Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-09

lhe tree delivery system mas Deen eAteuo
ed to nineteen additional cities during tn
year and l78 now enjoy its c~onveniences
Experience has commended it to those VIII
enjoy its benefits and further enlargement
of its facilities is due to other communities
to which it is adapted, and in the ciue'
where it has been established. Taken to
gether the local postage exceeds its main
tenauce by nearly one million three hun
dred thousand dollars. The limit to which
the system is now confined by Law has beer
nearly reached. and the reasons given jus
tify its extension which is proposed. II
was decided, with my appreciation, after q
sufficient examination to be inexpedient fol-
the Postofice Department to contract fol
carrying our foreign mails under the add
tional authority given BY the last Congress
The amount limited was inadequate to
pay all within the purview OF the law the
full rate of fifty cent per mile, and 1t would
have been urjust and unNise to have given
it to some and denied it to others, nor
could contracts have been let under the
Law to all at q rate to have brought the
aggregate within the appropriation with.
out such practical Encouragement OF
terms as would have violated it. The
rate Of sea and inland postage
which was profered under another
statute clearly appears to be q fair com.
pensation 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 not less bur
densome. Some of the steamship compa-
MES, upon the refusal Of the Postmaster.
General to attempt, by the means
provided, the distribution Of the
sum appropriated as an extra compeusa-
ton, withdrew the services OF their vessels,
and thereby occasioned slight in
convenience though no consider.
able injury, the mails having
been dispatched By other means. What
ever may be thought Of the policy Of sub
sidiziug any line Of public conveyance or
travel, / am satisfied that it should not be
done under cover Of IN expenditure Incl
dent to the administration OF Q depart.
ment. Nor should there be any uncer.
tainty as to the recipients Of subsidy or
any discretion left to an executive officer
as to its distribution. Such gifts Of
public money are to be made for the pur.
pose ofaidipg any enterprise in the supposed
interest Of the public. | cannot but think
that the amount to be paid and the bene-
fcisry might better be determined BY Con-
gress than in any other way. The Inter
national Congress of delegates from the
postal union countries, convened ut Lis.
bon, in Portugal, in February last, and
sfter a session Of some weeks the delegates
signed q convention smendatory OF the
present postal union convention in some
particulars designed to advance its pur-
poses. This additional act has had my ap-
prevail and will be laid before YOU with the
departmental report. q
| approve the recommendation of the
Postmaster General, that another assistant
be provided for his department, aud in.
vite your consideration TO the several 9th.
er recommendations contained in his re.
port.
The DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report OF the Attorney General CON.
tsins o history Of the conduct OF the De
partment OF Justice during the last year
and q number Of valuable suggestions as
to needed legislation, and | invite your
careful attention TO the same. The con-
dition OF business in The courts OF the
United States is such that there seems TO
be an imperative necessity for remedial
legislation on the subject. Some OF these
az,.a ~ nuarhnHHannh with
pendinp cases that the de.
lays in determining litigation
amount often TO q 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
addition Of judges to the Circuit Courts
and constituting them exclusively Courts
of Appeal, and reasonably limitingl appeals
thereto. Further restrictions OF the right
to remove causes 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 same cases as they are allowed from
State courts, and guarding against an un'
necessary number Of appeals from the Cir,
cult Courts. | approve the plan thus out.
lined, and recommend THAI the legislation
necessary Tor it's application to our Judi
cial system. The present mode OF com
pensating United States Msrshals and DIS.
trict Attorneys should. in my opinion, be
L--- Thnu Qra aIlnwa6 m
charge against the Government
certain fees for services, their
income being measured the amount Of
such fees within q fixed limit as TO their
annual aggregate. This is a direct in
ducement for them to make their fees in
criminal cases as large as possible in an
endeavor 10 reach the maximum sum per.
mitted. As an entirely natural conse,
auence interruptions marshaIs are found
encouraging frivolous prosecution, arresting
people on petty charges for CRIME and
transporting them 10 distant places for
examination and trial for the purpose
OF earning mileage and other fees.
And district attorneys useless
IL attended criminal examinations
far from their places Of residence for toe
express rurpose Of swelling their accounts
against the Government. The actual ex
peuses incurred in these transactions are
also charged against the Government.
Thus the rights OF our citizens are out
ragged and public expenditures increased
for the purpose Of furnishing public oficer'
pretex; for increasing the measure OF theii
compensation. | think marshals and dis
rrict attorneys should be paid salaries I'D
iusted by Q rule which will make them
commensurate with services fairly rem
dered.
In connection with this subject ! desire
to suggest the a~dvisablity, if it be found
not obnoxious TO constitutional objection
Of investing United States Commissioner
with the power to try and determine Ger
tain violations OF laws within the grade ot
misdemeanors. Such trials might be made
TO depend upon the option Of the accused
The multiplication Of email and technica,
o~fsnses, especially under the provisions o.
our internal revenue Law, render sons
change N our present system very dssira
BILE in the interests Of humanity as well a
economy.