St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-12-16
POSTAGE REDUCTION,

At the last session Of Congress several bills
were introduced into the House Of Represen.
ttatives for the reduction of letter post age to
the rate of two cents per half ounce. / have
given much study and reflection to this sub
pect and am thoroughly persuaded that such
Ia reduction would be for the best interests OF
the public. 1t has been the policy of the Gov
eminent from its foundation to defray as far
las possible the expenses of carrying the mails
ny a hee tax IN the form OF It has
ought TO be productive of net revenue. AS
mas been stated already, the report of the
POSTMASTER General shows that there is now
"a very considerable surplus in his depart
ment, and that henceforth the receints are
likely to Increase at a much greater ratio
some change is made in the existing laws the
prohts OF the postal service will. in Il very
few years swell the revenues OF the Govern
ment many millions of dollars The time
seems auspicious therefore, for some reduc-
tion in the rates of postage. In what shall
chat reduction consist, review of the legis.
during the last thirty years discloses that do
hnestic letters constitute the only class of
mail matter which has never been favored by
IA substantial reduction of rates. / am con
WINGED that the burden of maintaining the
service falls most unequally upon that class
land that more than any other it is entitled to
present relief. That such relief may be ex-
Pended without doubtto other public inter-
tests will be discovered upon reviewing the re-
suits of former reductions. Immediately
prior to the act of 1915 the postage upon q let
ter composed of single sheet was as follows:
Of conveyed 30 miles Or less, six cents; be-
tween 80 and 50 miles, ten cents; between 50
and 150 miles. twelve and one half cents; be-
tween $50 and 400 miles, eighteen and three
fourths cents; over 400 miles, twenty-five
cents. By the act OF 1915, the postage upon a
single letter conveyed for any distance under
800 miles was fixed at five cents, and for any
greater distance at ten cents.
By the act OF 1851 1t was provided that sim;
gle letter, IL prepaid, should be carried any.
distance not exceeding 5000 miles for 5 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 as that which is now proposed. In
zach case there ensued a temporary loss of
revenue, but q sudden and large influx of
business substantially repaired that loss with.
Legislation in this country and elsewhere goes
for naught. it may be safely predicted that
the st mulus OF 50 per cent reduction in tax
for carriage would at once increase the num-
Der of letters consigned to the mails The adj
vantage of secrecy would lead to a very gem
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. Such increase
amounted in England in the first year after
the adoption of the penny postage to more
than l25 per cent. AS result of careful esti-
mates, the details of which can not be but
convincing, the deficiency for the first year
after the proposed reduction would not ex-
coed per cent of the expenditure, or $780,
900, while the deficiency after the reduction Of
ls45 was more than II per cent, and after that
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
$4,000; that of 1851 was encouraged by the
slight surplus of 1882 900. The excess of rev.
enne in the next fiscal year is likely to be
$500 00p.
If Congress should approve these sugges-
tons it may be deemed advisable to supply
to some extent the deficiency which must for
q time result by increasing the charge for car
Fylng merchandise which is now only sixteen
cents per pound. But even without such an
increase am confident that the receipts 1ln-
penditures after the lapse Of three or four
years.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the Department. Of Justice
brings anew to your notice the necessity of
enlarging the present system of Federal iuris-
prudence, SO as efectualiy to answer the re-
puirements OF the ever-increasing litigation
with which 1t is called upon to deal.
The Attorney General renews the sugges-
lions OF his predecessor, that, in the interests
of Justice, better provision than the existing
law affords should be made in certain judicial
districts for fixing the fees of witnesses and
Jurors. In my message of December last /
referred to the pending criminal proceedings
growing out of alleged frauds, what is known
THE STAR ROUTE SERVICE
of the Post-office Department, and sdyised
you had enjoined upon the Attornt u Cen
hral and associate counsel, to whom the in
duty Of proseent with the cut Utmost e vsor OF
The law, All persons who might b. found
chargeable with these offenses. trial of
one Of these cases has since'occurred. Itoc-
cupied for many weeks the attention OF the
Supreme Court of this district, and was con-
Quoted with great care and ability. 1t re-
suited IN disagreement of the jury. but the
cause N has been again placed upon the
calendar and win shortly be re. tried. " II any |
guilty persons shall finally escape punish
tnent for their ofenses 1t will not be sforslac
q nd al fbo tpfl
Ehe prosecution. u 'SsS X S7s5 n -ssss sss
HTA.H@a PoLrGAMY. VI g;g
The results which have thusfar attended the |
enforcement of the recent statute for the sup
preston OF polygamy in the Territorities are
rs not probable that any additional legislation |
In this regard will be deemed desirable until |
Che effect OF existing laws shall be more close
" observed and studied I congratulate you
that the commissioners under whose super
vision those laws have been put in operation |
pre- encouraged to believe that the evil at /
which they are aimed may be suppressed |
IN some quarters have been thought indispen-
sable for success.
The close relation Of the General Govern.
1t is there that the Indian disturbances mainly
&c occur. and . that polygamy has found room for
survey OF Territorial legislation would be Of /
Ehe highest utility. Life and property
you'd become more secure; the liability
OF outbreaks between Indians and whites
would be lessened; the public domain would
be more securely guarded and better progress
be made in the instruction Of the young
CHE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF AGRI.
sta4$gtf Il CULTURE
presents an account of the labors of that de.
Partment during the past year, and includes
Information OF much interest - the general
public. The condition ut the forests ST the
country and the waSteful manner in which
their destruction is taking place give cause
Tor serious apprehension. Their action in
protecting the earth's surface in modifying
The extreRes Of climate and in regulating and
sustaining the flow of springs and streams is
not well understood, and their Importance in
country can not be safely dfsregarded. They
are INST disappearing before destructive fires