The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-12-07

1872 when in those cities where carrier
service was established it was increased.
TO defray the expense OF such service. It
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 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 the collection and delivery
of all other classes, and ! am confident, after
fun consideration of the subject that the re-
duction of the rate would be followed by such
q growing accession of business as to occa-
sion but slight and temporary loss &c the rev.
enues OF the post-0sfice.
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The Postmaster General devotes much of
his report to the consideration, in its various
aspects, of the relations of the Government
to the telegraph. Such reflection as [ have
last annual message has not led me to change
the view which / there expressed in dis
senting from the recommendation Of the
Postmaster General, that the Government
assume the same control over the tel
egraph which it has always exercised
over the mail. Admitting that its author
ity in the premises Is as ample as has ever
been claimed for it, it would not, in my judg-
ment, be wise use of that authority TO pur-
chase or assume the control of existing tel
egraph lines, or to construct others with
view OF entering into general competition
with private enterprise. The objections
which may be Justly urged against either
of these 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 pub
lie comment and discussion. 1T has been
claimed, for example, that Congress might
wisely authorize the Postmaster General to
contract with some private person or corpo-
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
ments BY which they have been sup
ported and opposed have doubtless at
tracted your attention. 1t is likely that
the whole subject viii be considered byyou at
the present session. In the nature Of things.
it involves SO many questions of detail that
your deliberations would probably be aided
slightly, il at ali, by any particular sugges-
tons which might now submit. / avoW my
belief, however, that the Government should
be authorized by law to exercise some sort of
supervision over Interstate telegraph COM
munication, and | express the hope that for
attaining that end some measure may be de-
vised which will receive your appreciation.
JURORS AND WITNESSES IN FEDERAL COURTS.
The Attorne y-General criticizes, in his re-
port, the provisions of the existing law fixing
the fees of jurors and witnesses in the Federal
Courts. The provisions are chiefly contained
in the act OF Feb. rs. 1858, though some of
them were introduced into that act from
statutes which had been passed many
years previous. 1t is manifest that such
compensation as might, when these laws
were enacted, have been just and
be justly regarded at the present day as mad
equate. ] concur with the Attorney General
In the belief that the statutes should be revis-
ed by which these fees are regulated. So, too,
should the laws which regulate the compensa-
ton of District Attorneys and Marshals. They
should be paid wholly by salaries instead of IN
part by fees, as is now the case. The change
would prove to be measure of economy, and
wO11l6 0icaO1lrapn n
and oppressive legal proceedings, which, it is
to be feared have, in some instances, been
conducted for the mere sake Of personal gain.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Much interesting and varied information is
contained in thereport 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
Culture acts, and for more stringent legisla-
ton to prevent frauds under the Pension laws,
The statutes which prescribe the definitions
and punishments of crimes relating to pen
sions could doubtless be made more effective
by certain amendments and additions which
are pointed out in the Secretary'S report
PRIMARY EDUCATION,
have previously referred to the alarming
state of illiteracy in certain portions of the
country, and again submit for the considers
ton of Congress whether some Federal aid
should not be extended topublic primary edu-
cation wherever adequate provision therefor
has not already been made.
THE MORMONS.
The Utah Commission has submitted to the
Secretary of the Interior its second annual re-
port as q result of it's labor in supervising the
recent election in that Territory, pursuant to
the act OF March ~ 1882. 1t appears that the
persons by that act disqualified to the number
OF about lH,000, were excluded from the polls.
This fact, however, affords little
cause for congratulation, and | fear that
it is far from indicating any real and
substantial progress toward the extirpation
Of polygamy. All OF the members of the
Legislature are Mormons. There is grave
reason to believe that they are in sympathy
with the practices that this Government is
seeking to Suppress and that its efforts in
that regard will be more likely to encounter
their opposition than receive their encourage
ment and support. Even if this view should
happily be erroneous, the law under which the
commission have been acting, should be made
more effective by the incorporation of
some such Stringent measures as they recon-
mend, as were included in bill No. 2238 on the
calendar OF the Senate at its last session. |
am convinced, however, that polygamy has
become 50 strongly intrenched in the Terri
tory of Utah, that it is profitIeSs to attack it
with any but the strongest weapons which
constitutional legislation can fashion. favor,
therefore, the repeal of the act upon which
the existing Government depends. the as
sumption by the National legislation of the
entire political control of the territory and
the establishment Of q commission with such
powers and duties as shall be delegated to it
by law.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
The Department of Agriculture is accom-
plishing much in the direction of the agricult-
ural development of the country and the re-
port of the Commissioner giving the results
OF his 1nvestigat OnS and experiments will be
found interesting and valuable At his in
stance convention OF those interested in the
cattle industry of the country WAS lately
held at Chicago The prevalence of pleuro-
pneumonia and other contagious diseases Of
animals was one of the chief topics of discus
sion, and oommit!e e of the Convention will
n afII,tr no
causes OF these diseases, and providing
methods Tor their prevention and cure.
ALASKA.
trust that Congress will not fail at its
present session, to put Alaska under the pro-
lection OF law. It's people have repeatedly
demonstrated against our neglect to afford
them the maintenance and protection ex-
pressly guaranteed by the terms Of the
the United States. For sixteen years they
have pleaded in vain for that which
they should have received without the
lection of debts, the support of education,
the conveyance of property, the admin
tstration Of estates, or the enforcement
OF contracts, nor, indeed, for the punishment
of criminals, except such as is afforded
against certain customs, commerce and navi-
cation acts. The resources of Alaska, espe-
cially in fur, mines and lumber. are consider
able in extent and capable of large develop
ment, while in its geographical situation it is
one of political and commercial Importance
Inc promptlngS OF interest, therefore, as well
as considerations of honor and good faith. de-
mand the Immediate establishment of civil
| government in that country.
INTER-STArE COMMERCE.
| Complaints have lately been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations controlling
in whole or in part, the facilities for the inter
State carriage of persons and merchandise
over the great railroads of the country have
| resorted, in their dealings with the public, to
| divers measures unjust and oppressive in
! their character In some instances the
State Governments have attacked and
| suppressed these evils, but in others they
| have been unable to afford adequate relief
| because of the jurisdctional limitations
which are imposed upon them by the Federal
/ Constitution. The question how far the Ma
| tional Government may lawfully interfere in
| the premises. ana what, if any, supervision
or control it ought t. exercise, is one which
| merits your careful consideration. While we
can not fail TO recognize the Importance of
| the vast railway systems of the country and
their great and beneficial influence upon the
| development OF our material wealth. we
should, on the other hand, remember that no
individual and no corporation ought to be in
vested with absolute power over the interest
of any other citizen or class of citizens. The
| right OF these railway corporations to award
any profitable return upon their investments,
and to reasonable freedom in their regula-
tons, must be recognized. But it seems only
just that, SO far as its constitutional authority
| will permit, Congress should protect the
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