The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-04

of ieasings and of site, it was a 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 7 to per
cent PER annum on what the cost of
such public buildings would be.
A very great advantage resulting from
such law would be the prevention of
a large number of bills constantly in
buildings at places and involving an
expenditure not justified by public
necessity. l trust that this measure
will become law at the present session
OF Congress. OF the total number of
postmasters 1854 are of the fourth
class. These, of course, receive no al
loWances whatever for excuses
in the services and their comrensa
ton is fixed by percentages on
receipts at their respective offices.
This rate of compensation may have
been, and probably was, at some time
just; but the standard has remained
unchanged through the several reduc-
tons 10 the rates OF postage. Such re-
auctions have necessarily cut down the
compensation of these officials, while it
undoubtedly increased the business
performed by them. Simple Justice
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 them.
Another class OF postal employees,
whose condition seems to demand leg.
islation is that of clerks in the post
Office; and l call special attention to
repeated recommendations of the Post
master-General TOR their classification
Proper legislation of this character for
the relief OF carriers in the free delivery
service has been frequent. Provision
IS made for their promotion; substitutes
for holidays and limiting their hours of
labor. Seven million of dollars
have been appropriated for the
current year to provide for
them, though the total number
of offices where they are employed
is but 1853 for the past fiscal year, with
an estimated increase for the current
year of but 40, while the total appro-
priation for all clerks in offices through
out the United States is S. 100000. The
legislation affecting the relations of the
government with the railroads is in
need of revision. While, for the most
part, the railroad companies throughout
the country have cordially co operated
with the Postottice Department in rem
derlng excellent service, yet under the
law, as it stands. while the
compensation to them for carry
ing the mail is limited and
regulated and, although railroads are
made post roads by law, there is no
authority reposed in any where to COM
| pei the owner of a railroad to take and
carry the United States mail. The
only alternative provided by act OF
| Congress in case of refusal is for the
| Postmaster-General to send the mail
through by pony express. This is but
an Illustration of the ill-6tting legis
lation, reasonable and proper at the
time of its enactment, but long since
outgrown - requiring readjustment.
1t is gratifying to note from the care
fully prepared statistics accompanying
| the Postmaster Generals report that
! Notwithstanding the great expansion of
| the service, the rate of expenditures
has been lessened and the efficiency has
been improved in every branch; that
fraud and crime have decreased, that
| losses from the mails have been re-
duceG, and that the number of COM
plants OF the service made to post
masters 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 June
80, 1888, are con tained in the report Of
The Attorney General, as well as q
number of valuable recommendations |
the most of which are repeti-
tons of those previously made, and |
which ought to receive cor sideration.
1t IS stated iDlfthis report that though |
judgments in civil suits amounting to |
So52 O2l.O8 were recovered in favor of |
the government during the year, only |
the sum of $132934 was collected |
thereon, and thai though fines, penal |
ties an forfeitures were imposed |
amounting to $541 ,S0S.43, only $780,
64S AZ of that sum was paid on account |
thereof. These facts may furnish an
illustration of the sentiment which ex-
tensively prevails, that a debt due to |
the government should cause no incon-
Venience to the citizen.
THE ANTI PoLYGAMY LAWS,
1t also appears from this report that
though prior to March, 1885, there had
been but six convictions in the Terri
tories of Utah and Idaho under the
laws OF 1862 and 1882, furnishing polyg-
amy and unlawful oohabitation as
crimes, there have been since that date
nearly 800 convictions under those laws
and the statutes of 1887, and the opin-
ion is expressed that under such firm
and Vigilant execution of those laws
and the advance of ideas opposed to the
forbidden practice, polygamy within
the United States is virtually at an end
TIE MORMON ogURCH SUITS.
The suits instituted by the govern
ment under the provisions of the act of
March Sd, 1887, for the termination of
the corporation known as the Perpetual
Emigrating Fund Company, and the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter DAY
Saints, have resulted in degree favor
able to the government, declaring the
charters of THESE corporations forfeited
and escheating their properly. Such
property, amounting in value to more
than 100000 is in the hands of a re-
ceiver, pending further proce edings, an
appeal having been taken to the Supreme
Court OF the United States.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.