Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-12-07

Al other class OF postal employees whose CON
dition seems to demand legislation is that Of the
TO tie repeated Recommendations of the post
maste- general for their classification. Proper
egisiaiiou or this character for the relief OF car
quent. PROVISION is made fer their promotion,
for sub sttutes for them vacations, for substi-
tu.es for holidays and limiting Their hours OF
appropriated for the current year to
provide for them, though the total
is but sos for the past fiscal year, with an esti
mated increase for the current year, OF but 40,
while the total appropriation for all clerks in the
offices throughout the United States Is S. $50 coo.
The legislation affecting the relation OF the gov
eminent with the railroads is in need OF revision.
While for the most part the railroad companies
throughout the country have cordially cooper
ated with the postoffice department IN rendering
excellent service, yet under the law, as II now
stands, while the compensation to them for car
rying the mail is limited and regulated, and al
though the railroads are made post roads by law.
there Is no authority reposed anywhere to COM
pei the owner OF a railr' sd to take and carry the
United States mail The only alternative provid-
ed by act OF congress in case OF refusal, Is for
the postmaster general TO send the mali forward
by pony express. This is but an illustration of
The iil-fitting legislation, reasonable and proper
at the time OF its enactment, but long since out
grown, and requiring re-adjustment-
1t is gratifying to note from the carefully pre-
pared statistics accompanying the postmaster
general report, that notwithstanding the great
expansion OF the service the rate of expenditures
he's been IeSsened, and efficiency has been i'm
proved in every branch; tkat fraud and crime
hive decreased: that losses from the mails have
been IT 7uced, and that the number of complaints
of the service made TO poStmaSters and 70 the
department are far less than ever before.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy demon
strates very intelligent management IN tina
important department,and discloSeS the most sat
iSfactory progress in the work of the reconStruc-
ton OF the navy made during the past year OF
the ships in course Of construction five, viz:
the Charleston lSo riO1Drp Yorktown, leSliN!llS
and the Petrol have in that time been launched
and are rapidly approaching completion, ana IN
addition to the above the Phllauelphla, the
San Francisco, the Newark. the Bennlugt on, the
Concord and the HerreShof torpedo boats, are all
under contract for delivery to the department
during the next year. The progress already
made and being made gives good ground for the
expectation that these eleven vessels VIII be IN
corporated as part of the American navy within
the next twelve months
The report shows that notwithstanding the
large expenditure for new construction and the
additional labor they involve the total ordinary or
current expenditure of the department for the
three years ending June 80 1888, are less 10y
more than twenty per cent. IMAM such eXperul-
lures for the three years ending June 80, 1854
The various steps which have been taken to i'm
prove the business methods of the business de
partmeIs are reviewed by the secretary. The
purchas ,ng Of supplies has been consolidated and
placed Under responsible bureau heads. Inis
Result ed in the curtaiiment of open purchases
over so per cent. of all purchases of the depart
ment, no less than II per cent SO at the present
time about 90 per cent of the total departmental
purchases are made by contract, and after com
petition as the expenditures of the account eX-
coed an average of s., 100000 annually 1t Is evI-
dent that an important improvement in the SyS-
tenn has been inaugurated and substantial re-
economies introduced.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The transactions of the department of justice
for the fiscal year ended June So 1888, are con-
tanned in the report OF the attorney general as
number of valuable recommendations, the most
Of which are repetitions of those previously made
and ought to receive consideration.
1t is stated in this report that though judgments
in civil suits amounting to 552,02lO S We're re-
covered in favor of the government during the
year, only the sum of S132,94 was collected
thereon and that though fines, penalties and for
FIXTURES were imposed amounting TO Sj4l,S SAB,
only S109, 64S.42 of that sum paid on account
thereof. There facts may furnish an illustration
of the sentiment which extensively prevails that
debt due the government should cause 10 incOn-
venience to the citizens.
1t also appears from this report that thou-h
prior to March, 1885, there had been but SIX con-
victions in the territories Of Utah and Idaho
under the laws of 1862 and 1882, Furnishing TOlyg
amy and unlawful co.habtatiOn Grim,
there has been since that date nearly 600 conYic-
tons uuder these laws and statutes of 1887, and
the opinion is expressed that under such firm
and vigilant execution of these laws and the ad-
vance of ideas opposed to the forbidden practice
IF polygamy within the United States Is virtually
at an end. The suits instituted by the govern
Inent under the provisions of the act of March 3,
1887, for the termination of the corporations
known as the perpetual emigrating fund COM
pany and the church of Jesus Christ OF the later
day saints have resulted in degree favorable to
the government declaring the charter of these
corporations forfeited and eSch2atlnS their
property, such property amounting in value to
more than $500, GOO, AMI is in the hands OF a re
ceiver pending further proceedings, an appeal
having been taken to the supreme court OF the
United States