The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-12-08

upptdfs tudt On Juut 1919, the WnDit num- |
Der of Post-otflces was 1853, of which 1852 |
were established during the previous yehf !
The number Of Offices operating under
At these latter Offices the postage on local
matter amounted TO a, l95, 81, sum ex
ceeding by $1,02l, s94,0l the entire cost of the
carriers service OF the country The rate of
postage on drop letters paging through these
offices Is now fixed by law at two cents per
half ounce or fractions thereof. In Offices
where the carrier system has not been estab-
ished the rate is only half as large. 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 IL remained until 1872 when in those
| cities where carrier service was established
| IL was increased in order to defray the ex-
penses of such service. 1t seems to me that
the old rate may now with ,propriety be re-
stored, and that too even at the risk of dimin-
| ishing for a time at least, the receipts from
postage upon local letters. can see no rea-
| son why that particular class of mail matter
| should be held accountable for the entire cost
OF not only its own collection and delivery, but
the collection and delivery of all other classes,
and am confident after full consideration
| of the subject, that the reduction of the rate
| would be followed by such a growing Access
| sion of business as TO occasion but slight and
| temporary loss to the revenues of the Post
| Office Department.
THE TELEGRAPH.
The Postmaster eneral devotes much of his
| report to the consideration in its various as
| poets of the Governments relation to the tele
graph. Such reflection as have been able to
| give to this subject since my last annual mes
| L then expressed in dissenting from the rec
| ommendation of the Postmaster-G eneral that
the Government assume the same control
| cised over the mail. Admitting that its
thority in the promises is as ample has
ever been claimed for IL, it would not in my
| Judgment, be wise use of that authority to
| purchase assume the control of existing
| telegraph lines or to construct others, with a
view of entering into general competition
with private enterprises. The objections
which may be justly urged against either of
| these projects, and indeed against any system
which would require nm enormous increase in
| the civil service, do not, however, apply to
some of the plans which have lately provoked
comment and discussion. 1t has been
| claimed, for example, that Congress might
wisely authorize the Postmaster-G General to
contract with some private persons or oorpo-
ration for the transmission of messages at
| specified rates and under Government super
vision. Various such schemes of the same
general nature, but widely differing in their
| special characteristics, have been suggested
in the public prints, and the arguments by
| which they have been supported and opposed
have doubtless attracted your attention. 1t is
| likely that the whole subject will be considered
| by you at the present session. In the nature of
things it involves so many questions of detail
aided slightly, if at all, by any particular sug
gestions which l might now submit. ! avow
should be authorized by law to exercise some
| sort of supervision over Interstate telegraph
communication, and l express the hope that
| for attaining that end some measure may be
| devised which will receive your appreciation.
| JURORS FEES.
The Attorney 6 eneral critcises, in his re-
port, the provisions of existing laws fixing the
| fees of jurors and witnesses in the Federal
| Courts. These provisions are chiefly contained
in the act of February rs, 1888, though some of
! statutes which had been passed many years
! previous. 1t is manifest that such conpensa-
| ton ms might, when these laws were enacted,
have been just and reasonable, would in many
| instances be Justly regarded ut the present
day ia & h n Win m, the At51r
should be revised by which these fees are reg
| ulated
ATTORNEYS AND MARsHALs FEES.
| So, too, should the laws which regulate the
compensation of District Attorneys and Mar
shals, They should be paid wholly by salaries
instead of in part by fees as Is now the case
economy and would discourage the institution
of needless and oppressive legal proceedings
| which it is to be feared have in some in
stances been conducted for the mere sake of
personal gain.
PENSION FRAUDS.
Much interesting and varied information is
! contained in the report of the Secretary of the
Interior particularly call your attention to
his presentation OF certain phases of the In
dian question:: to his recommendations for
| the repeal OF the presumption and timber cui-
| ture acts, and for more stringent legislation
to prevent frauds under the pension laws
The statutes which prescribed the definitions
aud punishments OF crimes relating to pen
sions could doubtless be made more effective
by certain amendments and additions which
| pOlntCu Oub III lhc DCCIcltIy . IcpOIls
ILLITERACY.
I have previously referred to the alarming
state of illiteracy in certain portions of the
country, and again submit for the considera-
should be extended to public primary educa-
ton wherever adequate provision therefor
has not already been made.
UTAH PoLYGAMY.
The Utah Commission has submitted to the
Secretary of the Interior its second annual re-
port-the result of its labors in supervising
the recent election in the Territory, pursuant
to the act of March -, 1882. Itappears that
the persons by that act disqualified. TO the
number of about l2,0O0. were excluded from the
} polls. This fact however, affords lutte cause
for congratulation,an fear that it is fur from
indicating any real and substantial progress
toward the exit rpaton OF polyghmy. All of
the members OF the legislature are Mormons.
There is grave reason to believe that they are
in sympathy with the PRACTICES that the Gov
ernment is seeking 10 suppress and that its
Efforts in that regard viii be moro likely to
encounter their opposition than receive their
encouragement and support. Even il this
view should happily be erroneous, the law
under which the commissioners have been
acting should be made more effective by the
incorporation of some such stringent meas
ures us they recommend. as were INCLUDED in
} bin No. 1888 on the calendar OF the Senate at
; its last session. am convinced, however, that
, polygamy has become so strongly intrenched
in the Territory of Utah that it Is proiitless to
attack it with any but the stOutest weapons
which constitutional legislation can fashion.
favor, therefore, the repeal OF the act. Upon
the existing Government depends the assump-
ton by the National Legislature of the entire
} political control of the Territory, and the es-
tablshment of II commission with such pow
! ers and duties as shall be delegated to 1t by
law.
CATTLE DISEASE.
The Department of Agriculture is accom-
plishing much in the direction of the agricul-
tural development of the country, and the re-
port of the Commissioner, giving tho results
of his investigation and experiments, will be
, | found interesting and valuable At his in
stance, a convention OF those Interested in
, the cattle industry OF the country was lately
held at Chicago. The prevalence of pleuro-