Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-12-13

creation of an interior coast line OF water
ways across the Peninsula of Florida along
the coast from Florida to Hampton Roads,
between the Chesapeake Bay and the Dea-
ware River, and through Cape Cod.
feel bound to impress upon the attention
of Congress the necessity of continued pro-
gress in the reconstruction of the navy. The
condition of the public treasury, as | have
already intimated, makes the present an
auspicious time for putting this branch of
the service in Il state Of efficiency. 1t is no
part of our policy to create and maintain
navy able to cope with that of the other
great powers of the world. We have no
wish for foreign conquest, and the peace
which we have long enjoyed is in no SEEM
| ing danger OF interruption. But that our
naval strength should be made adequate for
the defence of our harbors, the protection OF
our commercial interests and the malnte-
nance of our national honor, is proposition
| from which no patriotic citizen can withhold
| his assent
1t will be remembered that in 1863, when
free delivery was first established by law,
the uniform single rate postage upon local
| letters was one cent, and so it remained
until 1872, when in those cities where car
rier service was established it was increased
in order to defray the expense of such SER
vice. 1t seems to 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 the 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 it's own collection and delivery, but
the collection and delivery of all other class
es, and am confident, after full cOnsidera-
ton of the subject that the reduction OF
rate would be followed by such growing
accession Of business as to occasion but slight
and temporary loss to the revenues of the
postofice.
The postmaster-general devOtes much of
his report to the consideration in its var-
Gus aspects of the relations of the Govern
ment to the telegraph. Such reflections
as have been able to give to this subject
since my last annual message has not led
me to change the views which L then eX-
pressed in dissenting from the recommen-
dation Of the then pOstmaster-general,t that
the Government assume the same control
over the telegraph which it has always
exercised over the mails. Admitting that
it's authority in the premises is as ample as
has ever been claimed for it, it would not,
in my Judgment, be wise use OF that au-
thority to purchase or assume the control OF
existing telegraph lines, or to construct
others with a view of entering into general
competition with private enterprise. The
objections which may be justly urged
against either of those projects, and indeed
against any system which would require an
enormous increase in the civil service list,
do not, however, apply to some of the plans
which have lately provoked public comment
and discussion. 1t has been claimed, for en-
ample, that Congress might Wisel y author
ize the postmaster-general to contract with
some private persons or corporation Tor the
transmission of messages, or OF certain
class of messages, at specified rates and I'M
der Government supervision.
avow my belief, however, that the Gov
ernment should be authorized by law to eX-
ercise some sort Of supervision over inter-
State telegraphic communication, and eX-
press the hope that for attaining that end
some measure may be devised when VIII
receive your appreciation.
The encouragement criticises in his re-
port the provision of the existing law fixing
| the fees of jurors and witnesses in the Fed
eral Courts. | concur with the attorney
general in the belief that the statutes should
| be revised by which these fees are regulated.
So, too, should the laws which regulate the
compensation Of district attorneys and Uni
| ted States marshals. They should be paid
wholly by salaries, instead OF in part by
| fees, as is now the case. The change would
would discourage the institution of needless
and oppressive legal proceedings, which it
is to be feared have in some instances been
conducted for the mere sake OF personal
gain.
| have previously referred to the alarm
| ing state of illiteracy in certain portions of
! the country, and again submit for the con-
SideratiOn of Congress whether some FEEDER
al aid should not be extended to public pri-
mary education wherever adequate provls-
ion therefor has not already been made.
lam convinced that pOlygamy has become
50 strongly intrenched in the Territory OF
Utah that it is protitless to attack it with
any but the stoutest weapons which constl-
tutonal legislation can fashion. | favor,
therefore, the repeal Of the Act upon which
the existing Government depends, the as
sumption by the National Legislature of the
entire political control of the Territory, and
the establishment of Il commission with
such powers and duties as shall be delegated
by law.
! Complaints have lately been numerous
and urgent that certain corporations cOtroll-
| ing in whole or in part the facilities for the
| inter State carriage of persons and merchan-
disc over the great railroads Of the country
have resorted, in their dealings with the
public, to divers measures unjust and op-
preSSive in their character In some IN
stances the State Government have attack
, ed and suppressed these evils, but in others
/ they have been unable to afford adequate
relief because of the jurisdictiOnal limita-
tions which are imposed upon them by the
Federal Constitution. The question how
/ far the National GOvernmentmay lawfully
interfere in the premises, and what, If any
supervision or control it ought to exercise,
! is one which merits your careful considera-
ton. While we cannot fail to recognize the
! Importance of the vast railway systems of
the country and their great and beneticent
influences upon the development of our ma
, terial wealth, we should on the other hand
remember that no individual and no cor
poration ought to be invested with absolute
power over the interest Of any other citizen
or class of citizens. The right of these rail
way corporations to a fair and profitable re-
turn upon their investments and to reason
able freedom in their regulations must be
recognized. But it seems only just that, so
far as it's constitutional authority will per-
mit Congress should protect the people at
large in their Interstate traffic against acts
of injustice which the State governments
are pOweress to prevent
The Centennial Exposition to be held next
year at New Orleans in cOmmemOratiOn of
the centenary of the first shipment of cotton
from Il port of the United States, bids fair
to meet with gratifying success. The pro-
mOters of this important undertaking have
already received assurances of the lively in
tcrest which it has excited abroad.
The commissioners who were appointed
under.th Act of January l6, 1885, entitled
can Act to regulate and improve the civil
service of the United States," entered
promptly upon the discharge of their duties.
s,,i n1 inr,