Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-06

But If we heed the teachings Of history we shall
not forget that in the life of every nation emergen
| cies may arise when q resort to arms can alone
| No danger from abroad now threatens this
people, nor have we any cause to distrust the
friendly professions of other governments.
| that may threaten us in the future, We must be
prepared to enforce any policy which We think
| We must be ready to defend our harbors agains,
aggression, to protect, by the distribution of oul
sa,ps OF war over the highways OF commerce. the
| persons and property OF our citizens abroad, tt
mlntain everywhere the honor of our flag, and tht
| distinguished position which We may rightfuily
claim among the nations of the world
The report of the Postmaster General is graft
tying exhibit Of the growth and efficiency of the
The receipts from postage and other ordinary
sgses se s,s drng ~ , the past TT fiscal year wsrt
business were 1895 ,5si 80, making a total OF
$36, s5 39. 81. The expenditure for the fiscal yeal
was ssSssl 1s6 A. The deficit supplied out Of the
general Treasury was $24S1 ,129 IS, or $40 pei
cent OF the amount expended. The receipts were
sls es in excess of those of the previous year
| two years ago, before the present period OF bust
ness prosperity had fairly begun.
| The whole number of letters mailed In this
country In the last fiscal year exceeded one thous-
:, The registry system is reported to be in excel.
! lent condition. having been remodeled during the
|
of registration fees collected during the last fiscal
year was s712,Ss2so an increase over the fsca
year ending June 80, 1877, of &s.S 443 40
The entire number OF letters and packages regis
tered during the year was 1888 sls, Of which only
206l were lost or destroyed In transit
| Ine operations OF the Oney-orler system are
multiplying yearly under the impulse of immigra.
ton, OF the rapid development OF the newer states
ana territories, and the consequent demand fol
additional means OF intercOmmunicatiOn and eX-
| change.
During the past year, 33s additional money
order offices have been established. making total
OF 5,499 in operation at the date OF this report.
During the year the domestic money orders ag.
| gregated In value S1G5, ,015,7 1895.
| A mOd1fcatiOn OF the system is suggested re.
duc1ng the fees for money orders not exceeding s:
from ten cents to five cents. and making the maxi.
| mum limit 500 in place of $50.
| Legislation for the disposition Of unclaimed mo-
ney orders In the possession OF the Post Office de-
partment is recommended, in view OF the fact that
The attention Of Congress is again invited to
| the subject of establishing a system of savings
| repositories in connection with the Post-Onice
| The statistics OF mail transportation show that
curing the past year railroad routes have been in
| while steamboat routes have been decreased in
length s,1S2 miles, and in cost ,O54. The so
eaiied lie Star routes have been decreased in length
| 3,949 miles, and In cost 1854 1A.
Nearly all Of the more exptn tnsive routes have
Deen superseded by railroad service. The cost
OF the star service must therefore rapidly decrease
In the western States and Territories.
The Postmaster General, however. calls attention
to the constantly increasing cost of the railway
mai service SCI VIC as serious difficulty in the way OF
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 Rica, New Zealand, and the British colonies
In Australia.
AS has been already. stated, great reductions
have recently been made in the expense OF the
star-route service. The Investigations of the De
partInent of Justice and the Post-Of1ice Depart
ment have resulted in the presentation Of indict-
ments against persons formerly connected with
tnaI service, accusing them OF OenSeS against the
United States. have enjoined 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 accession to the Pres1-
dency, 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 Acting Attorney General calls attention to
the necessity OF modifying the present system Of
the large increase Of business, especially in the
Supreme Court. Litigation in our Federal tribu-
tha mas ar gfeas aIer the close OF
attributable to the abnormal condition In which
the community found itself Immediately after the
return OF peace, prudence required that no change
nails.
But IT has now become apparent that an i'm
from the wonderful growth and development of
the country. There is no ground for belief that
be less in volume than at present. Indeed, that it
IS likely to be much greater is generally recognized
by the be nch and bar.
In view Of the fact that Congress has already
given much consideration to this subject, make
no suggestion as to detail, but express the hope
that your deliberations may result in such egfsla-
ton as Will give early relief to our overburdened
courts.
The Acting Attorney General also calls atten-
ton to the disturbance OF the public tranquility
during the past year in the Territory OF Arizona.
band OF armed deSperadOes, known as "COw
Boys" probably numbering from fifty to one hun
dred men. have been engaged for months in COM
mitting acts OF lawlessneSS and brutality which
the local authorities have been unable to repress
The depTedatfOnS Of these aCOW BOYSn have also
extended into Mexico. which the marauders reach
from the Arizona frontier. With every disposition
rassed by lack OF authority to deal with them
effectualy. The punishment of crimes committed
within Arizona should ordinarily, OF course, be
left to the Territorial authorities But 1t is worthy
consideration whether acts which necessarily tend
to embroil the United States with neighboring
governments should not be declared crimes against
the United States. Some of the fncurslons alluded
to may perhaps be within the scope of the law
(Revised Statutes, section $3.50 forbidding smii-
tary expeditions or enterprises" against friendly
states; but in view OF the speedy assembling Of
your body, have preferred to await such legisla-
demand.
It may, perhaps, be thought proper to provide
OF brigandage and armed marauding expeditions
against friendly nations and their citizens, shall
be punishable as an O0enSe against the United
States.
will add that in the eventof a request from the
Territorial government for protection by the United
States against "dOmestic violence" this govern
ment would be powerleSS to render assistance.
The act OF 1795, chapter 36, passed at time
when Territorial governments received little at
tentton from Congress, enforced this duty of the
United States only as to the State governments
But the act OF 1907, chapter 49, applied also to Ter
rtQr1eS. This law seems to have remained in force
until the revision OF the statutes, when the pro
vision for the Territories was dropped. am not
advised whether this alteration was intentional or
accidental but, as 1t seems to me that the Terri
tories should be offered the protection which is ac-
corded to the states by the Constitution, suggest
legislation to that end.
1t seems to me, too, that whatever views may
prevail as to the policy OF recent legislation BY
which the Army has ceased to be part OF the
posse conttat'ts, an exception might well be made
for permitting the mttaey to assist the civil Ter
r1tor1al authorities in enforcing the laws of the
united states. This use OF the Army would not
seem to be within the alleged evil against which
Lnat legislation was aimed. From SparseneSS OF
population and other circumstances It is often
quite 1mpracticable to summon civil posse in
places where officers Of justice require assistance,
end where military force is within easy reach.
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior, with
accompanying documents, presents an elaborate
account OF the business OF that department. A
summary OF it would be too extended for this
place. ask your careful attention to the report