Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-12-17

TO them than the economical expenditure OF the
means they provide for its maintenance, and ths
due improvement Of its agencies, 80 that they
may enjoy its highest usefulness. proper at
tention has been directed 30 the prevention OF
from the reports to have already been accom-
plished.
FoREIoN-MAm sERvIcE.
IL was decided, with my appreciation, after q
sufficient examination, to be inexpedient
for the Postofiice Department to contract
for carrying our foreign mails under the addi-
tional authority given by the last Congress-.
The amount limited was inadequate to pay all
within tho purview Of the law the full rate OF
so cents per mile, and it would have been unjust
and unwise to have given IL some and denied tt
il to others Nor could contracts have been let
under the law to all at rate to have brought
the aggregate within the appropriation without
would have violated 1t. The rate Of sea and In
land postage which was proffered under another
statute clearly appears TO be fair conpensa-
tion for the desired service, being three times
the price necessary TO secure transportation by
other vessels upon any route, and much beyond
the charges made to private persons for services
Some OF the steamship companies, upon the
refusal of the Postmaster General to attempt,
by the means provided, the distribution OF tho
their vessels, and thereby occasioned slight
Inconvenience, though no considerable in.
jury. The mails have been dispatched
by other means. Whatever may be thought
Of the policy OF subsidizing any line of
public conveyance or travel, am satisfied that
U
ture incident to the administration Of depart
ment nor should there be any uncertainty as to
the recipients of the subsidy any discretion left
to executive officer as to its distribution.
II such gifts Of pablo money are to be made for
the purpose Of aiding any enterprise In the sup'
posed interest Of the public, cannot but think
that the amount to be paid and the beneficiary
might better be determined by Congress than in
any other way.
The report of the Attorney General contains
history Of the conduct of the Department Of
Justice during the last year, and number of
valuable suggestions as TO needed legislation,
The condition Of business In the courts
of the United States is such that there
seems to be an imperative necessity for
some Of these courts are SO overburdened with
pending causes that the delays on determining
litigation amount often to a denial OF justice.
Among the plans suggested for relief Is one sub
mitted by the Attorney General. Its main
features the transfer of all the original juris
diction Of the Circuit Courts to the District
Courts, and an increase Of Judges for the latter
where necessary; an addition Of Judges
to the Circuit Courts and constituting
the exclusive courts Of appeal and reason
restrictions Of the right to remove causes
from the State to Federal Courts, permitting
appeals to the Supreme Court from the courts Of
only in the same cases as they are allowed from
State Courts, and guarding against an unneces-
sary number Of appeals from ;e the Circuit @ Courts
mend the legislation necessary for its applica-
tion to our judicial system.
The present mode of compensatihg United
States Marshals and District Attorneys should,
in my opinion, be changed. They are allowed
to charge against the Government certain fees
for service, their incomes being measured by the
amount of such fees within fixed limit to their
annual aggregate This is q direct inducement
for them to make their fees In criminal cases as
Large as possible IN en- sOI 70 an reaSa snrs1S s1S
natural consequence unscrupulous MarshalB
are found encouraging frivolous prosecu.
ns st1g GnS on bRey enfss
places for examination and trial, for the
purpose Of earning mileage and other fees,
and District Attorneys uselessly attend criminal
examinations far from their places Of residence
for the express purpose Of swelling their ac-
counts against the Government The actual ex-
penses incurred in these transactions are always
and public expenditures increased for the pur-
pose of furnishing public officers pretexts for in
creasing the measure Of their compensation.
think Marshals and District Attorneys should be
paid salaries adjusted by rule which will make
them commensurate with services fairly rem
dered.
FURNISHING MrsDEMEANoRs.
,oI9 In eonnection with the subject desire to sug-
ops the to sonsttutionai a be found not obnCx
United States Commissioners with the powssf' q
try and determine certain violations of law
might be made to depend upon the option of the
accused The multiplication OF small and tech
nical offenses, especially under the provisions
Charge ar in our present system very desirable in
the interests Of humanity as well as economy.
The District Courts are now crowded with
petty prosecutions, involving q punishment, In
case OF conviction, OF only a slight fine, while
the parties accused are harassed by an en-
forced attendance upon the courts held hun
dreds of miles from their homes. II poor and
friendless, they are obliged to remain in jail,
and months, perhaps, elapse before n session
Of the court is held, and are finally brought
with but little opportunity for defense.
In the meantime frequently the Marshal has
charged against the Government his fees for an
arrest, the transportation of the accused and the
expense of the same and for summoning wit
nesses before n Commissioner, a Grand Jury
and court, the witnesses have been paid from
the public funds large fees and travelling ex-
penses, and the Commissioner and District At
torney have also made their charges against the
Government This abuse in the administration
OF our criminal law should be remedied, and II
the plan above suggested Is not practicable,
some other should be devised.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior,
containing an account Of the operation OF this
important department and much interesting in
formation, will be submitted for your considera-
tion. The most intricate and difficult subject in
charge Of this department is the treatment and
management OF
THE INDIANS.
am satisfied that some progress may be noted
in their condition as result OF q prudent
administration of the present laws and
regulations for their control; but IL is sub
mitted that there Is lack Of q fixed purpose OF
policy on this subject which should be supplied.
1t is useless to dilate upon the wrongs OF the In
dians, and useless to indulge in the heartless
belief that because their wrongs are revenged
| in their own atrocious manner, therefore they
should be exterminated.
They are within the care Of our Government,
and their rights are, or should be protected
| from invasion by the most solemn obligations.
They are properly enough called the wards of
the Government, and it should be borne In mind
that this guardianship involves on our part ef-
forts for the improvement Of their condition and
| the enforcement OF their rights.
There seems to be general conc nrrence in the
| proposition that the ultimate object OF their
treatment should be their civilization and citi-
zenship. Fitted by these to keep pace in the
march of progress with the advanced civiliza-
| tion about them, they will readily assimilate
with the mass of our population, assuming the
responsibilities and receiving the protection in
cident to this condition. The difficulty appears
to be in the selection of the to be at pres
ent employed toward the attainment of this re-
| suit
OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
The public domain had its origin in cessions Of
| land by the States to the General Government
York, and tho largest which in area exceeded
all the Others by the State OF Virginia. The ter
ritory, the proprietorship Of which became thus
vested I'm the General Government, extended
| from the western line OF Pennsylvania to the
Mississippi River. These patriotic donations Of
the States were incumbered by no condition,
| the common benefit of the United States. =
| BY purchase with the common fund Of all the
people additions were made TO this domain un-
| til il extended to the northern line of Mexico,
| the Pacific Ocean, and the Polar Sea. The origi-
nal trust ~for the common benefit of the United
States" attached 10 all. In the execution Of that
large estates" was adopted by the Government.
Tint those might be easily obtained and be the
abode of security and contentment, the laws for
their acquisition were few, easily understood,