficiency as carriers are
highly praised. The organization of police
force of Indians, has been equally successful
IN maintaining law and order upon
the reservations, and in exercising
a wholesome moral influence among
the Indians themselves. | concur with the
Secretary of the Interior in the recommended
ton that the pay Of this force be increased AS
an inducement TO the best class of young men
l
| TO enter it.
| Much care and attention has been devoted
TO the enlargement of educational facilities
for the Indians. The means available for
this important object nave been very made
quate. a few additional boarding schools
at Indian agencies have been established, and
the erection OF buildings has been begun for
several more, but an increase of the appro-
priations for this interesting undertaking is
greatly needed TO accommodate the large num-
Der of Indian children of school age. The
number offered by their parents from all
parts of the country for education in the
Government schools is much larger than can
be accommodated with tho means at present
available for that purpose. The number of
Indian pupils at the Normal School at
| Hampton, Virginia, under the direction of
Gen. Armstrong has been considerably i'll
| creased, and their progress is highly encour-
aging. The Indian school established by the
Interior Department in 1879, at Carlisle,
| Pennsylvania, under the direction of Capt.
Pratt, has been equally successful. 1t has
now nearly two hundred pupils of both sexes,
representing great variety of the tribes east
of the Rocky Mountains The pupils in
both these institutions receive not.only an ele-
mentary English education, but are also in
strncted in Homework, agriculture, and
useful mechanical pursuits. \ similar school
was established this year vi Forest Grove,
Oregon, for tlir = tucation of Indian youths
on the Pacific si. In addition to this
thirty-six Indian boy: .'ud girls were sci. ct
ed from the Eastern thcrokees and placed
in boarding schools in North Carolina, where
they are TO receive an elementary English
education and training in industrial pursuits
The interest shown by Indian parents even