Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-15

VIM Htt'it !. III NV INV -. NHtS ~
rcrtily thr-.' wrong. -hul.I not tee az
, cti,,d g.. ci.Mlty ar inGii,. renee - HE
! claims 81 honest Veterans.
| The ~um expended on account OF
pensions :pr the year ended June 80.
! l>-3. was !. IG,Il0,IG7 II. The com
missioner estimates that SlGJ0no.0tn
will zee required t. pay pensions dur
ing the year ending June %, 1891.
MILITARY ACADEMIES.
The report Il the military academy
At West Point and the several schools
Tor special instructions OF officers show
marked advanced in the education Of
the army and commendable ambition
among its officers to excel in the
military profession and to fit them
selves for the highest service to the
country. Under the supervision OF
Acknowledgement Robert Williams,
lately retired, the bureau OF military
information has become well estab-
lished and is performing a service that
will put in possession OF the govern
ment in time OF war most valuable
/ information, and at all times serve a
purpose OF great utility in keeping the
army advised OF the worlds progress
in all matters pertaining to the art of
war.
DEPART MENT OF JUSTICE.
! The report of the Encouragement
contains the usual summary of the
affairs and proceedings of the depart
ment of justice for the past year,
together with certain recommends
tons IS to needed legislation on vari.
Gus subjects. l cannot too heartily
indorse the proposition that the fee
system, as applicable TO the compensa-
ton of United States attorneys,
marshals, clerks of federal courts and
United States commissioners, should
be abolished with as little delay as
possible. 1t is clearly in the interest
OF the community that the business
OF the courts, both civil and criminal,
be as small and as inexpensively trans
acted as the ends of justice will allow.
The system is therefore thoroughly
vicious which makes the compensation
of court officials depend upon the
volume of such business and thus
creates a conflict between the proper
execution of the law and private gain.
which cannot fail to be dangerous to
the rights and freedom OF of citizens,
an irresistible temptation to the I'M
justifiable expenditure of public funds.
DISPOSITION OF PETTY oFFENsEs.
If, in addition to this reform,
another was inaugurated which would
give to United States commissioners
the final disposition of petty offenses
within the grade of the misdemeanor,
especially those coming under the in.
ternal revenue laws, q great advance
would be made toward a more decent
administration of the criminal law.
In my first message to Congress dated
December 8, 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 federal courts
and the expense attending it have
enormously increased. The number
OF criminal prosecutions pending in
the circuit and district courts on the |
LIST day of July, 1885, was 3,806, OF
which 1854 were for violations of the |
internal revenue laws, while the num-
Der of such prosecutions pending or
the LIST day Of July, 1893, was $500,
of which a, 200 were for violation OF the
internal revenue laws. The expense
of the United States Courts, exclusive |
OF judges salaries, for the year ending |
July l, 1885. was $2,874, 1881, and
for the year ending July l, 1893, $4,-
52S,656.87. It is therefore apparent
that the reasons given in 1885 for q |
change in the manner of enforcing the |
federal criminal laws have gained |
cognizance and strength by lapse of
time.
DEGREES OF MURDER.
I also heartily join the Attorney
General 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 suf- |
ficiency of an indictment, or against
the government, or upon any other
question arising before actual trial
limiting the right of review in cases
of felony punishable only by fine and
imprisonment 10 the circuit court of
appeals, and making speedy provision
for the construction of such prisons
and reformatories as may be necessary
for the confinement of the United
States convicts.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The report OF the Postmaster-Gen-
eral contains a detailed statement of
the operations of the postoffice de-
partment during the last fiscal year
and mnch 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 quickly reduces
the postal revenues. Therefore, q
larger discrepancy than usual between
the postofice receipts and expendi-
| lures is the expected and unavoidable
result of the distressing stringency
which has prevailed throughout the
country during much of the time COW
cred by the Postmaster Generals re.
port.
At date when better times were
anticipated, it was estimated by his
predecessor that the deficiency on the
30th day of June, 1898, would be lit
tie over $1,5OOO0O. It amounted,
however, to more than $5O00,OOO; at
the same time and under the influence
of like anticipations, estimates were
made for the current fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1894, which exhibited a
surplus of revenue over expenditures
of 1872 ,245.71. But now, in view of
the actual receipts and expenditures
during that part of the current fiscal
year already expired, the report of
, the Postmaster-Geueral estimates that
at its close, instead of . surplus, there
will be deficiency of nearly So, OOO,-
600.
RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR.
The postoffice receipts for the last
fiscal year amounted to SIS, 1896 ,933. Is,
and its expenditures to $81 ,O74, 1O4.9O.
This postofice deficiency would
disappear, or be immensely decreased,
if less matter was carried free through
the mails an item of which is upward
of 300 tons of seeds and grain from
the agricultural department. The
total number of postoffices in the
| TTnitad Sfotoo oy, tho Qffh dow ~ luna