The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-08

|
lected during the past fiscal year
were S71 ,2SS, 220, an increase
over the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1877. of S345, 443.40. The
entire number of letters and pack
ages registered during the year was
S,338,919, of which only 2061 were
lost or destroyed i'll transit. The
operations Ofthe money order system
are multiplying yearly under the
impulse off immigration, of the
rapid development of newer states
and territories and the consequent
demand for additional means of in
| accommodation and exchange.
During the past year 1888 additional
money order offices have been es-
tablished, making a total of 5499 in
operation at the date of this report.
During the year the domestic money
orders aggregated in value $685.
075, 1885. A modification of the
system is suggested by reducing
the fees for money orders not
exceeding five dollars, from ten to
five cents land a maximum limit on
one hundred dollars in place of fifty
dollars. Legislation for the dispo-
sition of unclaimed money orders in
the possession of the pOstofiice de-
! partment, is recommended, III view
of the fact that their total value now
exceeds S1,00O,O00. The attention
of congress is again invited to the
subject of establishing a system of
savings repositories in connection
with the pOstoffice department. The
statistics of mail transportation
show that during the past year rail-
road rates have been increased
over 249 miles, and in cost $1,114,-
1872, while steamboat rates have
decreased in length 2l82 miles, and
i'll cost S'l34 ,054. The so-called star
routes have decreased in length 1894
miles at cost of S364,144 Nearly
all of the more expensive routes
have been superseded by railroad
service. The cost of the star route
| service must, therefore, rapidly de-
crease in the western states and ter
ritories. The postmaster general,
however, calls attention to the con-
stantly increasing cost of railroad
service as serious difficulty in the
way of making the department self
sustaining. Our postal intercourse
with foreign countries has kept
pace with the growth of the domes.
tic service. Within the past year
| several countries and colonies have
| declared their adhesion TO the
postal union. 1t now includes all
those having an organized postal
service except Bolivia, Costa Rico,
New Zealand, and the British colo
MES in. Australia. as has been
already stated. Great reductions
have recently been made in the ex-
penses of the star route service.
The investigation of the department
OF justice, and the postotfice depart
ment have resulted in the presenta-
ton of indictments against persons
formerly connected with the SER
vice, accusing them of offenses
against the United States. | have
enioined upon the officials who are
charged with the conduct of the
cases on the part of the government
and upon the eminent counsel who,
before my ascension TO the presiden-
cy, 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 OH the postal service. The
acting attorney general calls atten-
ton TO the necessity of modifying
the present system of the courts of
the United States, a necessity due
to large increase of business, espe-
cially in the supreme court. Liti-
CATION in our federal tribunals be-
come greatly expanded after the
late war, and so long as that expan-
sion might be attributable TO the
abnormal condition in which the
community fnnnd itself Immediate
ly after the return of peace,
prudence required that no change
be made in the constitution
OF our judicial tribunals. but it has
become apparent that an immense
increase of litigation has directly re-
suited from the wonderful growth
and development of the country.
There is no ground for the belief
that the business of the United
States courts will ever be less in vol
ume than at present. That it is likely
TO be much greater is generally rec
OgniZed by the bench and bar In
view of the fact that congress has
already given much consideration
TO this subject, | make no sugges-
lions as 10 detail. but express the
hope that your deliberations may
result i'll such legislation as will give
early relief 10 our Oyerburdened
courts.
The acting attorney general also
calls attention TO the disturbance OF
the public tranquility during the
past year in the territory of Ari-
IONA. A band of desperadOes
known as cowboys, probably num-
boring 80 To 100 men, have been en-
gagged for months in committing
acts of lawlessness aud brutality,
which the local authorities have
been unable TO suppress. The dep
relations of these cowboys have
also extended into Mexico, which
the marauders reach from the Ari-
IONA frontier. With every disposi-
ton to meet the exigencies of the
case, | am embarrassed by the
lack of authority to deal with
them eftectually. The punishment
of crimes committed in Arizona
should ordinarily, of course, be left
to the territorial authorities but it
is worthy of consideration whether
the acts which embroil the United
States with other governments
should not be declared crimes
against the United States. Some of
the incursioqs alluded to may. per-
haps, be within the scope of the law
(revised statutes, section 5286) for
bidding military expeditions or en-
terprises against friendly states.
But, III view of the speedy assem-
bling of your body, have preferred
to await such legislation as in yOur
wisdom the occasion seems TO de-
mand. 1t may lie thought proper to
provide that the setting of one foot
within our own territory is brig
andage and marauding expeditions
against the United States. | will
add that in the event of a request
from territorial government for
protection by the United States,
against domestic violence, this gov
eminent would be powerless to rem
der assistance. The act OF 1895.
chapter Sc, passed at time when
territorial governments received lit
tie attention from congress, enforced
this duty of the United States only
as TO the state governments, but the
act of 1908, chapter SO, applied less
to territories. This law seems to
have remained in force until the re-
vision of the statutes, when the pro-
vision for territories was dropped.
l am not advised whether this alter
alton was intentional or accidental, |