Huntsville gazette., 1881-12-10

held as prisoners for trial, while some have
escaped and the majority of the tribes are a
now on their reservations. There is need of
Iegislation to prevent Intrusion upon the
lands set aside for the Indians y large mii-
tary force, Ut great expense, is now required
to patrol the boundary line between Kansas
and the Indian Territory The only punish
ment that can be inflicted is the forcible re-
moval of the intruders and the imposition of
a pecuniary fine, which in most cases it is i'm
possible to collect. There shouldbe penalty
of imprisonment in such cases. '@ ai -a
The report of the Chief of Engineers gives a
detailed account of operations for the inn
provement of rivers and harbors. / recon-
mend to your attention the suggestions con-
tanned in the report in regard to the condition
OF our Notifications, especizt.N our cCasl de-
lenses, and recommend an increase of the
strength of the engineer battalion by which
the efficiency Of our torpedo system would be
improved. also call your attention to the
remarks upon the Improvement of the South
Pass of the Mississippi River, the proposed
free bridge over the Potomac River at
Georgetown, the importance of completing at
an early day the north wing of the depart
ment building, and other recommendations
of the Secretary of War, which appear in his
report. The actual expenditures OF this de-
paTtment for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1881, were Si22 ,220 l39. The appropriations for
the year 1882 were S4 ASS 1852 542 the estimates
for 1888 are 4,454, ,l27 ,69l.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy OK
hibits the condition OF that branch of service
and presents valuable suggestions for its inn
to the appended report of the Advisory Board
which he convened to devise suitable meas
ures for increasing the efficiency OF the navy,
and particularly to report as to the character
and number of vessels necessary to place it
upon footing commensurate with the ne
cessities of the Government. 4.....t
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General is
gratifying exhibit of the growth and efficiency
of the postal service. The receipts from post
age and other ordinary sources during the
past fiscal yearwcre So, ,fS9 sl6.3S. The receipts
from the money order business were
S39S.9I. The expenditure for the fiscal year
was 500 81, 1856. The deficit supplied out Of
the general Treasurywas 81 tSl ,l29.35, or 63 per
cent of the amount The receipts were So ,l69,-
9lS.63 in excess of those OF the previous year,
and $l,575 ,397.97 in excess of the estimate made
two years ago, before the present period of
business prosperity had fairly begun. The
whole number of letters mailed i'll this coun-
try in the last fiscal year exceeded one thou
sand millions The registry system is regard
ed to be in excellent condition, having been
remodeled during the past four years with
good results. The amount of registration fees
collected during the last fiscal year was ST.
2SS 22O an increase over the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1871, of S24 $40. The entire number
of letters and packages registered during the
year was S,5;}S ,9l9 OF which only 206l were de-
stroyed or lost in transit. The operations
of the money order system are multi
plying yearly. Under the impulse of i'm
migration, of the rapid development OF the
newer States and Territories, and the conse
quent demand for additional means OF inter
Communication and exchange, during the
past year $50 additional money order Offices
have been established, making total OF 5.l99
in operation at the date of this report. Dur
ing the year tile domestic money orders az
gregated in value Sl05 ,0g5, 76935 modifica-
ton of the system is suggested, reducing the
fees for money orders not exceeding s. from
10 cents to cents, and making the maximum
limit 500 in place of $50. Legislation for the
disposition of unclaimed money orders in the
possession of the Post office Department. Is
recommended, in view of the fact that their
total value now exceeds 100000 The at
tention of Congress is again pointed to the
subject of establishing IL system of savings
despOsitories in connection with the Post
office Department.
The statistics of mail transportation show
that during the past year railroad routes have
been increased in length 6,2i9 miles, and in
cost 81 ,3S2 while steamboat routes have
been decreased in length 2,lSl miles, and in
cost Sl3l 05i. The so called star routes have
been decreased in length 3,949 miles and i'll
cost 1864 IA. Nearly all of the more expensive
routes have been superseded by railroad serv-
ice. The cost of the star service must, there
fore, rapidly decrease in the Western States
and the Territories.
The Postmaster General, however, calls at
tention to the constantly increasing cost Of
railway mail service az II serious difficulty in
the way of making the Department self Sus-
tanning. Our postal intercourse with foreign
countries has kept pace with the growth OF
the domestic service Within the past year
several countries and colonies have declared
their adhesion to the Postal Union. 1t now
includes all those which have an organized
postal service, except Bolivia Costa Rca,New
Zealand and the British Colonies.
In all the states, as has been stated already,
great reductions have recently been made in
the expense of the star route service. The IN
vestigatiOnS OF the Department OF Justice
and the Post office Department have re-
suited in the presentation OF indlct-
ments against persons formerly con
them of ofenses against the United States.
have enjoped upon the officials who are
charged with the conduct OF the cases on the
part of the Government, and upon the emil
nent counsel, who before my accession TO the
Presidency were called to their assistance,
the duty OF prosecuting, with the utmost
vigor of the law, all persons who may be
found chargeable with frauds upon the postal
service
THE JUDICIARY.
The acting Attorney General calls attention
to the necessity of modifying the present sys
TEN of the courts of the United states, u ne
cessity due to the large increase in business
especially i'm the Supreme Court. Litigation
in our Federal tribunals became greatly eX-
panded after the close OF the late war. 80
long as that expansion might be attributable
to the abnormal condition in which the COM
munity found itself Immediately after the
return of peace, prudence required that
no change be made III the constltu.
ton of our judicial tribunals. But IL
has now become apparent that an
immense increase of litigation has directly
resulted from the wonderful growth ana DE,
veIopment of the country. There is no ground
for the belief that the business Of the United
States Courts viii ever be less in volume than
at present. Indeed, that it Is likely to be
much greater is generally recognized by the
bench and bar. In view of the fact that Con-
eress has already given much consideration
to the subject, make no suggestion aS 70 de-
tails, but express the hope that your deDDef-
ations may result in such legislation as VIII
give early relief to our overburdened courts
The acting Attorney General also calls at
tention to the disturbance of the public tran
duiIlity during the past year in the Territory
Of Arizona. A band Of armed desperadoes,
known as cowboys" probably numbering
from fifty to 100 men, have been engaged 1or
months in committing acts OF lawlessness
and brutality which che local authorltles
have been unable 90 repFess. The depre-
dations of these Cowboys" have also
been extended into Mexico, which the
marauders reach from the Arizona
frontier With every disposition to meet the
exigencies of the case, / am ernbarras-
sed by lack of authority to deal with them et-
fectiveIy. The punishment Of crimes commit
ted within Arizona should ordinarily, OF
course be left to the territorial authorities
But it is worthy Of consideration whether act5
which necessarily tend to embron the Cmtea
States with neighboring governments shoula
not be declared crimes against the lnlteu
States Some of the fncursions alluded 10
NAV perhaps be within scope OF the law, the
Revised statutes, section J2S6, forbidding
ssrnfIitarv expeditions or enterprises against
friendly states. Butin view OF the speedy as
sembling of your body have preferred TO