The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-12-08

they are designed TO meet, emplacements
must be prepared for them. Progress has
been made in this direction, and it Is de-
sirable thai congress by adequate appro-
priations should provide for the uninter-
rupted prosecution of this necessary work.
Federal Courts.
The report of the attorney general con-
tains the usual summary of the affairs and
proceedings Of the department OF justice
Tor the past year, together with certain
recommendations as to needed legislation
on various subjects. cannot too heartily
indorse the proposition that the fee sys-
tenn as applicable to the compensation Of
United States attorneys, marshals, clerks
of federal courts and United States COM
missioners, should be abolished with as
little delay as possible. It Is clearly in the
interest Of the community that the busi-
ness 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 vic
ious which makes the compensation of
court officials depend upon the volume Of
such business, and thus creates conflict
between proper execution of the law and
private gain, which cannot fail to be dan
gerous to the rights and freedom of the
citizen and an irresistible temptation to
the unjustifiable expenditure OF public
funds. III In addition to this reform an
other was inaugurated which would give
to United States commissioners the final
disposition Of petty offenses within the
grade OF misdemeanors, especially those
coming under the internal revenue laws, a
great advance would be made toward a
more decent administration of the criminal
law.
In my first message to congress, dated
Dec. 8, 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 fed
eral courts and the expense attending It
have enormously increased. The expense
of the United States courts, exclusive of
judges salaries, for the year ending July
/, 1885, was S2,s74, 1888. II, and for the year
ending July 1, 1898. s4,52s, ,676s7.
IL 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 attorney general
In recommending legislation fixing de-
grees of the crime of murder within fed
eral jurisdiction, rs 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 upon any other question aris-
ing before actual trial, limiting the right
of review in cases Of felony punishable
only by fine and imprisonment to the cir
cult court of appeals and making speedy
provision for the construction of such pris-
sons and reformatories as may be neces-
sary for the confinement of United States
convicts.
Tho Postal 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 re-
duces the postal revenues Therefore a
larger discrepancy than usual between the
postoffice receipts and expenditures is the
expected and unavoidable result of the
distressing stringency which has prevailed
throughout the country during much Of
the time covered by the postmaster gem
erals report. At date when better times
were anticipated it was estimated by his
predecessor that the deficiency on the 3Oth
day of June, 1S93 would be but little
over 81, 100000. 1t amounted, however, to
more than $5,O00,0O0.
At the same time, and under the infiu-
ence of like anticipations, estimates were
made for the current fiscal year ending
June 80, 1894, which exhibited surplus of
revenue over expenditures of sS72, ,245 II; (;
but now, in view Of the actual receipts and
expenditures during that part of the cur
rent fiscal year already expired, the present
postmaster general estimates that at it's
close instead Of surplus there will be
deficiency Of nearly sS,000,00O.
The postoffice receipts for the fiscal year
amounted to S75, SOC, ,933. 16 and its expendi-
lures to sSl, ,074, 104.90. This postoffice de-
ficiency would disappear or be immensely
decreased If less matter was carried free
through the mails, an item of which is up
ward of 800 tons of seeds and grain from
the agricultural department..
Forty-two free delivery offices were add
ed during the year to those already exist
ing, making a total of 610 cities and towns
provided with free delivery on June 80,
1893 Ninety-three other cities and towns
are now entitled to this service under the
law, but it has not been accorded them on
account of insufficient funds to meet the
expense of its establishment.
am decidedly of the opinion that the
provisions of the present law permit as
general an introduction of this feature of
mail service as is necessary or justifable,
and that it ought not to be extended to
smaller communities than are now desig-
mated.
There were 6,401 additions to the domes-
tic money order offices during the last fis-
cal year. being the largest increase in any
year since the Inauguration of the system.
The total number of these offices at the
close of the year was IS, ,434.
During the year 1875 international money
order offices were added to those already
provided, making total of 2,407 in opera
tion on June 80, 1893. The total issue of
money orders and postal notes for the year
amounted to Sl56,S2l ,3is24.
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special delivery
was 3,375, 5,693, an increase over the preced-
ing year of nearly 90 per cent. The special
delivery stamps used amounted to S337,-
500 80, and the messengers fees amounted
to $3.50, ,592.7l, leaving profit to the gov
ernment of SS0,976.59
Railway Maii EarviCa.