Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-04
upon letter composed Of single sheet was as


by the act or 1S45 the postage upon single let
ter conveyed for any distance under 800 miles was
ixed at ve cents, and for any greater distance at
By the act OF 1851 it was provided that a single
letter. II prepaid should be carried any distance
not exceeding three thousand 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 which is now proposed.
In each case there ensued temporary loss of
revenue, but sudden and large Influx OF busi-
ness which substantially repaired that loss within
Unless the experience of past legislation in this
country ana elsewhere goes for naught 1t may be
safely predicted that the stimulus OF so per centum
reduction in the tax for carriage would at once
increase 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
mously augmented. Such increase amounted In
England, In the first year after the adoption of
penny postage, to more than 125 per cent:
AS result OF careful estimates the details OF
which cannot be here set out, have become con-
WINGED that the deficiency for the first year after
the proposed reduction would not exceed per
cent OF the expenditures. or 100000, while the
deficiency after the reduction OF 1S45 was more
than IA per cent and after that OF 1851 q per
cent
Another interesting comparison is afforded by
statistics furnished me by the Post Office depart
ment.
The act OF 1915 was passed In the face of the
laet mat there existed deficiency OF more than
s2.,gu, unat OF lS5l was encouraged by the
In the next fiscal year is likely to be s3,500,OO0
III Congress should approve these suggestions it
may be deemed desirable to supply to some extent
the deficiency which must for time result, by in
creaSlng the charge for carrying merchandise,
which IS now only sixteen cents per pound. But
even without such an increase am conf1icnt that
the receipts under the diminished rates would
equal the expenditures after the lapse of three or
four years.
The report OF the Department Of Justice brings
anew 10 your notice the necessity OF enlarging the
present system OF Federal Jurisprudence so as
ehectually to answer the requirements OF the
eVef-lncreaslng litigation with which it is called
upon to deal
The Attorney General renews the suggestions OF
his predecessor that in the interests of Justice
DeIttr provision than the existing laws afford
should be made In certain judicial districts for fix
Ing the fees or witnesses and Jurors.
In 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 Post Office department.. and advised
you that mad enJOined upon the Attorney Gene
| raj and associate counsel, TO whom the interests
OF the government were intruSted, the duty of
prosecuting with the utmost vigOr of the law oil
persons who might be found chargeable with those
offenses. trial of one OF these cases has since
occurred 1t occupied for many weeks the atten-
ton OF the Supreme Court OF this District, and was
conducted with great zeal and ability. 1t resulted
In disagreement OF the jury, but the cause has
| been again placed upon the calendar ana viii
shortly be Retired II any guilty persons shall
finally escape punishment Tor their offenses it VIII
notb2 for lack OF dligcnt and earnest efforts on
]
| trust that some agreement may be reached
which viii SlseGiy enable Congress- with the
concurrence OF the Executive 10 afford the COM
ihercial community the benefits OF a national
| bankrupt law.
The report OF the secretary OF the Interior, with
Its accompanying documents, presents a full Stale
1nent OF the vare operations of that department.
In respect TO Indian If lrS nothing has occurred
Wilch mas changed or seriously modified the views
| 10 when l devoted much space in a former com
| fAuhlcatlon 10 Congress | renew the recommend
! al!0hs Ihereln contained as to extending to the
Indian the protection OF the law allOiIing Ian in
seVefaty to such as desire it, ana making suitable
provision for the education OF youth Such pro-
vision, rs the Secretary forcbly maintains, viii
| prove unaFafling unless il is broad enough 10
include all those EaO are able and willing to make
use OF it, and should HOt solely relate TO Intellect
ual training, but also to instruction in such man
| uti LABOR and simple industrial arts as can be
| made practically available.
! Among other important subjects which are in
| Guided within the Seer tIry's report, and wht.h
Will doubtless furnish occasion for Congressional
action, may be mentioned the neglect OF the rail-
road companies to which large grants OF land were
made by the acts OF 1862 and 1864, TO take title
thereto and their consequent intquitabIe eXelnp-
| ton rom local taxation.
| No survey of our material condition can fail to
suggest inquiries as to the moral amt intellectual
| progress Oh the people.
The Census returns disclose an alarming state
! or llliteracy In certain portions OF the country
where the provision for schools is grossly made
| quate. 1t is momentous question for the de-
clS1on OF Congress whether mnedi tie and SUBJ
stantial aid should not be extended by the general
government for supplenentlng the efforts of pr-
a
| latiOn in behalf or education.
The regulation OF Interstate commerce has
already been the subject OF your deliberations.
One OF the incl Tents of the marvellous extension
O! the railway system OF the country has been the
adoption OF Such measures by the corporations
which own Or control the roads as has tended To
impair the advantages OF healthful competition and
10 make hurtful Determinations In the adjust
ment of freightage.
raj OF the states by appropriate legislation the ef-
1ect or which Is necesS rily restricted TO the limits
OF their own territory.
So far as such misch1efs affect commerce be-
tween the states, or between any o. the states
ana a foreign country, they are subjects o: ma
toEal concern, and Congress alone can afford re-
lief,
The results which have thus far attended the
sion OF polygamy in the Territories are REPORTED
by the Secretary or the Interior. II Is not proba-
Die tnat any additional legislation In this regard
Will be deemed desirable until the effect OF exist
Ing laws Shall be more closely observed and
studied.
l congratulate you that the commissioners I'M
der whose supervision those laws have been put
In operation, are encouraged TO believe that the
evil at which they are aimed may be suppressed
without resort to such radical measures as in some
quarters have been thought Indispensable for sue
cess.
The close relation OF the general government TO
the Territories preparing to be great States NAV
well engage your special attention. 1t is there
that the Indian disturbances mainly occur and
that pol ygamy has found room for its growth. l
cannot doubt that careful survey OF Territorial
legislation would be OF the highest utility Lie and
OF outbreaks between Indians ana whites would be
les5ened. The public domain would be more Sc
curely guarded and better progress made in the
instruction OF the young.
Alaska is Still without any form OF civil govern
ment. II means We're provided for the education
OF It's people and for the protection OF their lives
and property The Immense resources OF the region
would invite permanent settlements and open new
| fields for industry and enterprise.
The report OF the Commissioner OF Agriculture
presents an account OF the Iabors OF that depart
ment during the past year, and includes 1nforma.
| ton OF much interest to the general public
| The condition OF the forests of the country and
the Wasteful manner In which their destruction is
taking place. give cause for serious apprehension
Their action in protecting the earths surface in
modifying the extremes or climate, and in reyl-
| lating and sustaining the flow of springs and
| streams is now well understood, and their i'm
pOrtance in relation to the growth and prOsperity
OF the country cannot be safely dlsregariIed They
are fast disappearing before destructive rires and
the legitimate requirements OF our increasing non
uation and their total extinction cannot be long
delayed unless better methods than now prevail
shall be adopted for their protection and cultiya-
ton. The attention OF Congress is invited to the
necessity OF additional legislation to secure the
preservation OF the valuable forests still remain
| Ing the public domain, especially I'm the ex
| IRENE Western States and Territories where the
necessity for their preservation is greater than in
less mountainous regions, and where the prevail
ing dryness or the Climate renders their restora-
tion II they are once destroyed, well nigh imposSi-