National Republican., 1886-12-07


such inducement might be offered as won
result In securing the domestlcation Of the e
important interests.
The affairs OF the postal service she
marked and gratifying improvement duriI .
the past year. A particular account Of s
transactions and condition IL given in
report Of the Postmaster General, whi
will be laid before you.
The reduction OF the rate Of letter pos,
age in 1888, rendering the postal revenues
inadequate TO sustain the expenditures, aud
business depression also contributing, re-
suited I'm an excess Uf cost for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1885, Of eight aud ono
third millions OF dollars. An additional
check upon receipts by doubling the meas
ure Of weight In rating sealed corresond-
enco and diminishing one.half the charge for
newspaper carriage was imposed by legis.
lation which took effect with the beginning
OF the past fiscal year, while the constant
demand OF our territorial development and
growing population for the extension and
increase OF mall facilities and machinery
nocessltates steady and annual advance In
outlay; and the careful estimate Of year
ago upon the rates Of the expenditure then
existing contemplated the unavoidable aug
mcntatlon Of the deficiency IN the last fiscal
year by nearly $2,OOO,O00. The anticipated
revenue for tho last year failed OF realiza-
tiOn by about S6l, ,000, but proper meas.
ures OF economy have so satisfactorily
limited the growth OF expenditure, that
the total deficiency, In fact, fell below that
OF 1885; and at this time the increase OF
revenue Is In q gaining ratio over the In
crease Of cost, demonstrating the suillciency
Of the present rates OF postage ultimately to
sustain the service. This Is the more pleas.
ing because our people enjoy now both
cheaper postage, prOpOrtiOnably TO dis
tanc5s, and yaster aud more costly ser
vice, than any other upon the globe.
RetrenChment has been effected In the
cost Of supplies, some expenditures un.
warranted by law have ceased, and the out.
lays for mail carriage have been subjected
TO beneficial scrutiny. At the close OF the
last fiscal year the expense OF transporta-
tion on star routes stood at an annual rate
OF cost less by over S560,00O than at the
close of the previous year; and steamboat
and mall-messenger service at nearly $780,
600 less.
The service has been In the meantime
enlarged aud extended by the establish
ment OF new offices, increase Of routes OF
c0rriage, expansion OF carrier delivery con-
veniences, aud additions to the railway
mail facilities, in accordance with the
growing exigencies of the country aud the
long. established policy OF the government.
The Postmaster General calls attention to
the existing law for compensating railroads,
and expresses the opinion that q method
may be devised which will prove more just
to the carriers and beneficial to the govern.
ment; and the subject appears worthy OF
your early consideration.
The differences which arose during the
year with certain OF the ocean steamship
companies have terminated by the acqui
escence OF all in the policy OF the govern
ment approved by the Congress in the pos
tai appropriation at its last session, and the
department now enjoys the utmost service
afforded by all vessels which sail from our
ports upon either ocean-a service generally
ADEQUATE to the needs OF our intercourse.
Petitions have however been presented to
the department by numerous merchants
and manufacturers for the establishment OF
a direct service TO the Argentine Republic
and for semi-monthly dispatches to the Em-
pire of Brazil; and the subjects commended
to your consideration. 1t is an obvious
duty to provide the means OF postal COM
munication which our commerce requires,
and with prudent forecast OF results the
wise extension Of II may lead to stimulating
intercourse and become the harblnger Of q
profitable traffic, which will open new av-
enues for the disposition Of the products Of
our industry. The circumstances OF the
countries at the far south OF our continent
| are such as to invite our enterprise and af-
| ford the promise of sufficient advantages to
| justify an unusual effort to bring about the
closer relations which greater freedom Of
communication would tend to establish.
suggest that as distinguished from q
| grant or subsidy for the mere benefit OF any
| line OF trade or travel, whatever outlay may
be required TO secure additional postal SER
| vice, necessary and proper and not other
| wise attainable, 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 hal
heretofore received my sanction, and it is tC
be hoped a suitable enactment may soon oC
agreed upon.
The request for an appropriation sufficient
to enable the general inspection Of fourth
class offices has my appreciation.
/ renew my approval OF the recommends
| ton Of the Postmaster General that anothe
assistant be provided for the Postoillce De
partment, and invite your attention to th,
several other recommendations In hisreport
The conduct of the Department OF Jus
tice, for the last fiscal year is fully detailed
in the report OF the Attorney General, and
Iiuvite the earnest attention OF the Con-
gress 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 q
penitentiary for the confinement OF pris
oners convicted and sentenced In the
United States courts, and he repeats the
recommendation in his report for the last
year.
This Is matter OF very eatimportance
and should at once receive congressional
action. United States prisoners are now
confined In more than thirty different
state prisons and penitentlaries, scattered
in every part OF the country. They are
subjected to nearly as many different
modes Of treatment and discipline, and are
far too much rem owed from the control and
regulation Of the government. So far a!
they are entitled to humane treatment
and an opportunity for improve
ment and reformation, the gov
ernment is responsible to them
and society that these things are forth
coming. But this duty can scarcely bl
discharged without more absolute contro
and direction than is possible under tht
present system.
Many Of our good citizens have interested
themselves, with the most beneficial results
in the question Of prison reform. The gen
eral government should be In situation
since there must be United States prisoners
TO furnish important aid In this movement
and should be able to illustrate what ma!
be practically done in the direction OF thi
reform and to present an example In thu
treatment and Improvement Of Its prisoners
worthy OF imitation,
With prisons under It's own control, tint
government could deal with the somewhat
veXGd question Of convict labor, so far u,
It's convicts were concerned, according TO
plan OF its own adoption, and with dut
regard to the rights and interests OF ou
laborpg citizens, instead OF sometimes aid
ing in the operation OF a system whicl
causes among them irritation and diseon
tent.
Upon consideration OF this subject II
might be thought wise to erect more thai
one OF these institutions, located In sucl
places as would best subserve the purpose
Of convenience and economy in transporta
tion. The considerable cost OF maintaining
these conylets us at present in state institu
tions would be saved by the adoption o
the plan proposed, and by employing then
| In tie mnnnfarEmr of snch nrlirlns ns Mnr