Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

Of the community that the business of the
courts, both civil and criminal. shall be as
small and as inexpensively transacted as
the ends Of justice will allow.
The system is therefore thoroughly Vi
cious which makes the compensation OF
court officials depend upon the volume OF
such business, and thus creates a conflict
between a proper execution of the law ana
private gain, which can not fail to be dan
gerous to the rights and freedom OF the
citizen and an irresistible temptation to the
unJustiiiable expenditure of public funds.
III In addition to this reform another was
inaugurated which would give to United
States commissioners the final disposition
OF petty offenses within the grace OF mis-
cemeanors, especially those coming under
the internal revenue laws a great advance
would be made toward a more decent adj
ministration Of the criminal law
In my first message to Congress, dated
December s. 1885. strongly recommended
these changes and referred somewhat at
length to the evils of the present system.
Since that time the criminal business OF
the Federal courts and the expense attend
ing it have enormously increased The
number of criminal prosecutions pending
in the circuit and district courts Of the
United States on the first day OF July. 1885.
was three thousand eight hundred ana
eight, of which one thousand eight hundred
and eighty-four were for violations of the
internal-revenue laws, while the number OF
such prosecutions pending on the first day
of July, 1893, was nine thousand five hum
dred, of which four thousand two hundred
were for violations Of the internal-revenue
laws. The expense of the United States
courts, exclusive Of judges salaries, for the
year ending July /. 1885. was s. 1874. 1911.
and for the year ending July /, 1888, s4.52s.-
676s7.
1t is therefore apparent that the reasons
given in 1885 for a change in the manner
of enforcing the Federal criminal law, have
gained cogency and strength by lapse OF
time.
also heartily join the Acknowledgement
in recommending legislation fixing degrees
OF the crime of murder within Federal ju-
risdiction, as has been done in many OF the
States; authorizing writs of error on behalf
of the Government in cases where final
judgment is rendered against the suff1ciency
of an indictment or against the Government
upon any other question arising before ac-
tual trial; limiting the right of review in
cases of felony punishable only by fine ana
Imprisonment to the circuit court OF ap-
peals. and making speedy provision for the
construction Of such prisons and reforma-
tories as may be necessary for the confne-
ment of United States convicts.
The Postal Service.
The report of the Postmaster-General con-
tains detailed statement of the operations
of the Post-Office Department during the
last fiscal year and much interesting In
formation touching this important branch
of the public service.
absolute certainty the condition of the bust
ness of the country. and depression in finazl-
cial affairs inevitably and quickly reduces
the postal revenues. Therefore a larger
discrepancy than usual between the post
Office receipts and expenditures is the ex-
pected and unavoidable result of the dis
tressing stringency which has prevailed
throughout the country during much OF
the time covered by the Postmaster Gen.
erals report. At a date when better times
Were anticipated it was estimated by his
predecessor that the deficiency on the 3Oeh
day of June. 1898. would be but little over
a million and a half dollars. 1t amounted.
however, to more than five millions. At the
same time, and under the influence of lie
anticipations, estimates were made for the
current fiscal year ending June 80. 1884,
which exhibited a surplus of revenue over
expenditures of ss72245.71. but now. in view
of the actual receipts and expendi-
lures during that part of the cur
rent fiscal year already expired. the pres
ent Postmaster-General estimates that at
its close instead of a surplus there will be
a deficiency of nearly eight million dollars.
The post-ofiice receipts for the last fiscal
year amounted to s15, SD. 1888 16 and its en-
penditures to ssl ,074. l0490. This post-office
deficiency would disappear or be immensely
decreased If less matter was carried free
through the mails, an item of which is up
ward Of three hundred tons of seeds and
grain from the Agricultural Department
The total number of post-offices in the
United States on the 30:h day Of June, 1898,
was IS, 4OS, an increase of LISA over the
preceding year. OF these $500 were Presi-
Dental, an increase in that class OF 2O4 over
the preceding year.
Forty-two free-delivery offices were added
during the year to those already existing,
making q total Of six hundred and ten cIL-
les and towns provided with free delivery
on June 80, 1899. Ninety-three other cities
and towns are now entitled TO this service
under the law, but II has not been accorded
them on account of insufficient funds to
meet the expense of its establishment
L am decidedly of the opinion that the
provisions of the present law permit as
general dn OF lnlS feature
mail service is necessary or justinable,
and that It ought not to be extended co
smaller communities than are now desig-
mated.
The expense OF free delivery for the fiscal
year ending June 60, 1894, will be mora
than s1l,ooO.OO0. and under legislation now
existing there must be a constant increase
in this item of expenditure.
There were 6.40l additions to the domes-
tic money-order offices during the last fiscal
year, being the largest increase in any year
since the Inauguration of the system Tho
total number of these Offices at the close
of the year was 1884. There were $780,
49, money orders issued from these offices,
being an increase over the preceding year
of 0.293. and the value of these orders
amounted to sl27. $40. 1886, an increase OF
$500, 632.5S. There were also issued durinr
the year postal notes amounting to si2-
903O1673.
During the year la5 international money!
order offices were added to those already
provided, making a total of 2.4O7 in opera-
ton on June 30, 1893. The number of in
ternational money orders issued during the
year was 1.055,999. an increase over tho
preceding year of 12.525, and their value
was SlG,34l, S31.sG, an increase of sl22l-
5O6.31. The number of orders paid was
aaaN