Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-12-07

nave gwen muCQ 5tQuy anu Teu6CUOn 10 LnlS
subject, and am thoroughly persuaded that
such reduction would be for the best inter-
ests of the public. It has been the policy of
the government from its foundation to de-
fray as far as possible the expenses Of
carrying the mails by a direct tax
in the form Of postage. 1T has never
been claimed, however that this ser
As-has been stated already, the report Of the
post naster-general shows that there isnow a
very considerable surplus in his department.,
and that henceforth the receipts are likely to
increase at a much greater ratio than the
necessary expenditures. Unless some
change is mede in the existing laws, the
profits of the postal service will in a very few
years swell the revenues Of the government
many millions of dollars. The time seems
auspicious, therefore, for some reduction in
the rates of postage.
In what shall that reduction consist A re-
view of tho legislation which has been had
upon this subject during the last thirty years
discloses that domestic letters constitute the
only class of mail matter which has never
been favored 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 detri-
ment to other public interests will be dis
covered upon reviewing the results of former
reductions. Immediately prior to the act of
1916 the postage upon letter composed of
single sheet was as follows If conveyed
thirty miles or less, SIX cents; between
thirty and eighty miles, ten cents; between
eighty and 150 mites, twelve and one-half;
between 15O and 400 miles, eighteen and
quarters; over 400 miles, twenty-five.
By the act of 1916 the postage upon single
letter conveyed for any distance under 300
miles was fixed at five cents, and for any
great distance at ten cents. By the act of
1851 it was provided that a single letter, If
prepaid, should be carried any distance not
exceeding 1900 miles for three cents, and
any greater distance for six cents. 1t will be
noticed that both Of these reductions were
of a radical character, and relatively quite
as important as that which is now proposed.
In each case there ensued a temporary loss
of revenue, but sudden and large influx Of
business, which substantially repaired that
loss within three years. Unless the expe-
rience of past legislation in this country and
elsewhere goes for naught, it may be
safely predicted that the stimulus of fifty per
centum reduction in the tax for carriage
would at once increase the number of let
ters consigned to the mails. The advan-
tages of seeresy would lead to very general
substitution of sealed packets for postal
cards and open circulars, and in divers other
ways the volume of first-olass matter would
be enormously augmented Such increase
amounted in England in the first year after
the adoption of penny postage to more than
125 per cent. As a result of careful estimates,
the details of which cannot here be set out l
have become convinced that the deficiency
for the first year after the proposed reduction
would not exceed seven per cent. of the ex-
penditures, or So. COX, 600, while the deficien-
cy after the reduction of 1S45 was more than
fourteen per cent, and after that of 1851
was twenty seven per cent. Another inter
esting comparison is afforded by statistics
furnished me by the postoffice department.
The act of 1916 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 $132, 600. The excess
of revenue in the next fiscal year is likely to
be So. SOC, 900.
If Congress should approve these sugges-
tions it may be deemed desirable to supply
to some extent the deficiency which must for
a time result by increasing the charge for
carrying merchandise, which is now only
sixteen cents per pound. But, even without
such an increase, / am confident that the re-
ceipts under the diminished rates would
equal the expenditures after the lapse Of
three or four years.
TIE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the department of justice
brings anew to your notice the necessity OF
enlarging the presents system of Federal juris-
prudence, SO as effectually to answer the
Fequirefpents of the increasing litigation
with which it is called upon to deal.
The attorney general renews the sugges-
tons of his predecessor, that In the interests
of justice better provision than the existing
laws afford should be made in certain
Judicial districts for fixing the fees of wit
nesses and jurors.
TEE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
Iii my message of December last referred
to pending criminal proceedings growing out
of alleged frauds in what Is known as the
star route. service of the postoffice depart
ment, and advised you that I had enjoined
upon the attorney general and associate
counsel, to whom the interests of the govern
ment were intrusted, the duty of prose-
cutting with the utmost vigor of the
law all persons who might be found
chargeable with those offenses. A trial of one
of these cases has since occurred. 1t occu-
pied for many weeks the attention of the su-
preme court of the district, and was conducted
with great zeal and ability. It resulted in
disagreement of the jury, but the c;lnse has
been again placed upon the calendar and
will shortly be retired. If any guilty per
sons shall finally escape punishment fol
their offenses it viii not be for lack Of dill
gent and earnest efforts on tbs part of the
prosecution.
A NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
| trust that some agreement may be reached
the concurrence of the Executive, TO afford
the commercial community the benefits Of a
national bankrupt law.
INTERNAL ITFAIAs.
The report of the secretary of che interior,
with its accompanying documents, presents
full statement of the varied operations of :
that department. In respect to Indi6n af-
fairs nothing has occurred which has
changed or seriousAy modified the views
to which | devoted much space in former
communication to Congress. [ r6raw the
recommendations therein contained as 10 ex-
tending to the Indian the protection OF
the law, alloting land in severalty to such as
desire it, and making suits ble provision for
the education of youth. Such provision, as
the secretary forcibly maintains, will provo
unayailing unless it is broad enough to in
clude all those who are able and willing to
make use of it, and should not solely relate
to intellectual training, but also to instruc-
ton in such manual labor and simple indus
trial arts as can be made practica ly avail
able.
Among other important subjects which are
included within the secretary's report, and
which will doubtless furnish occasion for
congressional action, may be mentioned the
neglect of the railroad companies to which
large grants of land were made by the acts
of 1862 and 1864 to take title thereto, ami
their consequent inequitable exemption from
local taxation.
ILLITERACY.(
No survey of our material condition can
fail to suggest inquiries as to the moral and
intellectual progress of the people. The
census returns disclose an alarming state Of
lillteracy IN certain portions of the country
where the provision for schools is grossly in
adequate. 1t is a moInentous question for
the decision of Congress whether immediate
and substantial aid should not be extended
by the general government for supplement
ing the efforts of private benefcence and Of
state and territorial legislation in behalf of
education.
INTER STATE COMMERCE.
The question of Interstate commerce has
already been the subject of yonr deliber-
ations. One of the incidents of the marvel
GUS extension of the railway system of the
country has been the adoption of such meas
ures by the corporations which own or con-
troll the roads as has tended to impair
the advantages of heaIthful competi-
tion, and to make hurtful discriminations in
the adiE ytment of freightage. These
inequalities have been corrected in several
of the States by appropriate legislation, the