The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-04

IA
tral and South American States ana Win
Mexico. In January last general postal con-
VenIlon was negotiated with the dominion
Of canada, which went into operation on
March l. and which practically makes one
postal territory of the United States and
Canada. Under it merchandise parcels may
now be transmitted through the mails at
fourth class rates of postage. IL IS not pos.
siDle here to touch even the leading heads OF
the great postal establishment to Illustrate
the enormous and rapid growth or lts pusi-
ness and the needs for legislative readJust-
ment OF such of Its machinery that II has
outgrown. For these and valuable recon-
mendations of the Postmaster General, at
tention Is earnestly invited to his report. A
department whose revenues have increased
from $ls, 1000 In 1870 to $52 700 600 IN 1888,
despite reductions of postage which nave
enormously reduced rates OF revenue wniie
greatly increasing its business, demands the
careful consideration of the Congress as to
all matters suggested by those familiar with
its operations and which are calculated to in
crease It's efficiency and usefulness.
bill proposed by the Postmaster General
was introduced at the last session Of the
Congress, by which uniform standard on
the amount of gross receipts would fix the
right OF community to public building to
be erected by the government for post ONCE
purposes. 1t was demonstrated that, aside
from the public convenience and the promo
ton OF harmony among citlZens-inyarlably
disturbed by change of leasings and OF site
IL was measure of the highest economy and
OF sound business Judgment. 1t was found
that the government was paying In rents at
the rate of from to 10 per cent per annum
on what the cost OF such public buildings
would be. very great advantage resulting
from such law would be the prevention OF
a large number of bills constantly introduce
ed Tor the erection of public buildings at
places, and involving expenditures not justi-
fed by public necessity. | trust that this
measure will become a law at the present
session of Congress.
OF the total number of postmasters, "a 1913
are of the fourth class These, of course,
receive no allowance whatever for expense
In the service, and their compensation Is
fixed by percentages on receipts at their re-
spectiye Offices This rate of compensation
may have been, and probably was, at some
time, just but the standard has remained
unchanged through the several reductions in
the rates of postage Such reductions have
necessarily cut down the compensation OF
these officials. while It undoubtedly inereas-
| ed the business done by them. Simple JUS
| tice requires attention to this subject to the
| end that fourth-class pOstmasters may re-
| ceive at least an equivalent to that which
the law itself fixing the rate intended for
| them.
Another class of postal employees, whose
condition seems to demand legislation, is
| that OF clerks in post offices; and call espe-
| cial attention to the repeated recommended
| tions of the Postmaster General for their
| character for the relief of carriers in the
| free delivery service has been frequent. Pro-
vision is made for promotion; for substi-
| tutes; for holidays and limiting their hours
| Of labor. Seven million dollars has been APP
propriated for the current year to provide
| for them, though the total number of offices
where they are employed Is but 1858 for the
| past fiscal year, with an estimated increase
| for the current year of 40, while The total
| appropriation for all clerks in offices through
out the United States is $3.50, 900.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The transactions of the Department of JUS
tice for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1888
are contained in the report of the Attorney
General, as well as number of valuable rec
concentrations, the most of which are repeti-
ions of those previously made, and ought to
receive consideration. 1t is stated in this re-
| port that, though Judgments in civil suits
amounting to $552, 0210S were recovered in
! favor of the government during the year. on
| ly the sum OF 1924 was collected thereon
and that. though fines, penalties and forfeit
| ureS were imposed amounting to S54l. sos 49,
| only $109, 648.42 of that sum was paid on ac-
| count thereof. These facts may furnish an
| Illustration OF the sentiment which extern
| sively prevails, that debt due the govern
ment should cause no inconvenience to the
citizen. 1t also appears from this report that
! though prior to March 1, 1885, there had been
but six convictions in the territories of Utah
and Idaho under the laws of 1862 and 1882,
| Furnishing polygamy and unlawful cohabta-
| tion as crimes, there have been since that
| date nearly six hundred convictions under
these laws and the statutes of 1888; and the
| opinion is expressed that under such a firm
and vigilant execution of these laws and the
advance OF ideas opposed to the forbidden
| practices, polygamy within the United
States is virtually at an end. Suits institute
| ed by the government under the provisions of
the act OF March 3, 1887, for the termiua-
ton Of the corporations known as the
Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and the
| Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
| have resulted in a decree favorable to the
| government, declaring the charters of these
corporations forfeited and escheating their
| property. Such property, amounting in value
| to more than 100000, is III the hands of a
! receiver pending further proceedings, an APP
peal having been taken to the Supreme Court
| OF the United States.
| INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
| In the report of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, which will be laid before you, the con-
dition of the various branches of our domes-
tic affairs connected with that department
and its operations during the past years are
fully exhibited, but brief reference to some
| OF the subjects discussed in this able and in
teresting report can here be made; but |
| commend the entire report to the attention
OF the Congress, and trust that the sensible
and valuable recommendations 1t contains
| will secure careful consideration. cannot
too strenuously insist upon the Importance
| of proper measures to insure right DISPOSE
ton OF our public lands, not only as matter
OF present.. but in forecast of the conse-
quences TO future generations. The broad,
rich acres of our agricultural plains have
| been long preserved by nature to become her
| untramelled gift to a people civilized and
free, upon which should rest, in well dstrib-
uted ownership, the numerous homes of en-
Hfrh aAd aHal IL
came into national possession with the warn
| ing example in our eyes of the entail of
| the lnlquitles in landed proprietOrship
which other countries have permitted
and still suffer. We have no excuse for
the violation Of principles, cogently
taught by reason and example.
nor for the allowance of pretexts which have
sometimes exposed our lands to colossal
| greed. Laws which open door to fraudulent
| acquisition, or administration which permits
favor to rapacious seizure by favored few
OF expanded acres that many should enjoy,
| are accessory to offences against our national
welfare and humanity not to be too severely
condemned or punished. 1t is gratifying to
| know that something has been done at last
to redress the injuries to our people and
check the perilous tendency of the reckless
| waste of the national domain. That over
100000 acres have been arrested from
illegal usurpation, improvident grants and
fraudulent entries and claims, to be taken
| for the homesteads of honest industry, al
though less than the greater areas thus I'M
| justly lost must afford a profound gratifca-
ton to right feeling citizens as it is a recon-
| pense for the labOrs and struggles of the re-
| cOvery. Our dear experience ought suf6-
| GENTLY to urge the speedy enactment of
| measures of legislation which will confine
| the future disposition of our remaining acri-
| cultural lands to the uses of actual husband
| ry and genuine homes. Nor should our vast
| tracts OF sO-ealled desert lands be Welded mn
to the monopoly of corporations or grasping
individuals, as appears to be much the ten
| dency under the existing status. These
lands require but "a supply of water
1t Il problem of great moment how
most wisely for the public good
that factor can be furnished. cannot think
it but perilous to suffer these lands or the
sources of their irrigation to fall into the
hands of monopolies, which by such means
may exercise lordship over the areas depen-
| dent on their treatment for productiyeness.
| Already steps have been taken to secure ac-
| curate and scientific information of the con-
| ditiOns which is the prime basis of intelligent
action. Until this shall be gained the cause
| of wisdom appears clearly to lie in a suspen-
sion Of further disposal, which only promis-
es to create rights antag0nistic to the COM
mon interest.
THE ABoRIGINEs.
| The condition of our Indian population
continues to improve and the proofs multi
ply that the Transforming change, so much to
be desired, which shall substitute for bar