The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-02-27

ceptiou perhaps OF few large CITY oistrlcts,
the order effects every Congressional Dis
trict In the United States, although the
older communities viii feel 1t less than
those Of the West. Montana has been ia
vored with liberal mail facilities. Nearly
all the principal towns, and many lesser
ones, now haye daily mail service each way.
All Of IL 10 ''Star Service" II 1t were to be
cot down to weekly service there would 20
M from Montana such Q wall as has not
been heard since Mr.. Plummer fell and
broke his neck. But although the order
this, and the Postmaster-Gen-
eral will doubtless insist on the reduction
to within the appropriation, We have no ap-
prehension that the mail service In Mon
tana, or else where, will be seriously dimin-
isbed. Fortunately for Us there are con-
who have potential votes affect
cd by this order and the Honorable Mem
bers OF Congress from Maine to Texas do
not dare to return to their homes until they
have restored nineteenth century privileges
to the dear people Who elect them mem
bers Of the National Debating Club. Ordi-
narily the Territories have TO appeal alone
for legislation. but in this case they are the
allies OF all the States.
The immediate occasion Of the order Is
the iuadequacy Of the 1880 appropriation to
pay the expenses Of the present service I'M
I'll June 30th. and the intimation from Con-
gress that 10 more would be appropriated.
The Postmaster General therefore exercised
the right of diminishing or disseminating,
reserved to him In the letting Of all mail
contracts, reduced all Star service to week
~ service, and pays the one month forfeit
provided by Law. His action In the matter
was right. There have been complaints
made in Congress against the Post Office
Department In relation to the increase OF
service and acoelleration Of speed and the
increased pay allowed therefor. Serious
charges have been made against Assistant
Postmaster General Brady for enormous
postal expenditures in New Mexico. These
matters are brought to direct issue by the
order aud they become, to oertain extent,
party issues. Congress established, after
the appropriation bill Of last year was
passed, over 1000 now postal routes on
1900 Of which, as was contemplated, service
has been placed. On many, including some
In Montana, the service has been increased
and the time decreased. For this extra
service the Post Office Department estima,
ted an additional appropriation OF two mil
lion dollars was required. Congress gave
the Department the cold shoulder on this
estimate, and Mr.. Key very properly deter
mined to reduce the service At once to pro-
portions be had means to compensate. II
the Department had failed to place service
on any route established by Congress there
would have been complaint against 1t In
Congress. And having placed service on
the new routes established, Congress threat
ems the Department that 1t will with
hold the money necessary to pay the con-
tractors. There was but one course left for
the Postmas General to pursue-tc keep
within the appropriation and place the re-
spousibility where it belongs. It Is true
Mr.. Key might have reduced or discontin.
ued service ia the Territories, which have no
voice In national affairs, and permitted the
State service to remain unchanged; but be
entitled himself to our gratitude and
forced the question home to Congressman
by making the order universally applicable.
The result 10 already seen. The Depart
ment estimated Tor e., 600, 900 deficiency to
continue the Star service /; the House Com
mittes On Monday favonbly reported bill
appropristing $500, 600 for the purpose.
Il Il not improbable II viii be amended to
tho amount required. II 1t IL not, the
Postmaster. General would DO only just IN
diminishing the excessive service in the
districts Of those members voting against
the bill. This 10 the third time the Demo
cratic Congress has tried the same game on
the Republican administration first WITH
the Army, then with tho Depart
ment OF Justice, now with the postal service
In each former attempt 1t has been com
PEELED to yield and lost prestige with thu
country. Tho last Ia the most unpopular
folly OF all.
We do not anticipate Montana will b
injuriously effected BY this order. even II i
not oountermanded before March /. Gil
mer, Salisbury & Co. arc now carrying
about . ton Of mail per day northwart
from the tsrminuA It IL all they can con
veniently handle with daily coaches, which
must run anyhow for express and passen
gers. II they were TO receive 1t only onc'
q week they would have to put on freigh
teams. There IL just 20 much TO come ans
It IL moro convenient to keep II moving
Daily coaches are now run on nearly oil tn
routes In Montana. It il more desirable h
hsndle the mails every day than 70 lot !
accumulate for . week. On horsebacl
routes, and whore there ID stage servic
principally to carry mail, 20 believe the.
will prefer continuing ~ ct present ant
t&ie chances on m appropriation to break
lu8 Up ak1sux0m0nsS sAu sOAVhV0 NV -
listing. Postmastsrs never decline deliv
ering mail TO carriers moro frequently thai
The schedule requires when Il 10 an sccom
nodatlon to the people. 20 while IL 10 no
probable the appropriation recommended
BY the committee viii become Law befor
March l, 1t H. probable contractors gene
rally viii continue carrying under tn
present schedules, ut least another month
even II the Postmaster General does no
rescind tho order.
| The New Commissioner.
WASHINGTON, February 20.-The nomi
nation fcrssbadovsd In these dispatchc
last week Of Rowland Z. Trowbridge. Q
Michigan, 70 be Commissioner Of India
Affairs. which was sent n the Senate q
day, meets with very general approval 1
Washington snc he win undoubtedly b
confirmed. Mr.. Trowhridge was born /
Elmirs. New York, 10 1891. and when
child removed with bis parents TO Mich
gan and received collegiate education 1
Kenyon. o., bat he devoted most Of hi