Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-04

admit OF ought not 10 BE- neglected. am
:. tisfed there should be Federal court
stabushed for the Territory. with sum-
cIent Judges. and that this court should
~ within me Territory and have the
ssme jurisdiction a. to Tsrritorial affairs
~ is now vested In the Federal courts
sittine In Arkansas and Texas.
Another subject Of pressing moment
referred to by the Attorney-0enerai 10
the reorganization OF the Union Pacino
Railway Company on basis equitable
as regards all private interests ana as
favorable To the government a. existing
conditions will permit. The operation of
= railroad by a court through q receiver
h an Anomalous state Of things. which
should be terminated. on all grounds,
publIc and private, at the earliest possible
moment. BesldeA, not to enact the needed
enabling legislation at the present ses-
sion postponss the whole matter until
the assembling OF new Congress. and
Inevitably increases all the complications
~ the situation. and could not but be
regarded as a. signal failure to solve
problem Which has practically been be-
fore the present Congress ever since It's
organization.
FEDERAL PRISONS.
Eight years ago. In my annual mes
sage, I urged upon the Congress as
strongly as / could the location and con-
struction of two prisons for the con-
finement OF United States prisoners. A
similar recommendation has been made
from time TO time since. and a few years
ago A law was passed providing for the
selection of sites for three such insti-
buttons. No appropriation has. however,
been made 10 carry the act Into effect,
and the old and discredltable con-
dition still exists.
It is not my purpose at this time to
repeat the considerations which make an
impregnable case In favor OF the own
ership and management by the govern
ment of the penal institutions In which
Federal prisoners are confined. l simply
desire to again urge former recommen-
dations on the subject. and TO particularly
call the attention OF the Congress to
that part of the report Of the Secretary
of war In which he states that the
military prison at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan. can be turned over to the govern
ment as prison for Federal
copyicts without the least difficulty, and
with an actual saving OF money from
every point Of view. Pending a more
complete reform. hope that by the
adoption Of the suggestion OF the Secre-
tary OF War this easy step may be
taken In the direction OF the proper care
OF its convicts by the Government OF
the United States.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The report OF the Postmaster-General
presents a comprehensive statement OF
the operations Of the Post-Office Depart
ment for the last fiscal year. The re-
CENTS of the department during the year
amounted to SIS, $50, 1901, and the expendi-
t,res 10 Ss4,S2t44l5. The transactions
of the postal service indicate with baro-
metric certainty the fluctuations In the
business Of the country. 1nasmuch.
therefore. as business complications con-
tinued to exist throughout the last year
to an Unforeseen extent, II Is not sur
prisinC that the deficiency OF revenue
to meet the expenditures Of the Post
Office Department. which was estimated
In advance at about %,Ooo,oo should be
exceeded by neatly one and quarter
million dollars.
The ascertained revenues OF the last
wear. which were the basis OF calculation
for the current year, VIII be correspond
ingly greater, though the Postmaster
General states that the latest indications
are 60 favorable that he confidently pre-
diets an increase Of at least per cent.
in the revenues of the current year over
those OF last year. The expenditures In
crease steadily and necessarily with the
growth and needs OF the country. SO that
the deficiency Is greater or LEGS IN any
year depending upon the volume OF re-
ceipts.
THE Postmaster General states that THIS
deficiency is unnecessary, and might be
ohvIated at once II the law regulating
rites upon mail matter of the second
class WAS modified. The rate received for
the transmission Of this second-class mat
ter IS 1 cent per pound: the cost of such
TO the government Is eight
times that amount. In the general terms
If the law. this rate covers newspapers
and periodicals. The extensions OF the
meaning OF these terms from time TO
time have admitted 10 the privileges IN
tended for legitimate newspapers ana
periodicals q surprising range OF publ
cations. and created abuses. the cost OF
which amounts in the aggregate to the
total deficiency OF the Post-Oflce Depart
ment.
Pretended newspapers are started by
business houses for the mere purpose OF
advertising goods. complying with the law
In form only and disseminating the pup
licat!ons as soon as the period OF adVer-
Using Is over sample copies or pre-
tended newspapers are Issued In great
number for a like purpose only. The re-
suit is a great loss of revenue TO the
Besides, 1t is humiliating-
This use OF the service as an agency TO
aid IN carrying out the scheme OF a bust
ness house TO advertise It's goods by means
Of a trick upon both its riOl houses and
n
literature, consisting mainly
OF trashy novels, to the extent of many
thousands of tons, Is sent through the
mails at / cent per pound. while the pub
fishers Of standard works are required to
nav eight times the amount in sending
their publications.
Another abuse consists in the free car
riage through the mails of hundreds or
tons OF seed and grain uselessly dis
tributed through the Department OF Agri-
The Postmaster-General predicts
that IL the law be so amended as TO eradi-
cate these abuses. not only Will the Post
Office Department show no deficiency, but
he believes that In the near future all
legitimate newspapers and periodical
magazines might be properly transmitted
through the mails to their subscribers
free of cost. l invite your prompt con-
sideration Of this subject. and fully in
dorse the views of the Postmaster-Gene-
raj.
The total number of post-offices in the
United States on the 30th day OF June. 1894.
was 1856, an increase OF I.f03 over the
preceding year. OF these. 3,i2s were presi-
Dental, an increase in that class of fS
over the preceding year
FREE MAIL DELIVERY.
Six hundred and ten cities and towns
are provided with free delivery. Ninety
three other cities and towns entitled to
this service under the law have not been
accorded 1t on account Of insufficient
funds.
The expense of free delivery for the cur
rent fiscal year will be more than 1880
900, and under existing legislation this
item Of expenditure is subject TO constant
increase. The estimated cost Of rural
free delivery. generally, is so very large
that 1t ought not to be considered in the
present condition Of affairs.
During the year $50 additional domestic
money-order offices were established. The
total number OF these Offices at the close
of the year was 1924. There were 14,304,-
OIL money orders issued during the year,
being an increase over the preceding year
of 1894, S06. The value Of these orders
to sl3s.7s3 579.4s an increase of
81, 2l7 1854. There were also issued during
the year postal notes amounting to sl2,-
649, o9i55
During the year 21s international money
orlo, nRoo- xpora atIa1 ~ tboaa otraad,y