Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-14

01SauVanU6gc III Siipo 10 eiiO
greater cost of labor and in sailing them;
higher taxes and greater interest on capital,
while the ocean highways are already monop-
LIED by our formidable competitors These
obstacles should in some way be overcome
and for ourrapid communication with foreign
lands we should not continue to depend
wholly upon vessels built in the yards of 9th
er countries and sailing under foreign Hays. \
With no United States steamers on the prin-
cipal ocean lines or any foreign ports our IA
ci1ities for extending our commerce are
greatly restricted, while the nations which
and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous
advantages in increasing their trade. So
THE POST OFFICE. a,.,. zig,
The report of the Postmaster General gives
department and contains many valuable
data and accompanying suggestions which
ton which it affords that the receipts for
the fiscal year have exceeded the expendi-
lures must be very gratifying to Congress
matters which may fairly claim particular
attention, refer you to his observation in,
reference to the adyisability of changing the
present basis for fixing the salaries and al
lowances; of extending the money order svs-
tenn of enlarging the functions Of the postal
troll the telegraph system of the country,
though from this last and most important
Recommendation must withhold my concur
..-,f..-. POSTAGE REDUCTION. a. ,ss.rf, . :.
At the last session of Congress several bills
were introduced into the House of Represent
tativeS for the reduction of letter postage to
the rate of two cents per half ounce. have
given much ista1dy and reflection to this sub.
ject and ANA thoroughly persuaded that such
a reduction would be for the best interests of
the public. 1t has been the policy OF the Gov
as possible the expenses of carrying the mails
by "a direct taxin the form of postage. 1t has
never been, claimed. however, that thisservice
ought to be productive of q net revenue. As
has been stated already, the report Of the
asaf n 'h hfs Is
ment. and that henceforth the receipts are
likely to increase at a MUCH greater ratio
than the necessary expenditures Unless
some change is made in the existing laws, the
profits of the postal service WILL in Ya very
few years swell the revenues of the Govern
ment many millions of dollars. The tiiue
seems auspiciols therefore, for some reduc-
ton in the rates of postage: In what shall
lation which has been had upon this subject
during the last thirty years discloses that do.
mail matter which has never been favored by
a substantial reduction of rates. l am con-
WINGED that the burden OF maintaining the
service falls most unequally upon that class
and that more than any other it is entitled to
present relief. That such relief may be ex-
tended without doubt to other public inter-
ests will be discovered upon reviewing the re-
suits of former reductions. Immediately
prior to the act of ls45 the postage upon n let
ter composed of p single sheet was as follows
If conveyed. 80 miles or less, six cents; be.
tween 80 and so miles, ten cents: between so
tween 91 15o and s 4eo miles eishteen and three
fourths cents; over 400 miles, twenty five
cents. By the act OF ls45. the postage upon
single letter conveyed for any distance under
800 miles was fixed at five cents, and for any
greater distance at ten cents. 5.Er ID
BY the act of 1851 it was provided that sim
gle letter, if prepaid, should be carried any
distance not exceeding J, 900 miles for cents,
and any greater distance for cents. 1t will
be noticed that both these reductions were of
a radical character, and relatively quite as
important IA that which is now proposed. In
each case there ensued a temporary loss OF
revenue, but sudden and large influx of
business substantially repaired thatloss with
in three years Unless the experience OF past
legislation in this country and elsewhere goes
for naught. it may be safely predicted that
the stimulus of so per cent reduction in tax
Der of letters consigned to the mails. The ad-
vantage of secrecy would lead to q very gen
eral substitution of sealed packets for postal
cards and open circulars, and in divers other
ways the volume of first class matter, would
| be enormously augmented.A Such increase
the adoption of the penny postage to more
| than lbs per cent AS result OF careful est.
se .hs or the nh first
after the proposed reduction would not ex-
coed per cent of the expenditure, or $780,.
600, while the deficiency after the reduction of
| 1915 was more than II per cent. and after that
| of 1851 was q per cent; Another Interesting
comparison is afforded by the statistics fur
nished me by the Post office Department.
| The act of 1915 was passed in face of the fact
that there existed deficiency OF more than
Slight surplus of $132 600. The excess of rev.
enue in the next fiscal year is likely to be
| So, 500 .000.
If Congress should approve these sugges-
tons it NAV be deemed advisable to supply
TO someextent the deficiency which must for
rying merchandise which Is now only sixteen
cents per pound. But even without such an
increase ] am confident that the receipts I'M
der the diminished rates would equal the ex-
penditures after the lapse of three or four
years. 81
The report of the Department. of Justice
brings anew to your notice the necessity of
! prudence, so as etfectually to answer the re
quirements of the ever-increasing litigation
| with which it is called upon to deal. y IL
tions ofIhis predecessor. that. in the interests
of justice, better provision than the existing
| districts for fixing the fees of witnesses aid
! jurors In my message of December last
| referred to the pending criminal proceedings
THE STAR ROUTE SERVICE
| of the Post-otiice Department. and advised
/ you had enjoined upon the Attorney Gen
/ eraI and associate counsel, to whom the in
terests of the Government were entrusted, the
| duty of prosecuting with the utmost vigor of
| the law, all persons who might be found
chargcable with these ofenses. a trial of
] one Of these cases has since occurred It &C.
cupied for many weeks the attention Of the
| Supreme Court of this district, and was con-
| Quoted with great care and ability. 1t re-
cause has been aasala placed spon the
| calendar and will shortly be re- tried. If any
|
Inent for their otfenses it will not be for lack
| of diligent and earnest efforts on the part OF
| the prosecution. "a T.
"a PoLrGAMY. 81 Ee
The results which have thusfar attended the
! enforcement of the recent statute for the SUP
| preston of polygamy in the Territorities are
| reported by the Secretary of the Interior. 1t
/ is not probable that any additional lie {islation
/ in this regard will be deemed desirable until
the effect of existing laws shall be more close
| ly observed and studied. I congratulate you
| that the commissioners under whose super
vision tlloselaws have been put in operation
are encouraged to believe that the evil at
which they are aimed may be suppressed
without resort to such radical measures as
in some quarters have been thought indispen-
sable fer success. E5t 49,
| The close relation of the General Govern
ment to the Territorities preparing to be great
States may well engage your special attention /;
yit istllere that tile Intlian disturbances mainly
occur, and that polygamy has found room for
/ its growth / can not doubt that careful
survey of Territorial legislation wouid be Of
the highest utility. Life and property
wonld become more secure; the liability
of outbreaks Between Indians and whites
T would be IesseHed; the public domain would
| be more securely guarded and better progress
! be made in the instruction of the young
i THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRI-