Morris tribune., 1883-12-05

increased and is jurisdiction extended to matters
heretofore confined to State legislation or private
enterprise. The injurious tendency of such legis-
latioE cannot we'll be overestimated.
CONTROL WITHIN THE STATES.
As to Geographic service wholly within the sew
eral States, unless the power to establish postoces
and postroads be successfully invoked the existing
rates are beyond government control. The opinion
has been advanced that inssmuch as congress has
authority to take charge OF the telegraph rs part
of the postal system, it may do nothing in that d.
rection and yet prohibit citizens and private COM
panies from engaging in the business. unless they
comply with prescribed terms and conditions. Ii
is said that the greater power necessarily includes
the less or in other words that the absolute power
to prohibit includes the limited power 10 regulate.
This doctrine has evidently no application. 1t is
only by exercising its power III some OF the modes
already discussed, or in some other appropriate
which competition will be permitted. prohibit it
altogether. When line is neither owned, con-
troled or opera ed by the government, nor IN Its
behalf telegraph company, IN the TRANSACTION or
so much of its businesahs is confined within the
limits of State, is beyond the reach OF congress
have endeavored to maintain the authority OF
congress to assume control of the telegraph be-
cause it has been and still is, seriously disputed.
The existing companies operate their lines solely
for the purpose of making money, and while 1t IS
doubtless true that their rates. as whole are IN
reasonable. yot in view of what has already been
said. DO not think the evils complained of are SO
grevous as to call for congressional Intervention
LOTTERIES.
and the passage of an act is recommended provd-
ing that every newspaper which contains an adver-
tisement of lottery, any agency thereof, shall
be excluded from the mails, and rendering the per-
son who deposits it for sending by mail liable to
the penalties which, under existing laws, he incurs
for go depositng letter or circular concerning
lotteries
MISCELLANEOUS.
The suits against the private postofhces were
discontinued owing to pleas of ignorance OF the
law.
The reduction of drop-letter postage to one cent
is deprecated in view OF the experiment OF two
cent postage on mail letters.
An increased appropriation for foreign mail ser
vice is advised.
The United States territorial transit charges on
the British and Australian closed mails forwarded
across our continent during the calendar year 1882
amounted to $ll5, 5245 so.
OF correspondence EXCHANGED with roreign
countries last year so per cent OF the letters, 90
per cent of the postal cards, and 60 per cent OF
other mail matter was dispatched from the United
States.
The number Of registered letters and parcels sent
last year was 1O,594716. of which 7,849. 927
we're domestic letters 444, 7S9 letters to foreign
countries; GAS, O75 were domestic parcels; 22.SO6
were parcels to foreign countries; and l,329.2!s
were letters and parcels of official matter for the
government The amount of registry fees collected
was $926, $40. 20, an increase of $S5,Oo7 80.
OF letters and parcels opened during the year to
restore them to the writers, 5.301 contained
money, amounting to S32. 64723; 18,O95 con-
tanned drafts, checks money orders, etc. REPRESENT
ing ST. 80 091 At; 90, SO8 contained merchandise,
samples, books, etc. 66, 1877 contained postage
stamps: 4O215 contained receipts, paid notes, can
celed drafts, insurance papers, etc 80, !6O con-
tatned photographs From letters for which the
department failed to find owners the sum OF
S7,7S2l6 was separated and deposited In the
United States treasury.