The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-12-14

Another class of postal employees whose
condition seems to demand legi .tion,, Isl
that of clerks in pOstOfices; and l call eS-
pecial attention to the repeated recon.
mendatiOns Of the postmaster general for
their classification. Proper legislation OF
this character for the relief of carriers In
the free delivery service has been frequent
Provision is made for the promotion OF sub
stitutes, 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 forty, while the total appropriation for
all the clerks in Offices throughout the
United States is SIS, $50, 600. The legisla-
ton affecting the relations of the govern
ment with railroads is in need of revision.
While for the most part the railroad COM
panies throughout the country have cor
daily co-op1fated with the pOstofice de-
partment in rendering excellent service,
vet under the law as it stands, while the
compensation to them for carrying the
mail is limited and regulated, and al
though she railroads are made post roads
by law, there is no authority reposed any
where to compel the 0wner of a railroad to
take and carry the United States mail.
The only alternative provided by the act Of
congress in case Of a refusal is for the post
master-general to send the mail forward by
pony express. This is but an illustration
Of i'll fitting legislation, reasonable and
proper at the time of its enactment, but
long since Outgr0wn and requiring read
justment. 1t is gratifying to note from the
carefully prepared statistics accompany
ing the postmaster generals report that
Notwithstanding the great expansion of the
service, the rate of expenditures 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 service made to the 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 ended June 80,
1883, are contained in the report of the
attorney general. as well as q number OF
| valuable recommendations, most of which
are repetitions of those previously made,
and ought to receive consideration. 1t is
| stated in this report that while judgments
in civil suits amounting to $652, O21.N were
recovered in favor Of the government dur
ing the year, only the sum of $lS2, 1884 was
| collected thereon, and that though fines,
| penalties and f%Orteitures were imposed
amounting to $541, sos. 4S, only $109, 648. AZ
of that sum was paid on account thereof.
| the sentiment which extensively prevails,
that a debt due the government should
cause no inconvenience to the citizen.
| 1t also appears from this report that
| though prior to March, 1886, there had been
but six convictions in the territories of
| Utah and Idaho under the laws of 1852 and
1882, Furnishing polygamy and unlawful
| since that date nearly 600 convictions IN
der these laws, and the statutes Of 1881, and
the opinion is expressed that under such
firm and vigilant execution of those laws
and the advance of ideas opposed to the
forbidden practices, polygamy within the
| United States is virtually at an end. The
suits instituted by the government under
the provisions of the act of March s, 1887.
for the termination of the corporations
known as the Perpetual Emigrating Fund
company and the Church of Jesus Christ OF
Latter Day Saints have resulted in a de
cree favorable to the government, declar
ing the charters Of those corporations for
feited and escheating their property, such
property amounting in value to more than
3ouV,veoV, Is II Cno nau9e VI q receiver,
pending further proceedings, an appeal
having been taken to the supreme court OF
the United States.
H PUBLIC LANDS.
In the report Of the secretary of the in.
terror, which will be laid before you, the
condition of the various branches Of GU,
domestic affairs connected with that de.
partment, and its operations during the
past year, are fully exhibited. But a brief
reference to some subjects discussed in this
able and interesting report can be here
made; but l recommend the entire report
to the attention of congress, and trust the
sensible and valuable recommendations il
contains will secure careful consideration.
l cannot too s~trenu0usly insist upon the
Importance of proper measures to insure a
| right disposition of u public lands, not
only as a matter of present justice, but in
the interest of future generations. The
broad, rich acres Of our agricultural plains
have been long preserved by nature to be
come her untrammelled gift to a people
civilized and free, upon which should rest,
in we'll distributed ownership, the numer-
Gus homes of enlightened, equal and fra
ternal citizens. They came into the ma.
tional possession with the warning example
in III eyes of the entail and of the iniqui.
ties In landed proprletorship which other
countries have permitted and still suffer.
We have no excuse for the violation of
principles cogently taught by reason and
example nor for the allowance of pretexts
| which have sometimes exposed our lands to
colossal greed. Laws which open the doors
to fraudulent acquisition or administration,
which permit and favor to rapacious seiz-
ure by a favored few Of expanded areas
that many should enjoy, are accessory to
offenses against our national welfare and
humanity not to be too severely condemned
or punished.
1t is gratifying to know that something
has been done at Jast'to redress the injur-
les to our people aDd check the perilous
tendency OF the reckless waste of the ma
tional domain. That over &c. 00, 900 acres
have been wrested from illegal u%surption,
improvldent grants and fraudulent entries
and claims to be taken for the homesteads
Of honest industry, although less han the
greater areas thus unjustly lost, must at
ford a profound qualification to right-feel-
ing citizens, as it is a recompense for the
lab0rR and S~trnpplas IF RECOVERY