Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-11

w. NCAsc pei noAA O0hNC Vi AAeN~AOG
thereof. In Offices where the carrier sys-
TEN has not been establiohed the rate is
only half as large. Ii will be remem-
bered that in 1868, when free delivery
was first established by law, the uniform
single rate postage upon local letters was
one cent and so il remained until 1872,
when in those cities where carrier service
was established it was increased In or
der to defray the expense of such ser
vice.
Ii seems 10 me that the old rate may
now with propriety be restored and that,
too, even at the risk of diminishing for
time, at least, the receipts from postage
upon local letters. can see no reason
why that particular class Of mail matter
should be held accountable for the entire
cost of not only Its own collection and
delivery, but also the collection and
delivery of all other classes, and | am
confident after full consideration Of the
subject that the reduction of rate would
be followed by such growing accession
of business a. TO occasion but slight and
temporary loss 20 the revenues Of the
post-oflce.
THK POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The Postmaster General deyotes M
of his report 10 the consideration in its
various aspects OF the relation OF the gov
ernmeut 10 the telegraph. Such reflection
a. have been able % give 10 the subject
- - - faT
me 10 change the view which then ex-
pressed in diSSensiOu from the recommend
alton OF the then Postmaster General, that
government assume the same control over
the telegraph which IL has always eXer-
cised over the mail Admitting that its
authority In the premises Is as ample ~
has ever been claimed for II, II would not
In nv Judgment be wise use of that au-
thorlty % purchase or assume the control
OF existing telegraph lines or the cOnstfuc-
tiOn OF others with view OF entering into
general competitor with private enterprise.
The objections which may DC Justly urged
against either of these projects or, indeed,
against any system watch would require
an enormous increase in the civil service
list, do not, however, apply 10 some OF the
plans which have lately provoked public
claimed, for example, that Congress might
wisely authorize the Postmaster Genera!
70 contract with some private persons or
corporation for the transmission OF mes
ssses AZ specified rates and under govern
ment supervision. Various such schemes
OF the same general nature, but widely
differing IN their special characteristics,
have been suggested In the puOhc prints,
and the arguments by which they have
been supported and opposed have doubtless
attracted your attention. IL i likely that
the whole subject Will nc considered oy
YOU AZ the present session. In the nature
OF things u Involves 80 many questions OF
detail that your deliberations would prob
ably BE- aided slightly, n AZ all, by any par
tiCular suggestions which / might now
submit avow Dy belief, however, that
the government should De authorized 0y
law % exercise some sort OF supery iSiOr
over Interstate Geographic cOmmuniC2-
tlOu. and ! express the hope thai FOR at
taiUlng that end some measure may be-
devised which viii receive your approoA-
tion.
ATTORNEY. GENERAL REPORT.
The Attorney General criticizes, in his
report, the provisions OF existing law nX
ing the fees Of jurors and witnesses IN the
Federal Courts. These provisions are
chiefly contained in the act OF February -,
ISIS, though some OF them were Introduced
into the set from the statutes which
had been passed many years previous. Ii
Is manifest that such compensation a.
ght, when these laws were enacted,
have been Just and reasonable, would IN
many Instances De Justly regarded a. the
present day a. iuauequte. | concur with
the Attorney General IN the belief that the
statutes should be revised oy which these
fees are regulated. 50, too, should the
laws which regulate the compensation or
District Attorneys and Msrshals. They
should De paid wholly by salaries Instead
OF N part on fees, A. Is now the case. The
change would prove % be a measure OF
economy, aud would discourage the inSti-
tuition OF needless and oppressive legal
proceedings which IL j. 10 be feared have,
~ some Instances, been conducted for the
mere sake Of personal gain.
INK INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Much interesting and varied information
Is contained In the report Of the Secretary
Oi The Interior. artiCularly call your
attention 70 his presentation of certain
phases OF the Indian question, 70 his rec
UumendAtiOn Tor the repeal OF the pre-
en ptiOu and timber-Culturv act, and Tor
more stringent legislation 70 prev vut fraud
under the pension laws. The statutes |
which prescribe the defoitiOns and pun
IShmeuts Of crimes relating 70 pensions |
could doubtless DC made more effective by /
certain amendments aud additions which |
are pointed cut in the SecretSry's report.
have previously referred 10 the alarm |
iu- state Of ilhteracy In certain portions OF
IL country, and agsin submit Tor the con |
subsection Of Congress whether some fed |
ers! al should not be extended - puoiC |
primary education wherever adequate pro- |
visions therefore have not already been |
msde
The Utah Commission has submitted % |
thy Secretary OF the Interior its second /
annual report. A. result OF It's labors IN |
Supervising the recent elections In that l
Territory pursuant TO the act Of March /
-, l>S2, il appears that the persons by /
that act disqualified 20 the number OF about
twelve thousand were excluded from the /
polls
IuiS fact, however, affords little cause
fOI ,uugratulatiOn and fear that IL Is far
from indicating any real and substantial
pr grv>s toward the eXtlrpation OF pOiyg-
amy Al OF the members Of the LegislA-
turr ale MOrmOnS. There il grave reason
70 alive that they are 10 sympathy with
The practices that this government is seek
ID, 20 suppress, and that It's effort in that
T,-srJ sill be more likely 10 encounter
q ir opposition 20 than 20 receive their
eLCUurs cement and support Even II this
view should hspPily De erroneous, the law
under Niich the Commissioners have been
acting should be made more effective by
the Icvi pOrstiOn OF some such stringent
measures a. they recommend, a. were in
ciud,d 10 Bill No. >, 25s on the calendar OF
the Stuajr at its last session. | am con-