Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-02

4
companies have undertaken to outstrip the
Government mail carriers by afording fol
prompt transmission Of letters better facili.
ties than have hitherto been under the com.
mand of the post Office. II has always been
the policy of the Government to discourage
such enterprises, and in no better mode can
that policy be maintained than in supplying
the public with the most efficient service that,
with due regard to its own best interests, can
be furnished for its accommodation.
ATTORNEY GKxzRAL's REPORT.
The Attorney General reviews the recon-
mendation contained in his report of last
year. touching fees of witnesses and jurors.
He favors radical changes in fee bill, the
adoption of system by which attorneys and
marshals of the United States shall be CON-
penssted solely by salaries, and the erection
by the government of penitentiary for the
confinement of offenders against its laws.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ISTERIoR.
Of the varied governmental concerns in
charge of the interior department the report
of its secretary presents an interesting sum-
mary. Among the topics deserving particular
attention refer you to his observation re-
speeding our Indian affairs. presumption and tim.
Der culture acts, failure of railroad companies
to take title to lands granted by the govern
ment, and the operations of the pension office,
patent office, the census bureau and the
bureau of education. Allusion has been made
to the circumstance that both as between the
different Indian tribes, and as between the
Indians and whites. the past year has been
one of unbroken peace. In this circumstance
the President is glad to find justification for
the policy of the government in its dealing
eka In and NHrUa Nenn of
views which were fully expressed in his first
communication to the 47th Congress. The
Secretary urges a new enactment of statute
for the punishment of crimes committed on
Indian reservations, and commends the pas
sage Of bill pending in the House of Rep
resentatives for the purchase of q tract of
Is, 900 square miles from the Sioux reserva-
ton, both measures worthy of approval. l
concur with him also in advising q repeal of
the presumption law, and the enactment of
statutes resolving the present legal compli-
cation, touching lapsed grants to the railroad
companies, and the funding of the debt Of the
several Pacific railroads, under such guaran-
tees as shall effectually ensure its ultimate
payment
UrAR COMMISSION.
The report of the Utah Commission will
be read with interest. 1t discloses the result
of recent legislation looking to the proven,
ton and punishment Of polygsmy in that
territory. still believe that il the abomin-
able practice can be suppressed by law, il
can only be by the most radical legislation
consistent with the restraints of the Consti
tuition. again recommend, therefore, that
Congress assume absolute political control of
the territory of Utah, and provide for the
appointment. of commissions with such gov
fal in .s,15x
wisely be put in their hands.
EXTENSION OF FOREIGN TRADE
In the course of this communication refer
ence has been made to the policy CT this
government as regards the extension of our
foreign trade. 1t seems proper to declare the
general principles that should in my opin-
ion underlie our national efforts in this
direction. The main conditions of the problem
may be thus stated. We are a people in
mechanical pursuits and fertile in invention;
we cover vast extent of territory rich in
agricultural products, and in nearly all the
new materials necessary to successful manu-
features. We have system of productive
establishment more than sufficient to supply
our own demands the wages of labor are no
where else so great the scale of living of our
artisan classes is such as tends to secure their
personal comfort, and the Developments of
those hither morals and intellectual qualities
that go to the making of good citizens.
Our system Of tax and tariff legislation is
yielding revenue which is in excess of the
present needs of the government. These
are the elements from which it is sought to
devise scheme by which, without unfavor-
ably changing the condition of working men,
our merchant marine shall be raised
from its enfeebled condition and
lot 1nA 81
beyond the limits of our manifold fruits of
industrial enterprises. The problem is COM
pick and can be solved by no single measure
Of innovation or reform. Countries of the
American continent and adjacent islands are,
for the United States, the natural marts OF
supply and demand 1t is from them that we
should obtain what we do not produce, or do
not produce in sufficient quantities and II is to
them the surplus products of our fields, our
mills and work shops should flow under con-
siderations that will equalize or favor them
in comparison with foreign competition. Four
paths of policy seem to point to this end
First, a series Of reciprocal commercial trea-
ties with countries of America, which shall
foster between the United States and them,
an unhampered movement of trade. The
conditions of these treaties should be free
admission of such merchandise as this coun-
try does not produce in return for the admission
or under favored scheme of duties of our
own products, the benefits Of such exchange
to apply only to goods carried under the flag
of the parties to the contract, the removal on
both sides from vessels so privileged of all
tonnage dues and national imports, so that
their vessels may ply unhndered between our
ports and those of other contracting parties,
though without infringing on reserved
home coasting trade, the removal or
reduction Of burdens on exported products
of those countries coming within the benefits
of treaties, and the avoidance of technical
restrictions and penalties by which our inter.
course with those countries is at present
hampered. Secondly, the establishment of
the consular service of the United States on
q salaried footing, thus permitting the re-
linquishment of consular fees not only AZ
respects vessels under the national flag, but
as respects vessels of the treaty
nations, carrying goods entitled to the bene-
fit of treaties. Thirdly, the enactment of
measures to favor the construction and main
tenance Of q steam carrying marine under
the flag of the United States Fourthly, the
establishment of a uniform currency basis
for the countries of America so that the
coined products Of our mines may circulate
on equal terms throughout the whole
system Of Commonwealths. This would
require the monetary union Of America
whereby the output Of bullion producing
countries and the circulation Of those which
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