The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-02

the natural increases of sealed correspondence.
! confidently repeat, therefore, the recommends
ton of my last annual message, that the
single rate postage upon drop letters be reduced
TO one cent wherever payment of two cents is
now required by law. The double rate is only
eXacted at Offices where its carrier system is in
operation, and it appears that at these offices,
where the carrier system is in
operation, the increase in tax upon local letters
defrays the cost, not only of Its own collection
and delivery, but of the collection and delivery
of all other mail matter This is an inequality
that ought no longer to exist.
approve the recommendation Of the Postinas-
ter general that the unit of weight in the rating
Of first class matter should be ounce, instead
of one half ounce, as it now is In view of the
statistics furnished by the department. it may
well be doubted whether the change would result
in any loss of revenue. That it would greatly
promote the convenience of the public is beyond
dispute.
The free delivery system has been lately ap-
piled to five cities and the total number of Of
fees in which it. is now in operation is 159 Elk
peIience shows that its adoption, under proper
conditions, is equally an accommodation 10 the
public and an advantage to the postal service.
1t is more than selfsustaining, and for the
reasons urged by the Postmaster general, may
properly be extended.
Its the opinion of that officer that it is proper
to providemeans whereby exceptional dispatch in
dealing with letters in free-devery offices may
be secured by payinentOf extraordinary hostage.
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 companies
have undertaken to outstrip. tho government,
mailcarriers by affording for the prompt trans
mission of letters better facilities than have hith
ertO been at the command of the postoffices. It
has always been the policy of the government to
discourage such enterprises, and in no better
way can that policy be maintained than in sup
plying the public with the most efficient mail
service. that with due regard to it's own best in
tefests can be furnished for its, accommodation.
JUSTICE AND INTERIOR
The Attorney general rsnews the recommenda4
ton contained in his report of last year touching
the fees of witnesses ard. jurors. He favors rad
caI changes in the fee bill, the adoption of asys-
tom by which the attorneys and marsfias Of the
United States should be compensated solely by
salaries, and the erection by the government of
pententiarY for the confinement of offenders
against its laws.
OF the varied governmental. concerns in charge
of the Interior Department the report of its
Secretary presents an interesting summary.
Among the topics deserving particular attention,
refer you to his observations respecting our In
dian affairs, the presumption and timber culture
acts, the failure of railroad companies to take
title to lands granted Oy the government, and
the operations of the Pension Office, the Patent
Office, the Census Bureau and the Bureau of
Education
Allusion has been made already to the cir
cumstance that. both as between the different
Indian tribes and as between the Indians and
the Whites, the past year has been one. of I'M
broken peace. In this circumstance the Presi-
dent is glad to find justification TOR the policy of
the government in dealing with the Indian ques-
ton, and confirmation Of the views which were
fully expressed in his first communication to tile
Forty seventh Congress.
The Secretary urges anew the enactment of a.
statute for punishment of crimes committed ON
the Indian reservations, and recommends the
passage of a bill, now pending i'll the House of
Representatives; for purchase of tract of $4,000
square miles from the Sioux reservation. Both
these measures are worthy of approval.
/ concur with him, also, in advising the repeal
of the presumption law, the enactment of stat
utes resolving the present legal complications
touching lapsed grants to railroad companies,
and, the funding of the debt of the several Pa
cific railroads under such guarantees as shall
effectually secure its ultimate payment
The report of the Utah Commission will be read
with interest 1t discloses the results of the
recent legislation looking to the prevention and
punishment of polygamy in that Territory. 1
still believe that if that abominable practice can
be restrained by law 1T can only be by the most
radical legislation consistent with the restraints
of the Constitution. L again recommend, there
fore, that Congress assume absolute political
troll of the Territory of Utah. and provide for
the appointment of a commission, with such
governmental powers as in itS Judgment, may
justly and wisely be put into their hands.