The Delta independent., 1888-12-11
and of sound business Judgment.


IL YVES round tnur 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 a
| law would be the e5ention of q large number OF
pills being constantly Introduced for the erec-
ton tfspublic buildings at places and involving
expenditures not justified BY public necessity l
| think that this measure will become Law at the
| present session of Congress.
FotR rH-CLASS OFFICES.
| OF the totai amber, o. postmas.ers, a,s74 arc
allowances whatever Tor expenses in the seIvi, ,e,
and their compensation is fixed by q percen tage
on tho receipts + their respective, offices.
This rate of compensation may have been sniff
cient, and probably was, at some time past, but
| tho standard lrns remained unchanged through
Such REDUCTIONS have necessarily cut down the
compensation of the officials, while it un-
douhtedly increased the business performed by
them. Simple ju t: :ce requires attention to this
subject to the end that fourth class postmasters
may receive at least an equivalent to that which
the law itself fixing the rate intended for tEem.
PosToFFICE CLERKS.
Another class of postal employees whose ccndi-
en- to ft os th
master General for their classification,
lief of carriers the free. delivery service has
bcen frequen'. Provision is made for their pro-
nel Ssuss 81 "os and Of aoa4
have been appropriated for the current year to
provide for them. though tho total number of Of
bcco Wutlc Aies e"piostu 10 put ooo Aot LIZ
the current year of but forty while the total ap-
the ef United ss IS Ss
THE RAILWAYS.
The legislation affecting the relations of the
Government with railroads is in need of revis-
| ion. While for the most part the railroad COM
paEies throughout the country have cordially
co-operated with the Department in rendering
excellent service. yet under the law as it stands,
while the compensation to them for carrying the
mil is limited and regulated, and although the
H., do hY- Ian 10
no authority proposed anywhere to compel the
owner of 2 railroad to make and carry the United
The only alternative provided by an act of
Congress in case of a refusal is for the PostInas-
ter-General to send the mail forward by pony ex-
press. This is but an illustration of ill-fttins
legislation, reasonable and proper at the time Of
its enactment, but long since outgrown and
now requiring readiustment.
1t is gratifying 10 note from tho carefully pre-
pared statistics accompanying the Postmaster
Generals report, that notwithstanding the great
expansion of the service the ratio of expenditure
has been lessened and its efficiency has been i'm
proved in every branch. That fraud and crime
have been reduced, and that the number of COM
plants of the service made to postmasters and to
the department are far less than ever before.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The transactions of the Department of Justice
for the fiscal year which ended June 80, 1855, are
contained in the report of tho Attorney General,
as well a number Of valuable recommends
tions the most of which repetitions of those
previously made, and they ought to receive con-
It is stated in this report that. though judg-
ments in civil suits amounting to S55 2o2 100 we,
year, only the sum Of sio2,ssl was collected
thereon, and that though fines. penalties and
opy Of thn1 s Was TO
account thereos. These facts may furnish an
illus,r .tion of the sentiment which extensively
prevails thnt debt due the Government should
cause no Inconvenience to the citizen.
PoLYoAMY TRIALS.
Olt also appears from this report that though
rr;n TO fbaro hnI haan hints air
under the laws Of 1852 and 1852 p inishins polyg-
have % been since that date nearly GOO convictions
under these laws and the statutes of 1887. And
the opinion is that under sueh Sa rn
vance of ideas opposed to Il o 20 forbidden prac-
tices polygnmy within the United States is vir-
MORMON CORPORATIONS DISSOLVED.
The suits instituted by the Government under
the provisions of the act of March g. 1887 for the
termination of the corporations known as the
Perpetual Emigranting Fund Company and the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have
declaring the charters of thcsc corporations eor-
feited and eschea;ing their property. Such prop
in the hands Of n receiver pending further pro-
ceedings m appeal having been taken to tho
Supreme Court of tho United States.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
which will be laid /, Q ore you, the condition of
the various branches OF our domestic affairs con-
nccted with that department and its operations
during the past year arc fully cxhibo1. Only a
brief ie ercnce to some of the subjects discussed
in this able and interesting report can be here
made but commend Il Q entire report to the at
teniion Of Congress, and trrst that the many SEN
will secure careful consideration l cannot too
strenously insist upon the impoI t1nce OF propdr
measures to insur, right disp3sitit OF our
tce, but n a forecnst>of the consequence to fu-
ture generations
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The r )ad and rich acres OF aCric ulNur&l
plains have been long preserved by ra nre to be,
cone her cb dnd E 70 & pc N s sgITsd 1s
tributed ownership the Numerous homes of en-
lightened, equal and fraternl :citizens, as they
morrnfnl exam pie in our eyes of the evils of en-
tail, and ofrhe iniquties in landed propretorshp,
which other countries have permitted and still
suffer.
the principles co~cntly taught by reason and ex-
ample, nor for allowance of the pretexts
which have some lines exposed our lands to CO.
lossnl greed.
Laws which open the door to fraudulent acqui-
sition, or nn administration which permits of
favor to rnpacious seizure by n favorite few Of
the expanded areas that the many should enjoy,
are accessories to ohenses against our National
welfare md humanity. and cannot be too severely
condemned or punished.
LAND GRANT FoRFEITUREs.
It is gratifying to know that something has
been done at last to redress the INJURIES to our
people and CHECK the the HeElons tendency OF this
100000 acres have been wrested from illegal
usurpation, improvident grants, and fraudulent
entrees and claims. to be taken for tho horne
steads of honest industry Althouah this is less
than tho greater unjustly lost it must afford
u profound qualification to all rght-feeling citi
zens as IT is u recompense for the labors and
struggles Tor their recovery.
Our dear experience ought su ficiently to urge
tho speedy enactment of measures of legislation
which will confine the future disposition n of our
remaining ,ricultural lands to tho of nctu Il
husbandry and genuine homo; Nor should our
vast tracts of so-called des ,rt lands be yielded
to the monopoly OF corporations, or graspins in
dividuals, as nppearS TO be much tho tendency
under tho existing statutes. These lands require
but supply Of water to become fertile and pro-
ductive
IRRIGATION.
It is q problem of great moment how most
wisely for the public good that article shall be
Furnished. 1 cannot think i. other than perilous
to suffer either these lands tho Of their
irrigation to fall into the hands Of monopolies
which by snch means may exercise a lordship
over the areas dependent on this treatment for
productiveness. Alre.dy steps have been taken
to secure that accurate and scientific informa-
ton of the conditions which is the primo basis
OF intelligent action.
Until this shall bc a ned tho course of wisdom
appears clearly to lie IN n suspension OF further