Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07
guished position which we may rightfuly claim
among the nations OF the world.
THE posr.oFFIcE DEPARTMENT.


other ordinary services during the past fiscal year
were S36, 4S9, IS. The receipts from the money
order business were S295, 80, making total
Of $50, 785, 3g7 "a. The expenditure for the fiscal
year was 500 251, 1886. The deficit supplied out
Of the general treasury was $40 1895, or
sixty-three per cent Of the amount; the receipts
were 80 469 9lS 63 In excess Of those Of the pre-
vous year and 81 1873 397 ~ in excess OF the esti-
mate made ten years ago, before the present
period OF business prosperity had fairly begun.
The whole number Of letters mailed in this
country in the last fiscal year exceed one thou
sand millions. The registry system is reported
to be In excellent condition, having been remod-
eed during the past four years with good re-
suits. The amount OF registration fees collected
during the last fiscal year S712 1872 20, an in
over the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871
Of S345 1910 The entire number of letters and
packages registered during the year was y, 1885,
919 of which only 2,061 were lost or destroyed In
transit The operations of the money-order sys-
TEN are multiplying yearly under the impulse of
immigration, of the rapid development of the
newer states and territories, and the consequent
demand for additional means OF intercommunca-
ton and exchange during the past year, 1888 addi-
tional money order offices have been established,
making total of I, 400 in operation at the date OF
this report During the year the domestic money
orders aggregated In value S105,075 80 A
modification Of the system is suggested, reducing
the fees for money orders not exceeding five dol
lars from ten cents to FIVE 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-oiiice department IL
recommended, in view Of the fact Of their total
value now exceeding one million dollars. The
attention OF congress IL again invited to the sub
ject Of establishing system OF savings deposito-
ries In connection with the post-ofce department.
The statistics Of mail transportation show that
during the past year railroad routes have been
increased in length 6249 miles and in cost ST. 114
$780, while steamboat routes have been decreased
In length 1852 miles and In cost S133050. The
socalled Star routes have been decreased in length
3949 miles and in cost 1854 144 Nearly all of the
supprapdpd nv
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 increas
ing cost Of railway mail service as serious diff
Guilty in the way Of making the department self
sustaining 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 adhe-
sion to the postal union, and it includes all
those which have an organized postal service
cept Bolivia, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Thibet,
and the colonies In Australia.
THE STAR ROUTE FRAUDS
As has been already stated great reductions
have recently been made in the expenses OF the
Star route service. The Investigations of the de-
partment of justice and the post-ofice depart
ment have resulted in the presentation Of indict-
ments against persons formerly connected with
that service, accusing them Of offences against
the United States. have enjoned upon the Off
Gals 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
presidency 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 encouragement calls attention to
the necessity of modifying the present system Of
the courts Of the United States and to the large
increase OF business, especially In the supreme
court. Litigation in our federal tribunals became
greatly expanded after the close of the late war.
So long as that expansion might be attributable
to the abnormal condition in which the commu-
ity fonnd itself Immediately after the return Of
peace, prudence required that no change be made
in the constitution of our Judicial tribunals. But
1t has now become apparent that an immense
increase Of litigation has directly resulted from
the wonderful growth and development of the
country There is no ground for belief that the
business of the United States courts will ever be
less in volume than at present-indeed, that 1t Is
likely to be much greater is generally recognized
by the bench and bar. In view of the fact that
congress has already given much consideration
but express the hope that your deliberation may
result in such legislation as will give early relief
to our overburdened courts.
TERRITORIAL TROUBLES
The acting encouragement also calls attention
to the disturbance of the public tranquility during
the past year in the territory of Arizona.
band of armed desperadoes known as "cowboys."
probably numbering from fifty to one hundred
men, have been engaged for months in commit
ting acts of lawlessness and brutality which the
local authorities have been unable to suppress.
The depredations of these COWBOYS" also en-
tered into Mexico, which the marauders reached
from the Arizona frontier With every disposition
to meet the exigencies Of the case am embar-
raised by the lack of authority to deal with them
effectually. The punishment of the crimes COM
mitted within Arizona should ordinarily Of course
be left to the territorial authorities But it is
worthy of consideration whether acts which neces-
sarily tend to embroil the United States with
neighborng governments should not be declared
crimes against the United States. Some OF the
incursions alluded to may perhaps be within the
scope OF the law revised statutes section 52S6)
forbiddng military expeditions or enterprises
against friendly states, but in view OF the speedy
assembling of your body have preferred to wait
such legislation as in your wisdom the occasion
may seem to demand. 1t may perhaps be thought
proper to provide that the setting on foot within
our own territory of brigandage and armed ma
rauding expeditions against friendly nations and
their citizens shall be punishable as an otfense
against the United States. ! will add that in the
event of a request from the territorial govern
ment for protection by the United States against
domestic violence this government would he
powerless to render assistance The act of 1895,
chapter 80, was passed at a time when territorial
governments received little attention. Congress
enforced this duty Of the United States only as
10 state governments But the act Of 1907, chap
ter 80, applies also In territories This law seems
to have remained in force until the revision of
the statutes when the provision for the territories
was dropped. am not advised whether this al
teration was intentional or accidental, but as it
seems to me that the territories should be
offered the protection which is accorded to states
by the constitution, suggest legislation to that
end. II 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 coDlmitotuS, an exception might well be
made for permitting the military to assist the
civil and territorial 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 that legislation was aimed From
the sparseness of population and other circum-
stances 1t is often quite impracticabe to summon
civil posse in places where officers Of justice re-
quire assistance and where military force Is
within easy reach
THE INTERIOR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES INDIANS.
The rennrt of the secretary of the interinr with