Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-08
ANOTHER INTERESTING conpap,sos


ANOTHER INTEREs coMPARJsoN
is afforded by statistics furnished me by he post
lfiee DEPARTMENT; The act of 1S45 was paS.>d
IN the face of the fact that there existed d,
hcie1ey of moro than $50, 600. That of 1851 was
encouraged By the slight surplus of S132 ,00O.
The excess of revenue in the next fiscal yeai is
likely % he 49, 500. 900. If congress should as-
prove shese suggestions, it may be deemed desia-
bic to supply to some extent the deficiency which
must for the time result, by increasing ne charge
Tor carrying merchandise, which is now only J6
cents per pound. But even without such an III
crease, l am confident the receipts under the di-
minished rates. would equal the expenditures after
the lapse OF three or four years.
TRANSFER OF TIRE LIGHT HOUSE sETyIcE.
For the pu pose of aHording the officers and
,eamen of the navy opportunities of exercise and
isciplne IN their profession, under appropriate
oatrol and directions. the secretary advises thai
the lighthouse service and coast survey De trans-
ierred, as now organized. from the treasury :"
the navy department, erd he also suggests, for
he reasons which lac ass,rns, that similar
trauter may W sely De made e the cruising rev.
enue NeSse'S The sacretary torcihiy depicts the
Intimate connection and in,crdrt enCence of
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The report of the department of justice brings
anew to your notice the necessity Of enla. s1ng
the present system of federal jurisprudence so as
10 efectually answer the requirement of our in
ere sing litigation with which i: is called upon to
deal. The attorney general reviews the sugges-
tons OF his predecessor that In the interest of JUS
tice better provisions than re existing law affords
should be made in certain judicial dis ricts for fix
ing the fees of witnesses and jurors
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
In my message of December last, 1 referred to
Nendlnp crI of ha
alleged frauds in what is known as the star
route service of the postofice department and ad-
vised you that had enjoiped upon the attor-
ney general and associate counsel to whom the in
duty of prosecuting with the utmost visor
OF the law, all persons who might be fou nd
chargea5le with those offences. A trial of one
OF these cases has since occurred. It occupied fer
many weeks the attention Of the supreme court
OF this district and was conducted with great zeal
and ability. 1t resulted in disagreement of the
jury, but the causes have again been placed upon
the calendar and will shortly be retired, If any
guilty persons shall finally escape punishment for
their offences it will not be for lack of diligent
and urgent work of the prosecution.
A BANKRUPT LAW.
l truSC that some agreement will be reached
which Will speedily aid congress- with the concur
renee of the executive, to afford the commercial
community the benefit Of a national bankrupt
law.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of tho secretary of the interior,
with its accompanying documents presents a full
statement of the varied operations of that depart
ment. In respect to Indian affairs nothing has
occurred which has changed or seriously modified
the views to which l devoted much space in
former communication to congress. | renew the
recommendations therein contained as to ex-
tending to the Indians the protection of law, al
lotting land n severalty to such as deserved it,
a3d making suitable provision for the
education of the young. Such provision
as the secretary forcibly maintains
will prove unayailing unless it is broad
willing to make use of it, and Should not solely
relate to intellectual training but also instruction
in such manual labor and simple industrial arts
as can be made practically available.
Among other Important suhjcc's which are in
Guided IN the secretary's report, and which will
doubtless furnish occasion Tor congressional ac
lion, may be mentioned the neglect of railroad
companies, to which large grants of land were
made by acts of 1862 and 1864, TO take the title
thereto and their consequent cquitlble exemption
from local taxation.
AN ALARMING STATE OF ILLITEEACY.
No survey of our material condition can fail
to suggest inquiries as to the moral and intellect
ual progress Of the people. The census returns
disclose an alarming state of literacy in certain
portions o. the country where the provisions for
:hhools are grossly inadequate. 1t is a mo-
uentOas question for the decision Of congress
whether immediate substantial aid should be ex-
tended by III, general government for the sup
plementiny efforts Of private benefi ,iarieS of
state and territorial legs alton in behalf of edu-
cation.
REGULATION OF INTERNAL COMMERCE.
Thu regulation of inter. al commerce has al
ready been subject Of you: deliberations. On
Of the lncid hts of the extension Of the railw
system or the country mas been the adoption "
lch measures by corporate MS whicG own or 60
oil the roads as has tel.d,i to impair the an
ges of hesltEful competition, aud make hurliul
determinations in the aijus rEent of fre'gh:age.
These iueq .alites have been ed in sever.l
Of the states by appropriate legislation the effect
OF which is necessarily res'r ictad to the limits Ct
their own territory. So far as such mischiefs af-
feet commerce between states as between any of
the states OF foreign couEtry, they are subjects
OF national concern, and congress alone can af-
ford re ief