The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-12

elares the gratifying 1act tnat Tue ioss VI
ro~ahue from the reduction OF the rate OF
r postage as recommended In my
hge of December, 1882, and effected
bv The act of March 3, 1888, has been
much less than was generally antlcipa-
ted. NV recommendation of his re.
duction was based upon the belie1 Ina'
tie actual falling off in receipts from iee-
ter postage for the year immediately SUI
ceeding the change OF rate "ouiu po
So. 900, 900. 1t has proved 10 pe on!y
- hot tbe revenue will o o be re-
Svad 70 IFS former volume by natural
incraose of sealed correspondence. L
repeat, therefore, the recon-
mendation of my last annual message,
mai single rate postage upon drop letters
he reduced to one cent, wherever pay
m,nt of two cents is now required by
lau. The double rate is only eXacted
at ffices where the carrier system Is IN
operation. and it appears that at these
Offices the increase in tax upon local
letters defrays the cost not only OF the
colH3v ion and delivery, but of the col
IectA and delivery of all other mail
matter. This is an inequality that ought
no longer to exist. Iapprove the recon-
p,e ldations of the postmaster general,
tn the unit of weight in the rating OF
'fiJsr class matter should be one ounce
Instead of one-half ounce, as 1t now is.
III view of the statistics furnished by the
department, it may well be. doubted
whether the change would result in any
Joss OF eveuue That it would greatly
promote the convenience of the public is
bepopd dispute. The free delivery sys-
tenSes been lately applied to five cites
and Inc total number of offices in which
it is now in'operation is n hundred and
ffty-nine. Experience shows that its
adoption, under proper conditions, is
equally an accommodation to the public.
nd an advantage to the postal service.
[ is more than self-sustaining, and, for
I he reasons urged by the postmaster gen
.tral. may properly be extended. 1t is
tgle opinion of that officer that it is prop
Ar Iy)rovide means whereby exceptional
dill CHI in delivery with letters in free
delivery offices may be secured by pay
.ment of extraordinary poSt,ge. This
scheme might be made effee I'VE by the
employment of a special stamp whose
cost should be commensurate with the
expense of the extra service. In some of
the large cities private express compa-
mics have undertaken to outstrip the gov
ernlnenl HILL CdIIlclS ny diOiuiiS w
the prompt transmission of letters better
facilities than have hitherto been at the
command of the %postoflice. 1t has al
ways been the policy of the government
Encourage such enterprises, and in no
~ way can that policy be
maintained than in supplying the
public with the most efficient mail
service that with due regard to its W
best interest can be furnished for its nc
commodations.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
re~oss his recommendation contained in
his veport of last year touching the fees
of witnesses and Jurors. He favors radi-
cal changes in the fee bill, the adoption
o. a system by which attorneys and mar
shals of the United States should be COM
pensated solely by salaries and the cree
lion by the government of a %peniteniti-
ary for the confinement of offenders
the laws.
TIE INFERIOR DEPARTMENT..
OF the governmental concerns in charge
of the inferior department, the reports
of its secretary presents an interesting
summary. Among the topics deserving
particular attention, | refer you to his
Observations respecting u Indian af-
n the presumption and timber culture
failure of railroad companies to
- little to lands granted by the govern
Lsnt and operations CT the pension Of
ice, the patent office, the census bureau
nd the bureau of education. Allusion
been made already to the circum-
that, both as between the differ
mt tribes and as between Indians and the
the past year has been one of I'M
roken peace. In this circumstance, the
resident is glad to find justification 10
he policy of the government in dealing
With the Indian question and the confir-
nation of views which were fully eX-
in his first communication to the
osX-seventh congress. The secretary
IrlW anew the enactment Of a statute for
be punishment of crimes committed on
indian reservations, and recommends the
of a bill, now pending in the
Iouse of representatives, for the purchase
f a tract of Is, 900 square miles from the
ioux reservation. Both of these
MEASURE are worthy of approval.
concur with him also in advising the
al of the presumption law, the en-
fiinent of statutes disolving the present
agal complications touching lapsed
rants to railroad companies, and the
tihinS VI liV dNDl VI iHV SCNOldi tii
ailroads under such guaranty as will
ffectually insure its ultimate payment.
PoLYGAMY.
= e report of the Utah commission
vim be read with interest. 1t discloses
he results of recent legislation looking to
he prevention and punishment of poly
in that territory. | still believe
if that abominable. practice can be
Impressed by law, it can only be by the
nost radical legislation consistent with
s2 restrictions of the constitution; |
Hyin recommend, therefore, that con-
.ress assume absolute political control of
he territory of Utah and provide for the
ppointment of Il commission with such
INernmental power rs in its Judgment
- justly and wisely be put into their
Iands.
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
In the course of this communication
2~,rence has more han once been made
Ve policy of this government as re
ards the extension of our foreign tras
{ seems proper to declare the general
rlnciples that should, in my opinion,
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