Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-12-09

II To some ana denied II 10 ctucI-, AoA Scesu
contracts have been let under the law TO all
Mt rate to have brought the aggregate
within the appropriation without such par
tinl arrangement of terms as would Lave in
creased tue rate of inland postage, which
wa pr. f,rrrd under the statute. IL certainly
seems = fair compensation, being three times
th, price necessary TO secure transportation
by other vessels upon any other route, ana
much beyond the charges made 10 private
nersor.s for services not less bur6ensome
Some Of the steamship companies, upon the
r,.fcs.l of the p simsster general 10 accept
tin. means provided. the distribution Of the
sum appropriated a. an extra compensation,
withdrew the service OF their vessels ana
Thereby cccasioned slight Inconvenience
though no considerable injury The MALI
have been dispatched by other means.
What.-ver may be thought Of the policy OF
subsid ziug any line of public conveyance
or travel, am satisfied lhst it should not
be under cover Of an any expenditure in
eideut 10 the administration Of the depart
nlpft. nor should there be any
uncertainty rs to the recipients OF
the subsidy or any discretion ieii
to "A executive officer As to It's distribution.
If such gifts OF public money are TO be
made for the purpose o; adding any enter
pri-e. III support % the rest of the public. i
cannot hut think that the amount TO be
paid and beneficiary might better be deter
mined by congress than in any other way
An international congress Of delegates from
the postal uaIon countries, convened nj
Lsbpn, Portugal, in February last and after
u S.ssiun ofsune weeks the delegates signed
convection auie.ida,ory the present pos
tal union conveGtion,iE some particulars de-
signed to advance It's purposes This I'D
ditinrIui act hrs had my approval and VIII
be laid before you with the department re-
port.
approve the recommendation of the
postmaster general that another assistant be-
provided for his department. | invite your
consideration 10 the several other recommen-
Galioas contained in his report
The report Of the attorney general con
taius "A history Of the conduct o: the depart
nleiit Of Justice during the last year, and u
number 81 valuable suggestions rs To needed
legislation, and | invite your careful atten-
tlon 10 the same The condition of business
in courts OF the United States is such that
there seems ~ be an imperative necessity
FOR iiu.ueiiaie legislation on the subject.
Some of these courts are SO over burcened
with pending cases that the delays in term
ming legation amounts often TO the denial
of Justice Among plans suggested for the
re .ef Is one submitted by the attorney gen
al Is main features are q transfer OF all
the original jurisdiction of the circuit court
to the district courts and an increase OF
judges for the latter where necessary; an ad-
dilion of Judges 10 the circuit courts and
constituting them exclusively courts of APP
pe..is and reasonably limiting appeals thereto.
Further restrictions of the right 10 remove
cases from state 10 federal courts, permitting
appeals To the supreme court from the courts
of the District of Columbia and territories
uniy In the courts, as they are all from state
courts, guarding against an unnecessary
number Of appeals from the district courts.
| approve the plan thus outlined and re-
commend the legislation necessary TOR its
application.
The present mode of compromising United
States rnarshals and district attorneys should,
In INV opinion, be changed. They are al
lowed to charge against the government GER
tain fees for service, their income being
measured by the amount of such fees within
a liked limit ns to III ir annual aggregate.
Thu ia direct Involvement for them TO make
their fees IN criminal cases as large as pos
sibic in su effort to reach the maximum sum
permitted. As an entirely natural conse-
q.eiIce uHscrupulous narshals are found en-
cou-ugifC frivolous prosecutions, arresting
porting them IT, distant places for examina-
lion aud trial. for the purpose of earning
mileage and other fees. And dis
trict attorneys usually attended ex-
aninStions far from their places of residcnc"
tor the express purpose Of swelling their ac-
count iigaln-t the gov rnment- Actual ex-
peiS-s incurred ia these transactions are
charged Against the government, thus the
rights and FREE. dom Of the citizens are out
FACED aud public expenditures increased tor
the l'urpo-e "f furnishing public officers a
pr,t,.1l for Increasing the measure of their
c"mprri. a,ious. | think marshals and dis
trIct attorneys should be paid a salary and
abuse bv !. rule which would make them
c..n'nriIssrats with the services fairly rem
dered.
la connection with this subject | desire to
suggest the adyisabilily, If il be found not
obnoxious 10 constitutional objection, of In
vc-ting United States commissioners with
the power 10 try nnd determine certain
viplaiI"us of law. Within the grade Of
hi>dcin-anor-, trials might be made to de-
pend upon the option of the accused. The
multiplication at the small and technical
oii-r,s,.-, especially under the provisions OF
our Internal revenue law render some change
IN our present system very derirable in the
iUAt-trAH 81 hLHlhillN as
D,-triet courts IRE now crowded with petty
prosecutions, Involving punishment, in
ca-e of conviction, of only slight fine,
while the parties accused are punished by al
enforced attendance upon courts hundreds
of miles from their homes. Poor and
frieudl,s-, they are obliged to remain in jail
during months, perhaps, that elapse before
the SESSION nf court Is held, and ARE finally
brought To trial, surrounded by strangers,
with bat little real opportunity Tor defense.
In the meantime frequently the marshal
has a charge against the government in his
files for an arrest. Tho transportation of
the accused and the expense of the same for
summnuipg witnesses before commissioner,
grand jury and court. The witnesses
have been paid from the public fund, large
fees and travelling expenses, and the com
missioner ana district attorney have also
made their charges against the government.
This abuse in the administration of our
criminal law should be remedied, and if the
plan above suggested is not practicable some
other should bee devised.
The report of the secretary of the interior
containing an accoun. of the operations of
that important department and much inter
est.nS Information will be submitted for
Your consideration. The most intricate and
difficult kubletk HI tue Ol lHls utIarl-
ment i the treatment An management of
The Indians. | am satisfied that some pro-
:,rass may be noted in their condition, as
result ofa prudent administration of the
present laws and regulations for their
control.
But is submitted that there is lack of a
fixed purpose of policy on the subject
which should be- supplied or it is useless TO
diiaie upon the wrongs of the Indians and
as useless 10 indulge IN the heartless belief
that because their wrongs are revenged in
their own atrorious manner therefore they
should be extcrminated. They are within
the care Of our government and their rights
should be protected from invasion by the
most solemn obligations. They are proper
~ enough called the wards of the govern
nent aud il should be borne in mind that
tits yardiauship involves on our part efforts
for the improvement o: their condition and
the Enforcement OF their rights.
There seems 10 be u general concurrence
in the proposition that ultimate object OF
their treatment should be their civilization
and citizenship fitted by these 10 keep pace
in the march Of progress with the advanced
civilization about them, they will readily
assert what the mass of our population
assuming the responsibilities and received
the protection incident TO this condition.
Oar Indian population, exclusive of those
in Alaskn. Is reported as numbering 100000.
neAriy sll being located on lands set apart for
their own use and occupation, aggregsting
over l3i 0C0000 of scres. These lands are
Included in the boundaries of III reserya-
ton of different dimensions scattered IN
twenty -une states and territories, presenting
great variations in climate and in the kind