The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-07


portatien on star routes stood at an annual rate
OF cost less by over $5.605 than at the close OF
the previous year; and steamboat and mall mess
eager service, at nearly 5000. 600 less The serv-
Ice has been, in the meantime, enlarged and ex-
tended by the establishment of new Offices,
increase OF rates Of carriage expansion OF carrier
delivery convenenees, and additions to the railway
mail facilities in accordance with the growing
oxigonces of the country and the long-estab-
lished policy of the government The Postmas-
ter-general calls attention TO the existing law
for compromising railroads. and expresses the
opinion that method may be devised which
will prove more just to the carriers and benefi-
cial TO the government and the subject appears
worthy Of your early consideration.
The differences which arose during the year
with certain of she ocean steamship companies
; have terminated by the acquieseence of ali in
the policy of the government, approved by the
Congress ip the postal appropriation at its last
session, and the department now enjoys the ut
mest service afforded by all vessels which sail
from our ports upon either ocean-a serv-
ice generally ADEQUATE to the needs or our
intercourse. Petitions have. however, been pre-
scented to the department By numerous mer-
chants and manufacturers for the establishment
Of direct service to the Argentine Republic and
Cor semi monthly dispatches to the empire OF
Brazil, aud the subject is commended to your
consideration. It is An obvious duty to provide
the means of postal communication which our
: commerce requires, and with prudent forecast
Of recruits the wise extension of it may lead to
ger Vt profitable traffic, which will open eve
pueE for the disposition of the products of our
: inopstry. The circumstance of the countries at
the far south OF our continent are such as to in
vite our enterprise and afford the promise Of
sufficient advantages to justify an unusual effort
so bri2g about the closer relations which
greater freedom of communications would tend
20 establish. l suggest that distinguished
from grant or subsidy for the mere benefit of
any line of trade or travel, whatever outlay may
be required to secure additional postal service
necessary and proper, and not otherwise attain
able. should be regarded as within the limit Of
legitimate compensation for such service
The extension of the free-delivery service as
suggested by the Postmaster general, has here
tofcre received my sanction, and it is to be
hoped suitable enactment may soon be agreed
upon. The request for an appropriation sufi-
Gent to enable general inspection of fourth
= class Offices haA my appreciation. | renew my
approval of the recommendation of the Post
nsaster-general that another assistant be pro-
vded for the Postofice Department, and in
vite your attention to the several other recon-
mendations in his report.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The conduct of the Department of Justice for
the last fiscal year Is fully detailed in the report
OF the Attorney general, and invite the earnest
attention of the Congress to the same, and due
consideration of the recommendations therein
contained. In the report submitted by this
officer to the last session OF the Congress, he
strongly recommended the erection of peni-
Tertiary for the confinement of prisoners con-
victed and sentenced in the United States
courts, and he repeats the recommendation in
his report for the last year, This is a matter Of
very great Importance, and should at once re-
eelve congressional action. United States pris-
euers now confined in more than thirty diff
terept State prisons and penitsntiaries, scat
tered In every part of the country. They are
subjected to nearly as many different modes of
treatment and discipline, and are too much
removed from the control and regulation
Of the government. So far as they are entitled
20 humane treatment and opportunity for i'm
prOvement and reformation, the government is
responsible to them and society; but this duty
can scarcely be discharged without more abso-
Lutte control and discretion that Is possible under
the. present system. Many of our good citizens
have interested themselves, with the most bene-
fetal results in the question of prison reform.
The general government should he in situa-
ton, since there must be United States prison
ers, to furnish important aid in this movement,
and should be able to illustrate what may be
practically done in the direction Of this reform
and to present an example in the treatment and
Imprisonment of its prisoners worthy of imita-
ton. With prisons Under own control the
government could deal with the somewhat
veXed question OF convict labor, so far as its
conviete were concerned, according to plan of
its own adoption and with due regard to the
rights and interests Of our laboring citizens, in
stead or sometimes aiding In the operation OF
q system which causes among them irritation
and discomfort Upon consideration of this sub
ject 1t might be thought wise to erect more than
one of these institutions, located in such places
as would best subserve the purposes of con-
Verience and economy in transportation. The
considerable cost of maintaining these convicts
At present In State institutions would be saved
by the adoption of the plan proposed, and by
employing them in the manufacture of such
articles as are needed for use by the govern
Tnent quite a large pecuniary benefit would be
realized in partial return for our outlay.
| again urge change in the federal judicial
Rystem to meet the wants of the people and OBJ
viate the delays necessarily attending the pres
emit condition Of officers in our courts. All are
agreed that something should be done, and
much favor is shown by those well able to adj
wise to the plan suggested by the Attorney gen
eral, at the last session of the Congress, and reg
commended in my last annual message. This
recommendation Is here renewed, together with
another made at the same time, touching a
change in the manner of compensatng district
attorneys and marshals and the latter subject
is commended to the Congress for it's action in
the interest of economy to the government and
humanity, fairness and justice to our people.
The Interior Department.