Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-07
service, which deserve the favorable consi'
Grafton of Congress.

service, which deserve the favorable consid-
Grafton of Congress.
The POsrAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster General ex-
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 1860. the postal
receipts were Ss.5ls. O67.40 in 1880. the re-
ceipts were $50, SIS. 1884. All the inhabi-
tants of the country are directly and person
ally interested in having proper mail fscili-
ties, and naturally watch the pos:-ofice very
closely This careful oversight on the part
of the people has proved a constant stimulus
to improvement. During the past year
there was an increase of 2. l3+ postofices. and
the mail routes were extended 27.17 miles,
making an additional annual transportation
of II. SOL ,l9l miles. The revenues of the
postal service for the ensuing year are esti-
mated at S3s. s45. TAI 10, and the expendi-
lures at S42. AIS, 932, leaving deficiency to
be appropriated out of the treasury of 49,
$50. 1873 80.
The Universal Postal Union has received
the accession of almost all the countries and
colonies of the world maintaining organized
pected that all the other countries and colo
mics now outside the Union will soon unite
therewi it'll thus realizing the grand idea and
aim of the founders of the Union. of form
ing, for purposes of international mail COM
munication. single postal territory embrac-
ing the world. with complete uniformity of
postal charges and conditions of internation-
al exchange. for all descriptions of cores
pondence To enable the United States to
do lite full share Of this great work. addition
al legislation is asked by the Pn>tnaster-tren-
eral, to whose recomme nslatirnS special at
tention is called.
The suggestion of the Pos;master-General.
that it would be wise to encourage, 10y ap
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 America.
South America, and of trans-Pacific cOnn-
ties, is commended to the serious considera-
ton of Congress.
The attention of Congress is also invited
to the suggestions of the Postmaster-General
in regard to postal savings.
The JUDICIARY.
The necessity for additiohal provision, to
aid in the transaction of the business of the
Federal courts, becomes each year more APP
parent. The dOckets of the Supreme Court.
and of the circuit courts, in the greater num-
Der of the circuits, are encumbered with the
constant accession of cases. In the former
court, and in many instances in the circuit
courts, years intervene before it is practical
BILE to bring cases to hearing.
The Attorney General recommends the
establishment of an intermediate 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
circuit, should be increased by the addition
of another Judge; in the second circuit that
two should be added; and that an interme-
diate appellate court should be formed in
each circuit, to 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 suitors in many cases where appeals
would still be allowed to the Supreme Court.
The expense incurred for this intermediate
court, will require very moderate increase
of the appropriations for the expenses of the
department of justice. This recommends
ton is commended to the careful considera-
ton of Congress.
1t is evident that a delay of justice, in
many instances oppressive and disastrous to
suitors, now necessarily occurs in the Federal
courts, which will in this way be remedied.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
The report Of the Secretary of the Interior
presents an elaborate account of the oper-
atoms of that Department during the past
year. 1t gives me great pleasure to say that
our Indian affairs appear to be in a more
hopeful condition now than ever before. The
Indians have made gratifying progress in
agriculture, herding, and mechanical pur-
suits. Many who were a 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 remunerative
employment, and in stimulating their am
bitiOn to earn their own support Their
honesty fidelity and efficiency as carriers are
hirl,ly praised. The organization of a police
fn-yc of Indians, has been equally successful
in maintaining law and order upon the
reservations. and in exercising a wholesome
moral influence among the indians them
selves. concur with the Secretary Of the
lHteTlOT Ill tHe recommendation tnat tne pay
of this force be increased, as an inducement
to the best class of young men 10 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 have been very made
quate. A few additional neutrality-suspicious. 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
number of Indian children of school age
The number offered by their parents from all
parts Of the country for education in the gov
eminent schools is much larger than can be
accommodated with the means at present
available for that purpose. The number Of
Indian pupils at the Normal School at IIamp-
ton. Virginia. under the direction of Gencr-
al Armstrong, has been considerably in
creased. and their progress is highly encour-
aging. The4ndian school established by the
Interior Department in 1879, at Carlisle,
Pennsylvania, under the direction of Captain
Pratt, has been equally successful 1t has
now nearly two hundred pupils of both sexes.
representing a great variety of the tribes
east of the Rocky Mountains. The pupils in
both these institutions receive not only an