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


but a sudden and large influx of bust
ness which substantially paid that loss
in 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 a 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
a very general substitution Of sealed packets
for postal cards and open circulars, and in
divers other ways the volume of first class mat
ter would be enormously augmented. Such
after the adoption of penny postage to more
than 1875 per cent. As a result careful
| estimate, the details of which cannot here
be set out, 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 postofhce department. The act of 1916
was passed in the face of the fact that there
existed deficiency of more than $3.50, OOO
That of 1851 was encouraged by the slight
surplus of $4,000.
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
which must for q time result, by increasing the
charge for carrying merchandise, which is now
only 16 cents per pound: But even without
such an increase am confident the receipts I'M
der the diminished. rates would equal the ex-
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
charging the present system of federal juris-
prudence so as to offectually answer the re-
quirements of the ever-increasing litigation
with which it is called upon to deal. The at
torney general renews the suggestions of his
predecessor that in the interests of Justice bet
ter provision than the existing laws afford
should be made in certain judicial districts for
fixing the fees of witnesses and jurors.
In my message of December last l referred
to pending criminal proceedings growing out
of alleged frauds in what is known as the Star
route service of the postofice department and
advised you that 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 utmost
rigor Of the law all persons who might be
found chargeable with those offences. A trial
tention of the supreme court Of this
district and was conducted with great zeal and
ability. It resulted in a disagreement of the
jury, but the cause has again been placed upon
the calendar and will shortly be retired. If
ment for their offences, it will not be for lack
of diligent and urgent work of the prosecution.
I trust that some agreement will be reached
which will speedily aid congress with the con
currence Of the executive to afford the com
mercial community the benefits Of a national
bankrupt law.
Tho Interior Department.
nh, :..l,.
with it's accompanying documents, presents 8
full statement Of the varied operations of the
department.. In respect to Indian affairs. moth
ing has occurred which has changed or serious
~ modified the views to which devoted much
space in former communication to congress,
renew the recommendations therein contained
as to extending to the Indian the protection of
deserve it and making suitable provision for
| the education Of the youth. Such provisions,
the secretary forclbly naintains, will prove nn-
availing unless it is broad enough to include
all those who are able and 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 particularly available. So
Among other important subjects which are
included in the secretary's report and which
will doubtless furnish occasion for congress
sional action, may be mentioned the neglect of
| railroad companies to which large grants of
land we're made by acts of 1862 and 1864, to take
! the title thereto, and their consequent in
equitable exemption from local taxation.
No survey of our material condition can fail
| to suggest inquiries as to the moral and intel.
lectual progress Of the people. The census re-
turns disclose an alarming prevalence Of iltera-
cy in certain portions of the country where
tho provision for schools is grossly inadequate.
It is momentous question for the decision of
convrocc xyhQfhnr Immediate snhafa nfia1 aid
| should be extended by the general government
for supplementing the efforts of private bene.
ticence of state and territorial legislation in
behalf of education - az
Tho regulation of internal commerce has al
ready been the subject Of your. deliberations.
| sion of the railway system of the country has
been: adoption Of such measures BY the cor.
! porations which own or control the roads az
| has tended TO impair the advantages of health.
ful competition and make hurtful discrimina.
| tions in the adjustment of freightage. These
| inequalities have been corrected in several OF
theistates by appropriate legislation, the effec,
| of their own territory. So far as such mis-.
! chiefs affect commerce between the states, o.
| between any of the states and foreign country
they are subjects Of national concern, and con
gress alone can afford relief. 4 &
The results which have thus far attended
C0e eulOICCulOuJ VI tu0 I0CouG bt8CuC6 1OF Tue
| suppression of pOlygamy in the territories are
reported by the secretary of the interior. 1t is
| not probable that any additional legislation in
| this regard will be deemed desirable until the
effect of Ike existing laws shall be more closely
observed and studied. congratulate you that
! the commissioners under whose supervision
those laws have been put in operation are en-.
are aimed may be suppressed without resort to
such radical measures as in some quarters have
been thought Indispensable for success.
The close relation of the general government
| to the territories preparing to be great states
may we'll engage your special attention.: 1t il
| there that the Indian disturbances mainly &C.
cur and that polygamy has found room for til
Of territorial legislation would be of the highest
Utility; life and property would become more
| secure, the liability Of outbreaks between In.
dams and whites would be lessened, the public
domain would be more securely guarded, and
better progress made in the instruction OF the
/ young. 'su''i. ~. 2hif"lA"E :.:AS '"'!' "a
Alaska is still without, any form of civil gov.
| eminent. If means were provided for the edu
cation of its people and for the protection OF
their lives and property, the immense resources
| Of this region would invite permanent settle
nnent and open new fields for industry and
enterprise. III. sill :sj.2z2.'8I or 9Uifs'l u ,
| The,repsrt Of the commissioned efs sgricul.
| lure ptfSout6 I'll ACSOuuG VI lADO1S OF CQ6G Ue'
!tartment during Tie past year and inclndesiti
Il formation of much interest to the general pub
lie. The condition Of the forests OF the coun.
airy and the wasteful manner III which the de-
satruction is taking place gives cause foraseri
GUS apprehension. Their sction I'M protecting
the earth's surface, in modifying the extremes
lot climate and Id regulating and Sustaining
the flow Of, springs tandS istreans,t is MOI
well understood. and their. Importance
il relation 70 the growth and prosperity Il the
\ country cannot be safely disregarded. They
are fast disappearing before the aestr qctyf
/ fires and the Legitimate, requirements Of om
increasing population Ind their total etxinc
ton oannotahe long delayed Isunlesa shettel
methods than q noM prevail shall BE adopted TO-
ton Of congress i invited to- he nseessitgso1
Iasd ditiopsl legislation to secgFe tie preserya
Tho public domain, especially ~ the extreme
Western i6t4tet ind rr11tofies, where the AeeSa
Mty for their IL gresterth Than Jules
Enouutainou. aegius end where ahi rrsvaililnl
ias :;