The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-04

| OF large number or Dllls constantly intro
duced for the erection of public buildings at
places and involving expenditures not justified
by public necessity. | trust that this will be-
come law at the present session OF congress-
FOURTH CLASS PosrMAsrERs
OF the total number of postmasters 54.s74 are
OF the fourth class These, OF course. receive
no allowances whatever for expenses in
the service aud their niro.,,c eompea;H
receipts S at their H respective Offices Tnls rate q
| compensation may have been, and probably
was, at some time, Just, but the standard has
| remained unchanged through the several re-
| auctions in the ratio of postage Such reduc'
| tons have necessarily cut down the comrensa-
ton OF these officials, while it undoubtedly in
| creased the business performed by them, Sim
Pile justice requires attention TO this subject to
the end that fourth class postmasters may 70
ceive at least an equivalent TO that which the
law itself, fixing the rate, Intended for them.
POSTAL CLERKS.
Another class of postal employees whose con
dtion seems to demand leg Station is that of the
clerks in the postoiiees; and call especial at
| tention to the repeated recommendations OF the
Postmaster General for tHelr classification.
| Proper legislation of this character for the re.
| lief of carriers in the free delivery service has
been frequent. Provision is made for their pro
| motion; for substitutes for them on vacation;
| for su stitutes for holidays, aud limiting their
hours of labor. Seven million dollars has been
appropriated for the current year to
| number Of Offices where they are employed
is but 1858 for the past fiscal year. with an esti
mated increase for the current year OF but
| forty, while the total appropriation for ell the
| clerks in the offices throughout the United
States is S5,950,000.
| PAY OF TIE RAILROADS.
The legislation affecting tho relations of the
government with railroads is in need of revision.
| While for the most part the railroad companies
| throughout the country have cordially CO.
| operated with the postofce department In rem
| derlng excellent service yet under the law as II
stands, while the compensation TO them
| or carrying the mail is limited and
! regulated, and although the railroads are
| made post roads by law, there is no authority
| reposed anywhere 10 compel the owner OF
| railroad to take and carry the United States
mail. Tbs only alternative provided by act Of
congress IN case OF refusal is for the postmaster
| genera to send mail forward by pony express
| This is but an Illustration of Ill fitting
| legislation reasonable and proper at
| the time of its enactment, but long
| since outgrown and requiring readjustment
IL is gratifying To note fro II the carefully pre-
| pared statistics, accompanying the Postmaster
| Generals report that Notwithstanding the great
| expansion OF the service, the rate OF expendlt
| ure has been lessened and efficiency has been
| improved in every branch; that fraud and crime
have decreased; that losses from the mails 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.
Department of Justice.
| The transactions of the department OF justice
| for the fiscal year ended Jan. 30. 1893 are con.
| tanned IN the report OF the o. rney General as
well a number Of vau ,ble recommendations.
| the most of which are repetitions OF those pre-
viously made and ought to receive reconsidera-
| ton.
1t is stated in thisreport that though judgments
in civil suits amounting to S55a,021 we're recov-
cred In favor Of the government during the
| year, only the of S132,9 34 was coll sctei
| thereon; and that though fines penalties and
| forfeitures were imposed. amounting TO $5nt
S0S f3, only SlO9, o4S ~ OF that sum was paid on
| account thereof. These facts may furnish an
illustration for the sentiment which extensively
| prevails, that debt due the government should
cause no Inconvenience to the citizens.
| FURNISHING PoLYGAMY.
| IL also appears from this report that though
prior to March, 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 cohabitation as crimes
there have been since that date nearly 600 CON
| victlons under those laws and the statutes OF
| 1887. and the opinion il expressed that under
| such a I'm and vigant execution of these laws
and the advance of ideas opposed to the for,
hidden practices. poygamy within the United
States is virtually at an end.
| The suits Instituted by the government under
| the provisions of the act of March 3. 1871, for
| the termination Of the rp1rations known as
| the Perpetual Emigratng Fund Company and
| the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
| have resulted in decree favorable to the gov
| ernment, declaring the charters of these cor
| porationa forfeited, and escheatIng their pr ~
| erty. such property. amounting in value
70 more than Ss00000, is In the hands of re-
having been taken to the supreme court of
the United States.
| Secretary Villas Report.
| In the report of the Secretary Of the Interior
which will lie laid before you, the condition bf
| the various branches Of our domestic affairs
| connec' ed with that department md its opera.
| tons during the past year. are fully exhibited
| But brief reference to some of the subjects
| discussed in this able and interesting report con
| here be made; but commend the entire report
| TO the attention of the congress. and trust that
the sensible and valuable recommendations Il
| contains will secure careful consideration |
cannot too strenuously insist upon the import
| ance OF proper measures to insure a
right disposition of our public lands,
not only as matter OF present jus
tice, but In forensic of the consequences TO
future generations The broad. rich acres Of
| our agricultural plains have been long preeryed
| by nature TO become her untrammeed gift 10
| people civilized and free, npon which should
| rest in weli-distributed ownership, the nufner
| Gus homes of enlightened, equal and fraternal
citizens. They came to national possession
with the warning example in our eyes Of the
| entail OF iniquities IN landed propretorship
which other countries have permitted and still
| suffer
NO EXCUSE FOR WAITE.
We have no excuse for the violation 81 princi-
| Piles cogently taught by reason and example
| nor for tue allowance Of pretexts which have
sometimes exposed our hands TO colossal greed
Laws which open door TO fraudulent acquisi.
ton, or an administration which permits favor
TO rapacious seizure by favored few Of ex-
| panded areas that many should eD1oy. are &C
| cesSory to odenses against our ma.
| tional welfare and humanity, not to
be too severely condemned or punished,
| IL 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 S0,000.000 acres have been arrested from
| illegal usurpation, improvldent grants, and
| fraudulent entries aud claims. to be taken for
| the homesteads of honest industry-altho
| less than o greater areas thus unjustly lost
must afford profound qualification TO right
| feeling citizens, 1t Is recompense for the
labors and struggles Of the recovery.
SHOULD TEACH LESSON.
Our dear experience ought sufficiently TO urge
| the speedy enactment OF measures Of legisla-
| ton which will C Infde the future disposition OF
our remaining agricultural lands 10 the uses OF
| actual husbands aud genuine homes. nor should
| our vast tracts OF socalled desert lands be
| yielded up To the monopoly of corporations or
| grasping Individuals, as appears TO be much the
| tendency under the existing statute Those
lands require but the supply OF water 70 become
| fertile and productive. II Is a problem OF great
moment how most wisely for the public good
that factor shall be furnished. I cannot but
thiak IL perous TO suffer either these lands or
the sources OF their irrigation to fail into
the hands OF monopolIes which, by such means
may exercise lordship over The areas dope u lent
on their treatment for productiyenrss. Already
| steps have been taken 10 secure accurate and
| scientific Information OF the conditions, which
| 10 the prime basis OF intelligent action. Until
| this snail be gained the course Of wisdom
appears clearly TO Ito In a supervision Of further
disposal. which only pr misses TO create rights