The herald., 1893-12-04
ing tho army advised of the worlds
progress in all matters pertaining to the
art OF war.

lrQgreEs IN all matters pertaining 10 tne
art OF war.
DEPARTMENT OF JUsTIcE.
The report OF the attorney general
contains the usual summary OF the al
fsirs and proceedingc OF the department
q justice for the past year, together
with certain recommendations as to
needed legislation on varioue subjects.
canno: too heartily indorae the propo-
r't;on that the fee system, as applicable
10 the compensation Of United
Sta es attorneys, marshals, clerks, off,
ciaI courts and United States commls-
eionere, should be abolished with as
littlc delay ee poeeibie. 1t ls Clearly In
tho interest of the comm unity that the
bueineas OF the courts, both civil and
criminal, snail be ss small and as mex
pensiyely transacted ss The ends OF JUS
tice will allow.
The syetem is therefore Thoroughly
vicious which makes the compensation
Of court officials depend upon the vol
ume of such business, and thus creates
q conflict between proper execution OF
oh. law and private gain, which cannot
fail to be dangerous to the rights and
freedom of the citizens, an irresistible
mpthtiOn W ti4O ~ ~tSNN
ture of public funde.
If. in addition to this reform, another
was insugurated which would give to
United States commissioners the final
disposition of petty offsnses within the
grade Of misdemeanors, especially those
coming under the internal revenue lswe.
a great advance would be made towards
3 more decent administration of the
criminal law.
In nv first message to congress, dated
December, Sth, 1885, strongly recon-
mended these changes, and referred
somewhat at length to the evils OF the
present system. Since that time the
criminal business of the general courts
and the expense attending 1t have
enormously increased. The num-
ber OF criminal prosecutions now
pending in the circuit and district
courts of The United States, and on
the first day of July, 1885, was 3S0S,
of which 1884 were for violations OF
the internal revenue laws, while the
number of such prosecutions pending
on the first day of July, 1898, 420O, all
of which were for violation of the in
ternal revenue laws.
The expense OF the United States court,
exclusive of judges salaries, for the year
ending July l, 1885, was $2,S74, 1911, ,
and for the year ending July l, 1898,
$4,528, ,656.S7. 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.
I also heartily join the attorney gem
eral in recommending legislation fixing
degrees of the crime OF murder within
federal jurisdiction, 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 sufficiency Of an indictment
or against the government upon any
other question arising before actual
trial, limiting the right of review in
cases OF felony, punishable only by fine
and imprisonment, to the circuit court
of appeals, and making speedy pro-
vision for the construction Of such
prisons and reformatories az may be
necessary for the confinement OF United
States convicts.
PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster-general
contains a detailed statement of the
operations of the postotfice department
during the last fiscal year, and much
interesting information touching this
important branch of the public service.
The business of the mails indicates with
absolute certainty the condition OF the
business OF the country and depression
in financial affairs inevitably and quick
ly reduces the postal revenues. There
fore larger discrepancy than usual be-
tween the postofice receipts and expen-
ditures is the expected and unavoidable
result of the distressing strlngency
which has prevailed through
out the country during much
of the time covered by the postmaster
generals report. At date when bet
ter times were anticipated it was esti-
mated by his predecessor that the
deficiency on the 30th day OF June,
1888, would be but little over million
and a half dollars. 1t amounted, how
ever, to more than five millions. Al
the came time and under the influence
OF like anticipation, estimates were
made for the current dHcal year ending
June 30, 1894. which exhibited a sur
plus Of revenue over expenditures O
1872 245.7l. But now, in view OF thu
actual receipts and expenditures durinl
that part OF the current fiscal yea
already expired, the recent postmaste
general estimated that at its close in
stead of a surplus there will be de
fciency OF nearly eight million dollars
The postofice receipts for the las
fiecal year amounted to $75,S96, 933. II
and its expenditures to $Sl, ,O74 ,l04. 81
This poetoffice deficiency would dleaI
pear or be immensely decreased II lee
matter was carried free through tn
mails, an item which is upward OF 81
tons OF seeds and grain from the agr
cultural department.
The total number OF postoffices in tn
United States on the 30th day OF Jun'
1893, was 68, ,403, an increase Of 1854 ovt
the preceding year. OF these 1850 wer
presidential, an increase in this class
204 over the preceding year.
Forty-two free delivery offices wei
added during the year to those alread
existing. making a tota OF 6l0 clti'
and towns provided with free deliver
on June 80, 1898. Ninety-three otht
cities and towns are entitled to tn
service under the law, but it has nj
been accorded them on account OF Il
sufficient funds to meet the expense
its establishment. | am decidedly
the opinion that the provisions OF tt
present law permit as general an lntr
duction of this feature of the mail SO
vice as is necessary or 1ustlhable, an
that it ought not to be extended
smaller communities than are now de
ignated.
The expense of the free delivery +