The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-12-18

perity, by proper economy It is confidently
anticipated that even the present low rates,
now as favorable as any country affords, will
Ibo adequate to sustain the cost of the service.
The operation of the post-oflice department
is for the convenience and benefit of the peo-
pile: and the method by which they pay the
charges of this useful arm of their public SER
vicc, so That il he just and impartial is of less
Importance TO them than the economical ex-
penditure of the means they provide for its
maintenance and the due Improvement of its
agencies, so that they may enjoy its highest
usefulness. A proper attention has been di-
rected TO the prevention of waste or extrava-
gance. and good results appear from the re
port to have already been accomplished.
/ approve the recommendation of the post
master-geueral TO reduce the charges on
domestic money orders of five dollars and less
from eight to five cents. This change VIII
materially aid those of our people who most
of all avail themselves of this instrumental
ty, but to whom the element of cheapncss is
of the greatest importance. With this reduc-
ton the system would still remain self-sup-
porting.
ed to nineteen additional cities during the
wear. and IFS now enjoy its conveniences.
Experience has commended it to those who
enjoy its benefits and further enlargement of
its facilities is due TO other communities to
which it is adapted In the cities where II
has been established, taken together, the local
postage exceeds its maintenance by nearly
81 ,30O00O The limit to which this system is
now confined by law has been nearly reached,
and the reasons given justify its extension,
which is proposed.
1t was decided, with my appreciation, after
a sufficient examination, to be inexpedient
for the postoflice department to contract for
carving our foreign mails under the addi-
| tional authority given by the last Congress.
| The amount limited was inadequate to pay
| all within the purview of the law the full rate
80 will nd
been unjust and unwise to have given it to
80 ne and denied it TO others. Nor could con-
! tracts haze been let under the law to all
at Iate to have brought the aggregate
| within the appropriation, without such prac-
| tical Encouragement of terms as would have
| violated it.
The rate of sea and inland postage, which
was proffered under another statute, clearly
| appears to be fair compensation for the de-
| sired service, being three times the price nee
! essary to secure transportation by other YES
sells upon any route and much beyond the
charges made to private persons for services
not less burdensome.
Some of the steamship companies, upon the
refusal of the postmaster-general to attempt,
lby the means provided the distribution of
! the sum appropriated as an extra compensa-
ton, withdrew the services of their vessels
and thereby occasioned slight inconvenience
though no considerable injury, the mails
having been dispatched by other means.
W nateVer may De unOuHnU OIL tHe pOnCy ol
| subsidizing any line of public conveyance or
| travel, l am satisfied that it should not be
done under cover of an expenditure incident
| to the administration of a department, nor
| should there be any uncertainty as to the re-
| cipients of the subsidy, or any discretion left
/ to an executive officer as to its distribution.
| If such gifts of the public money are to be
made for the purpose of aiding any enter
| prise, in the supposed interest of the public, l
cannot but think that the amount to be paid,
and the beneficiary, might better be deter
mined by Congress than any other way
The international congress of delegates
| from the postal-union countries con
vened at Lisbon, in Portugal, in Feb
ruary last, and after session of some
weeks, the delegates signed a conven-
tion amendatory of the present postal,
union convention in some particulars designed
to advance its purposes. This additional act
| has had my approval and will be laid before
you with the departmental report.
approve the recommendation of the post
master-general that another assistant be pro-
vided for his department. invite your con-
sideration to the several other recommends
tions contained in his report.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the attorney general contains
history of the conduct of the department 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 condition 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 courts are so over
burdened with pending causes that the de
lays in determining litigation amount often
to denial of justice, Among the plans sug-
| gested for relief is one submitted by the at
torney- general. It's 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 neces-
sary; an addition of judges to the circuit
courts of appeal, constituting them exclu-
sively courts Of appeal, and reasonably limit
ing appeals thereto; further restric-
tions 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 circuit
courts. i approve the plan thus outlined, and
recommend the legislation necessary for it,
application to our Judicial system.
The present mode of compensating United
States marshals and district attorneys shoulc
in my opinion be changed. They are allowed
to charge against the government certain
fees for services, their income being measured
by the amount of such fees within Il iXe6
limit as TO their annual aggregate. This is &
fees in criminal cases AS large as poSsibl,
in an effort to reach the maximum
sum permitted. As entirely natu
raj consequence, INSCRIPTIONS maishals ar,
found encouraging frivolous prosecutions
aIresting people ON petty charges of crim'
and transporting them TO distant places fol
examination and trial, for the purpose o
earning mileage and other fees. And dis
trict attorneys useessly attend crimina
, examinations far from their places of resi-
2 dence for the express purpose of swelling
5 their accounts against the government
: The actual expenses incurred in these trans
actions are also charged against the govern
ment. Thus the rights and freedom of on
g citizens are outraged and public expenditure
! increased for the purpose of furnishing put
I lie officers preteXts for increasing the meas
I ure of their compensation.
l think marshals and district attorney
should be paid salaries adjusted by a rul
: which will make them commensurate wit
:, services fairly rendered.
In connection with this subject / desire t
, suggest the advisability, if il be found nC
q obnoxious to constitutional objection, of il
:, vestng United STATES Commissioners with tL
!, power TO try and determine certain violation
/, of law within the grade of misdemeanor
a Such trials might be made to depend upo
a the option of the accused. The multiplici
: ton Of small and technical offences, especial
n under the provisions of our internal-reyenu
/ law, render some changes in cur present systei