Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-12-14

panies throughout the country have cor
daily cO-OpeEated with the postoffce
department Ia rendering exaltant service.
yet under the law as IL stands while the
compensation to them for carving the
mail IS limited and regulated. and al
though railroads are made post roads by
law there Is no authority reported any
Rners TO compel the owner Of q railroad
to take and carry the United States mail.
The only alternative provided by act OF
congress IN case of refusal is for the post
master general TO send mail forward by
pony express. This is but an illustration
Of Ill fitting legislation, reasonable and
proper a. the time of its enactment, but
long since OutgrOwn and requiring read
justment.
It IS gratifying to note from the care
fully prepared statistics accompanying
the postmaster generals report, that not.
W4thstanding the great expansion Of ser
VICE the rate OF expenditure has been les
sened 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 complaints made to postmRsters and to
the department are far less than ever be-
fore
DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE.
The transactions of the departments of
Justice for the fiscal year ended June
so, 1888, are contained in the
report Of the attorney general, as
well as number OF valuable
recommendations the most Of
which are repetitiOns of those previously
made and ought to receive consideration.
It is stated In the report that judgements
In civil suits amounting to $685., 021.08
were recovered In favor OF the govern
ment. During the year only the sum Of
$32 934 was collected thereon, and that
thorough fines and penalties, and failures
were imposed amounting to S54l, S0S.43
only 500, 448. q of that sum WIS paid on
account thereof. These facts may fur
nish an illustration of tie sentiment
which extensively prevails that a debt
due the government should cause no in
convenience to the citizen.
TIE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
In the report of the secretary Of the in
terror, which viii be laid before you the
condition of the various branches of our
domestic affairs connected with that de-
partment and its operations during the
past year, are fully exhibited. But q
brief reference to some OF the subjects
discussed IN this able Rnd interesting re-
port, can be here made, but / recommend
the entire report to the attention Of con
gress and trust that the sensible and val
liable recommendations it contains VIII
secure careful consideration. 1
cannot too stearnly insist on
the importance Of popular meas
ures to insure a right disposition
Of our public lands, not only as a matter
Of present Justice, but in forecast to con-
sequences to future generations. The
broad, rich acres Of our agricultural
plains have been long preserved by ma
ture to become her untrammelled gift to
a people civilized and free, upon which
c1nrlH r11t yza1l .7iefri l1TrAc7 OrzyT,rvs-
ship, the numerous homes of enlightened,
equal and fraternaI citizens. We came
TO national possession with the warning
example IN our eyes of the entailment Of
inequities of the landed prOprietorship
which other countries have permitted and
still suffer. We have no excuse for the
violation Of principles cOgently taught
nor for the allowance of
pretexts which have sometimes
exposed our land to colossal greed laws.
which open door to fraudulent acquisi-
tiOn An administration which permits
favor to rapaciOus seizure, by a favored
few, Of expanded areas that many should
enjoy, Is accessory to Offenses against
our national welfare and humanity and to
be severely condemned or punished.
It is gratifying to know that something
has been done at least to redress the IN
juries to our people and check the peril
national domain; that over eighty mill
hon acres have been arrested from illegal
usuFpatiOn, imprOVident grants and
fraudulent entries and claims to be taken
from the hOmesteRds Of honest industry.
Although less than the greater areas
thus unjustly lost, il must afford
a profound qualification to right feeling
citizens, as it is a recOnApense for the Ia
bOrs and struggles OF the recovery. Our
dear experience ought sufficiently to urge
the speedy enactment Of measures of
legislation which Will confine the further
disposition Of our remaining agricultural
lands to the uses Of actual husbandry and
genuine homes.
WILD LANDS.
Nor should our waste tracts of so
called desert land be yielded up to the
monopoly Of corporations or grasping IN
diViduRls, as appears to be much the ten
dency under the existing statutes. These
lands require but the supply of water to
become fertile and productive. 1t is a
problem of great moment, how more
wisely for the public good that factor
shall be furnished. / cannot but think it
perilous to suffer either those lands or
the sources of their irrigation to fall in
to the hands of mOnOplies, which by
such means, may exercise lOrdship over
areas dependent on their treatment for
produetiveness. Already steps have
been taken TO secure accurate and seen
tific information of the conditions which
are the prime basis of intelligent action.
Until this shall be gained the course of
wisdom appears clearly to be IN a sus-
pension OF futher disposal to create rights
8ntaRonistic to the common interest. No
harm can follow this cautionary conduct
The land viii remain Rnd the public good
presents no demand for hasty dis
possession Of national ownership and
control
I commend also the recommendations