Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-12

ter half of the last year over the CORES
ponding period of the preceding year.
The charge on the weight of first elias
matter which may be carried for singh
rate postage, from half ounce to al
ounce, and the reduction by one-hal
cent of the newspaper postage, which
under recent legislation began with tn
current year, will operate to restrain tn
augmentation of receipts which other
wise might have been expected, to sucl
q degree that the scale of expense ma,
gain upon the revenue, and cause an in
creased deficiency to be shown at it
close. Yet, after 80 long period of re
awakened prosperity, it is confidently
anticipated that even the present low
rates-as favorable as. any country
affords-will be adequate to sustain the
cost of the service.
The operation of the postofice depart
ment is for the convenience and benefi
of the people, and the method by which
they pay the charges of this usefu
branch of the public service, so that i
be just and impartial, is of less impol t.
ance to them than the economical
expenditure of the means provided fol
its maintenance and the improvement
of its agency. So they may enjoy it,
highest usefulness, proper attention ha.
been directed to the prevention of its
waste or extravaganza, and good results
appear from the report to have already
been accomplished.
I approve Of the recommendation Of
the postmaster general to reduce the
charges on domestic money orders of
five dollars and less, from eight to five
cents. This change will materially aid
those of our people who most of all avail
themselves Of this fundamentally, but
to whom the element cheapness is of the
greatest importance. With this reduc.
ton the system would still remain self
supporting. The free delivery system
has been extended to nineteen more
cities during the year, and 17S now en-
Joy its conveniences. Experience has
commended it to those who enjoy its
benefits, and the further enlargement OF
its facilities is due to other communities
to which it is adapted.
In the cities where it has been estab-
lished, taken altogether, the local post
age exceeds its maintenance by nearly
81, 100000. The limit to this system,
which is now conferred by law, has
been nearly reached, and the reason
given justifies its extension which is
proposed. 1t was decided, with my ap.
probation, after q sufficient examination,
to be inexpedient for the postofice de-
partment to contract for carrying out
foreign mails under additional authority
given by the last congress.
The amount limited was inadequate to
pay all within the period of the law, at
the full rate of fifty cents per mile; it
would have been unjust and unwise to
have given it to some and denied it to
others. Nor could the contracts have
been let under the law at rate to have
brought the aggregate within the appro-
priation, without such partial arrange
ment of terms as would have violated
the rate of inland postage which was
profered under another statute. 1t
clearly appears to be matter of com.
pensation, the desired service being
three times the price necessary to Sc
cure transportation by other vessels upon
any route to private persons for services
not less burdensome.
Some of the steamship companies
upon the refusal of the postm aster gen
eral to attempt by the means provided
the distribution Of the sum appropriated
ss an extra compensation, withdrew the
services of their vessels, and thereby oc.
casioned slight inconvenience, though
no considerable injury, the mails hav-
ing been dispatched by other means.
Whatever may be thought of the policy
of subsidising any line of public convey
ance, am satified that it should not be
under cover of an expenditure incident
to the administration of the department.
There should be no uncertainty as to the
nature of the subsidy, or any discretion
left to an executive officer, as to its dis
tribution.
If such gifts of public money are to be
made for the purpose of aiding any en-
terprise in the supposed interest of the
public, I cannot but think that the
to be paid, and the beneficiary
might better be determined by congress,
than in any other way.
An international congress of delegates
from the postal union countries convened
at Lisbon, Portugal. in July last, and
after a session of one week the delegates
ado tied q resolution for the amendment
of the present postal union. This addi-
tional act has my approval, and will be
laid before you with the department re-
port.
I approve the recommendation of the
postmaster general that another assist
ant be appointed for his department. 1
invite your consideration to the several
other recommendation contained in his
report. The report ofthe attorney gen.
eral contains history of the conduct of
the department of justice duriug the last
year, and a number of valuable sugges-
tons as to needed legislation, and I in
vite your careful attention to the same.
The condition of business in the courts
of the United States is such that there
seems to be an imperative necessity for
legislation on the subject.
Some of these courts are so overbur-
dened with pending cases that the delays
in determining litigation amount often
to denial of justice. Among the plans
suggested for relief is one submitted by
the attorney general. Its main features
are the transfer of all the original
jurisdiction of the circuit courts to the
district courts, and an increase of judges
for the latter, where necessary; an addi-
ton ofjudges to the circuit courts, and
them exclusively courts of
appeal, and reasonably limiting appeals
thereto.
Further restrictions of the right to re-
move cases from the state to federal
courts, permitting appeals to the supreme
court from the courts of the district of
Columbia and the territories only in the
courts as they are allowed from state
courts, and guarding against an unneces-
sary number of appeals from the circuit
courts. I approve the plan thus out
lined, and recommend the legislation
necessary for its application to our judi
,ial system.
The present mode of compromising
United States marshals and district at
orneys should, in my opinion, be