The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-09

abuse wh;ch ren some OF tt e scandal and
r"a.-. e"ve found their way into our
loosrlSuED FROM FIRST pAcE.1
wss+a o~iganlsation. and it's incurah,.
hnt - W. nay De reduced to the minimum
use, instes usslre TO build ships for present
That %s vs o. naval reminders of the davs
msrt nave past, we must have a denar ~
% II organised for the work. sunn,;sS w;+S
q. tne talent and ingenuity orr co,n WIN
sxn orGs, prepared to take ADVANTAGE Of Thy
eAperlence OF other svstemot;.aS
nayles so that ali eiiort shsS1
unite and in one d;,aot;nn
ano tulIy imbued With the conviction I'LL
war vessels, though now thew are nseIoss
S Say eo.noine all that the ingenuity Of man
tas up 70 this day brought forth. Relat;no
that na. s4nserection l earnestly commend
voted to this subject. to the action ~ c.
xress. IN the hope that the suggestions
voucnlng the reorganization OF his denart.
lnenI may be adopted as the rat stem tn.
"aro 1ne reconstruction OF our nayvs
I POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The affairs of the postal service =
hibited by the report of the Postm CO. A
General, which will be laid before Won. The
postal revenue. whose rates Of gain upon
the rising prosperity of1S82 and 8 = rnt-
stripped the increasing expense OF orr
growing service was checked by the reduc-
zion In the rate Of letter postage, which
took effect with the beginning Of October in
the latter year, and it was diminished dnr-
ins the two past fiscal years 81, 100. 600 in
the proportion OF $2,27O, 900 in 1884 to
$52O,OOO in 1885. The natural growth
ana development hav in the meantime in
creased the expenditure resulting in a de-
nclency In the revenue to the expense
"f the department Of 5 $3.50, 900 for the
year 1884 and So, 333 600 in the last fiscal
year. The anticipated and natural
revlva! OF the revenue has been op.
pressed and retarded by the nnfavorable
business condition of the country, of which
the postal service is q faithful Indicator.
The gratifying fact is shown. however hv
the report that our returning PROSPERITY in
marked by a gain Of $3.50. y in the raue-
nue. OF the latter hall of the last year over
the corresponding period Of the preceding
year. The change in the weight nf fist-class
matter which may be carried for a single
rate OF postage from u h%alf-uunce to an
ounce, and the reduction by one-half Of the
rate OF newspaper postage, which under re-
cent legislation begun with the current
yer, will operate to restrain the augmen-
tation of the receipts, which otherwise
might rave been expected to such q degree
that the scale OF expense may gain upon
the revenue and cause an increased de-
ticiency to be shown at it's close. Yet,
after no long period of re-awakened pros
perity, by proper economy, it is conf
IDENTIFY anticipated that even the present
low rates, now 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 benefit of
the people, and the methods by which they
pay the charges of this useful arm of their
public service, SO hat it be just and i'm
partial, is OF less Importance to them chan
the economical expenditure Of the means
they provide for it's maintenance. and the
due improvement of it's agencies, that they
may enjoy it's highest usefulness. Aproper
attention has been directed to the preven-
ton of waste or extravaganza, and good
results appear from the report to nave al
ready been accomplished. 1 approve the
recommendation of the Postmaster-Gen
eral to reduce the charges for domestic
money orders OF IS and less from 8
to 5 cents. This change will matter
most OF all, avail themselves of
this inst~rumentality, but to whom the
element of cheapness is OF the greatest
Importance. With this reduction the sys
tenn would still remain self-supporting.
The free delivery system has been extended
10 nineteen additional cities during the
year, and 178 now enjoy it's conveniences
Experience has commended it to those who
enjoyits benefits, and a further enlargement
of it's facilities ia due to other communities
to which it is adapted. In the cities where
it has been established, taken together.
the local postage exceeds its maintenance
by nearly 81, 300, 600. The limit to which
the system is now lined by law has been
nearly reached, a2u the reasons given
Justify it's extension, which ia proposed. It
was decided, with my appreciation, after q
sufficient examination, to be inexpedient
for the Postofice Department to contract
for
CARRYING OUR FOREIGN MAILS
under the additional authority given by
the last Congress. The amount limited
was INADEQUATE to pay all within the pur-
view OF the law the full rate OF SO cents per
mile, and it would have been unjust and
unwise to have given it to some and denied
been let under the law to all at a rate to
have brought the aggregate within the ap-
propriation without such practical pre-ar-
ranqement of terms as would have violated
IS. The rate of sea and inland postage
which was proffered under another st tute
clearly appears to be a fair compensation
for the desired service. being three times the
price necessary to secure transportation by
other vessels upon any route and much De-
Won the charges made to private persons
Tor services not less burdensome. Some OF
the steamship companies, upon the re1usal
of the Postmaster General to attempt, by
tho means provided, the distribution OF the
sum appropriated as an extra compensa-
tion. withdrew the services OF their vessels,
and thereby @occasiuned slight inconven-
;ance though no considerable injury. The
nails have been dispatched by other means:
Whatever ma, be thought of the policy OF
snbsidizine any line of public conveyance
ny fra vel am satisfied that it should not
he done under cover of an expenditure In
c;dent to the administration OF a depart
ment. nor should there be any uncertainty
as to the recipients OF the subsidy or any
discretion left to an executive oh;er as 70
it's distribution. If such gifts OF puo!c
money are to be made Tor the purpose u
AIDING ANY
in the supposed interest OF the puo''c; l
cannot but think that the amount TO ne
paid and the beneficiary might oetter oe
determined by Congress than by any o1ner
wav. The international congress Oh ueie-
gates from the postal Union countries con-
yened in Lisbon, in Portugal In fep'ua.y
Last and after a session OF some weeks the
Ja1s,. tas signed a convention amendator!
NJ tbe present Postal Union convent'on IN
anme particulars. designed to JUS
%nnrnoses. This additional! act a my
annroval and will be laid before you "lUn
the departmental report. approve .ne
v ocom CONTAMINATION of the Postmaster zen,
ersI that another assistant be provioeu
fnr b;s Department. Invite your consla-
aua ton To the several other
t;ons contained in his report.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The renort Of The Attorney-G General con-
+.;ns a history of the conduct OF the ne-
.artment of Justice during the last year.
I'd a number Of valuable suggestions as
an needed e e legislation. and l invite lite. your your
70 o,af,,i ATTENTION to the same. Inc con con
J;+;nn IF business in the courts OF tne IN he
t a.d'? States is such that there seems to 1a.; oe
. .n ;mnerative necessity for rem'dlal + tggse
s ~ on the subject: some 0. ond;no
courts are SO oyerbnrdenesd a+s %,1a Ru9I It'll:
"a Ton amount often to a denial o. !i Is nne
ANON the plans suggested Ior rene, 'S J Its
Ae, ,ho by the Attorney-Genera,;n ths
SUN features are the transfer OF an ' to
man n;a; al iurisdiction Of the circuit cours' VI ~
TvOI IhI NH0 III u