Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-12

best Interests Of the public. II has always been
the policy OF the Government from us ioundauon
t. deirayas far possible, the expenses OF carry
ing the mails by direct tax In The form OF posare
nth never been claimed, however that this ser.
vice onghl TO be productive OF net revenue. as
has been stated already, the report OF the Postas
ter-Gencral shows that there IL now very consid-
cradle surplus In his department. aud that, hence
FORTH the receipts are likely 10 increase TO much
greater ratio than the necessary expenditure
Unless some change H. made la the existing laws,
the profits OF the postal service Will, In very few
years, swell the revenues OF the Government many
millions OF dollars. The time seems suspicious.
therefore, for reduction In the rates OF post
age. In what shall that reduction consist \ re
view Of the legislation which has been had upon
this subject during the last thirty years dscioses
that domestic letters constitute the only class
of iaail matter which has never been IN
word lbs "A substantial reduction OF rates.
am convinced that The burden OF maintaining
the SER ice falls most unequaily upon that class,
and that more than other it entitled Ia present
relief That snca relief may be extended without
tetriinent 10 other public Ieicsts Will bc dlscoS
cred upon reviewing Tue results OF former reduc-
tons. Immediately piiOI to the act OF 1916 TIE
postage upon letter composed OF single sheet
was n 70 lows: III conveyed 80 mil : or less,
cents between 30 and 81 miles, 10 cents, between
so and $50 miles, l2i. between $50 aud 400
miles, lo4; over 400 miles, 20. 10y the act OF
SI5 the postage upon single letter conveyed for
any disia &c under 800 miles WAS liked at i've
ce,ts and for any greater distance NJ ten cents.
By the act OF 1851 IL was provided that sin
gle letter. h prcpaii should Dc carried any uir-
lance not exceeding 5000 miles for cents, ara
any greater distance for cents. IL will hc no.
ticed that boih OF these reductions were of rat
teal character and relatively quite ~ import nj as
that which IL Row prop sej. IN each cfse there
cusued n temporary loss OF revenue, bot q sudden
anu large Influx OF business, which substantially
repaired that loss within three years. Inies. the
experience OF past legislation iH this country and
else here goes for Dau ht, u may bc saio'
ly predicted that the stimulus 33i per
eentum reduction In tn tax for carriage
would ut once Increase the number ot
letters cou-igpc u the malls. Tue advantages OF
secrecy would lead 10 very general substitution OF
zeal ii packets fOr postal cards a open circulars,
Hnii IN we're other Ways tiie Noiume 81 nrstclass
matter woUd bc enormously aTgumen,ed. SUCH
Increase amounted IN England la the first wear after
the adoption OF penny postage 10 more than 40
per cent. A. tcsui1 Of careful estimates, The dc-
iAi!s OF which e1unpt d. he set OUT have become
convinced that the deficiency for the first year after
tie prUprusVd reduction wOsid not exceed per
cent. OF the expenditures on S3,uOO,o0O. while the
deficiency aiiC. thr reduction Vf lsl5 was more
that Ii per cent, and after hist Of 1851 was -
per cent Another Interesting comparison is afford
ell by statistics furni-ned me by the Post Onicc DE
par1!usut The act % iSIS was passed Ia face of
the fact that there existed a dencicncy more han
100000. That ut 1881 was encouraged 10y tue
slight surplus Of $4,000 THE excess % revenue
ln the neNt deal year is hkriN q he s3,JOO.OuV.
II tOugrts. should approve these suggestions 10
NAV be- deemed desirable To- suppl, Ia some ~.
tent the drlcirncy which must for 4 Time rcsult
Increasing the cisarge Tor carrying merchandise,
which i now only 10 crni- per pound. but even
without such m increase. am ronh lent that the
thc expenditure Ter thr lap.e VI three or f'dr
year,.
department al Justice.
The report vt the Department pf Ju- lee brings
anew g. yOuE E.t!cr The NECESSITY % charging tHU
present system of Federal Jurisprudence O. q
trriuahy answer the requirement, of the ever IN
crra-iu litigation with which 10 j, called upon "a
Zeal. The Attorney General rrnrW- The -ugge--
pus 81 d., predecessor hat In the Interests 81 jus
lice better PROVISION Jhan the existing laws AZ
oris should be- made ia certain judicial districts
Tor hNing the fee 81 witnesses aUd Jurors.
The Star Route Frauds.
IN my mrrsagU OF December lat I referred "a
pcnnirg criminal prOcrcdiaEs growing out of al
lcgv'i fuuds 10 Nhat known the -iar route
service ~ The ro-i Orlcc Department. AMI adyi-rd
u nat hat cujoaed up"n the Attorney Cen
orll and a>slriat" counsel, e. whom the interests
90 The Government were intru.tcd, the duty uf
prosecuting with the utmost rigur ot the law al
persons who might lie found chargrablc With those
offences. \ trial 81 one 81 these cases mas -iurc
occurred. 10 occupied for many weeks the attention
OF the supreme Court Of this ID strict, anil va
conducted with great zeal and ability. II resu trd
in disagreement Of the jury. But the cause ha-
been asalu placed upon tue calendar aAd will short
" he retired. II ans guilty pc r-on- hal hnnlt
escape punishment FOR their offences 10 viii not ~
Tor Lack ut diiigcn Fud earnest efforts the part
National Bankrupt Law.
trust that some agreement may be reAchc-i
whirn via speedily cable tousrcs-, With he con
currruce u the Executive, Ia aiprl the commercial
community the benefits of National Ian rupt
Law.
The Interior Department.
The report OF the Secretary % the Interior. With
u, accump tnytng dUcumcut., presents iull stttc
mcnt of the varied operations ot that Department.
In respect 10 Indian AFFAIR." nothing has occurred
o. a a..
Ia Aircb devoted much space ga . former u
muuicaiion Ia Congress renew the rccnmmcnda-
tons thereto contained q, % extending to Indians
the protection OF the las nllotiiog land In sever.
atty b. such desire II, and making suitable pro.
vision. the secretary fOrribiy maiptains, will
prove awaiting unless II j. broad enough to In
G. ud" "a those who arr all" and willing 10 make
u.c OF ", and should not solely TrlH,c to intellect
uHl training but also To- ins rurtiou ~ such man
uai labor ant -lmps industrial ant, ctn be macc
practically available.
Among other important subjects which are iuclu.
ded within the >errciary's IMPORT. and which will
doubtless furnish u,cislrn iur Congressional nc.
tun. may be mentioned Tire neglect % the railroad
Companies, IL which large grant % land were
M ,dc by the acts OF 1892 ard 1891 10 take little
thereto AMI their consequent in,qUita &c eXemp-
ton from local taxation.
The Educational INTEREST. OF the Country.
No surrey 81 our material condition can Iall 10
81 - inquiries ~ 10 the moral and intellectual
progress o. TIVE people The census returns dis
close alarming sttte OF tllitcrtcy tn ccrtln por
ti"ns ~ lhr country. where thc provision Tor
schools i grossly !uadt quatc. q l. q uDfncrtlU-
question for the decision ~ Congress Whether itu.
mediate AID substantial alt should not bc extended
To- the cucml government for experimenting the
clurts ~ private bcncncenre aud ~ Statc and
Territorial legislation In bcDalt Of education.
Interstate Trade.
The regulation 81 inter. state commerce has al.
ready hccn the subject % your deliberations. One
ut uIr Incidents of the marvellous extension Of the
railway system Of the country has been the adup.
ton nf such measures los the corporations which
own Or control the rptd. - h.ts tended To Impair
the advantages 90 hcalihful competition ana 10
make hurtfui disrrimln ttinur la the adjustment 81
frrighthge. These inequalities have been CORRECT
81 ~ several % the States by appropriate cgi-ia-
ZION, Ia" effect of which J. necessarily restricted To-
the limits of their own territory. - far ~ such
misch!efs affect commcrcr htbSccn the states r
between any one Of The states ana 4 foreign cuun-
Try, they are subjects Il national concern, and
Congress alone can anOTd relief
The Morn on Question.
The results which nave thus FAR attended the
enforcement OF tile recent statute tor the supprr
sion Of pol, gamy In the Territories are reported
uy the Secretary of the Interior IL 1, not prOia.
bic that any additional legislation IN III, rcgar
will bc deemed desirable until the effect OF exist
Ing laws shall be more closely observed AMI
-;Udied. congratulate YOU that the commissioners
under whose supervision these laws have been
put into operation are encouraged to believe that
the evil at which they are aimed may be Impressed
without resort go such radical measures ~ IN
some quarters nave been thought Indispensable Tor