Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-12-13


public. It has been the policy of the govern
ment from its foundation to defray as far as
possible the expenes of carrying the mails bv
direct tax in the form of postage. It has
never been claimed, however, that this service
ought to be productive of a net revenue. As
has been stated already, the report of the post.
master general shows that there
in his department and that hencefortn
the receipts are likely to increase in a much
greater ratio than the necessary expenditure.
Unless some change ia made in the existing
avs, the profits of the postal service will in a
very few years swell the revenues of the gov
eminent many millions of dollars. The time
seems suspicious, therefore, for some reduc-
that reduction consist2 A review Of the legis-
iation which has been had upon the subject
during the last thirty years, discloses that do
nestle letters constitute the only class of mail
matter which has never been ia
vored by substantial reduction of
rates. l am convinced 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 extended without detriment to
other public interests, will be discovered npon
reviewing the results OF former reductions.
Immediately prior to the act Of l845 the postage
upon letter composed OF single sheet was as
U
between so and 80 miles, 10 cents; between 80
and $50 miles, 1913 cents, between $50 and 400
miles, 1874; over 400 miles, rs cents. By the
act of 1945 the postage upon single letter
conveyed for any distance under 300
miles was fixed at cents, and for
any greater ,oz distance !. at 10 D., cents ni.
gle letter if prepaid should be carried any dis
lance not exceeding 800 miles for three cents
and any greater distance for six cents. 1t will
be noticed that both of these reductions were
of radical character and relatively quite as
important as that now proposed. In each case
there ensued temporary loss of revenue,
ness which substantially paid that loss
III three years. Unless the experience
of past legislation in this country and else
where goes for naught, it may be safely pre-
dicted that the stimulus of 30 per cent. re-
duction in tax for carriage would at once IN
crease the number of letters consigned to the
mails, the advantages Of secrecy would lead to
for postal cards and open circulars, and in
divers other ways the volume Of first class mat
ter would be enormously augmented. Such
increase amounted in Eng land in the first year
after the adoption Of penny postage to more
than 125 per cent. As a result careful
estimate, the details of which cannot here
be set out. I have become convinced
that tire deficiency for the first year after the
proposed reduction would not exceed per
cent. OF the expenditures or $4,000, 900, while
the deficiency after the reduction of 1845 was
more than IA per cent, and after that of 1851
was ~ per cent. Another interesting COM
parison is afforded by statistics furnished ME
by the p0stofice department. The act of 1876
was passed in the face Of the fact that there
existed deficiency Of more than 100000
'rbat of 1851 was encouraged by the slight
surplus of $l32.OOO.
The excess of revenue in the next fiscal year is
likely to be 81, 100000. If congress should ap-
prove. these suggestions it may be deemed de-
| sIrable to supply to some extent the deficiency
charge for carrying merchandise, which is nov
! only 16 cents per pound. But even without
| such al increase am confident the receipts un
| der the diminished. rates would equal the OK
| pendtures after the lapse of three or foul
| years.
Department Of Justice.
| The report OF the department of justice
brings anew to your notice the necessity o.
| charging the present system of federal juris
prudence so as to .fectually answer the re
| quirements of the ever-increasing litigation
| with which it is called npon to deal. The at
| torney general renews the suggestions of hi
predecessor that in the interests of justice bet
ter provision than the existing laws affort
should be made in certain judicial districts TO
l
| In my message of December last referee
to pending criminal proceedings growing on
of alleged frauds i'll what is known as the Stal
route service of the postoftice department ane
advised you that I had enjoined upon the at
torney general and associate counsel to whom
the interests of the government were entrust
ed. the duty OF prosecuting with the utmos
rigor of the law all persons who might be
found chargeable with those offences. trla
Of one of these cases has since occurred. 1
occupied for many weeks the at
tention of the supreme court of thi
district and was conducted with great zeal ant
ability. 1t resulted in disagreement Of thu
! july, but the cause has again been placed upol
the calendar and will shortly be retired. I
any guilty persons shall finally escape punish
ment for their offences, it will not be for 1acl
of diligent and urgent work OF the prosecutio
| trust that some agreement will be reache,
which will speedily aid congress with the con
currcnce of the executive to afford the com
mercial community the benefits Of a nationa
bankrupt law.
The Interior Department.
! The report Of the secretary OF the interior
| with its accompanying documents, presents
| full statement Of the varied operations Of th
department. In respect to Indian affairs moth
| ing has occurred which has changed or serious
~ modified the views to which devoted mucl
| space in former communication to congress
I renew the recommendations therein contained
as to extending to the Indian the protection o
the law, allotting land in severalty to such a
| deserve il and making suitable provision TO
the education of the youth. Such provisions
the secretary forczbly maintains, will prove I'm
| availing unless it is broad enough to inclnd
all those who are able and willing to make lis
of it and should not solely relate to intelectla
training, but also instruction in such manna
| labor and simple industrial arts as can b
| made particularly available.
Among other important subjects which ar
included in the secretarys report and whic
| will doubtless furnish occasion for congress
sional action, may be mentioned the neglect o
railroad companies to which large grants Q
land we're made by acts of 1862 and 1864, to tax
the title thereto, and their consequent IL
equitable exemption from local taxation.
No survey of our material condition can fai
to suggest inquiries as to the moral and int
lectual progress of the people. The census re
turns disclose an alarming prevalence of illitera
cy in certain portions of the country wher
the provision for schools is grossly inadequate
It is a momentous question for the decision 9
should be extended by the general governmer
for supplementing the efforts of private benz
ficence of state and territorial legislation i
behalf Of education
| The regulation of internal commerce has a.
ready been the subject Of your deliberations
One OF the incidents OF the miraculous eXteI
sion of the railway system Of the country ha
been adoption of such measures by the COZ
porations which own or control the roads q
has tended to impair the advantages of healtl
full competition and make hurtful discrimin:
lions in the adjustment of freightage. Thes
inequalities have been corrected in several {
the;states by appropriate legislation, the effet
of which is necessarily restricted to the limit
of their own territory. So far as such mil
chiefs affect commerce between the states, {
between any of the states and foreign count1
they are subjects Of national concern, and COZ
gress alone can afford relief
The results which have thus far atuende
the enforcement of the recent statute for tt
suppression of poygamy in the territories ar
reported by the secretary of the interior. 1t
not probable that any additional legislation j
this regard will he deemed desirable until th
effect of Ike existing laws shall be more closet
observed and studied. | congratulate you tina
the commissioners under whose snpervisio
those laws have been put in operation are ell
couraged to believe that the evil at which the
are aimed may be suppressed without resort t
such radical measures as in some quarters hav
been thought indispensable for success.
The close relation Of the general government
to the territories preparing to be great state
may we'll engage your special attention. 1t
| there that the Indian disturbances mainly oe
cur and that polygamy has found room for ii
growth. I cannot doubt that a careful surve
of territoria legislation would be Of the highes
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