The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-06
THE MESSAGE.
Continued From First Page.

United States commissioners, at least III
the territories, the allowance OF wits OF
error in criminal cases in behalf of the
United States, and the establishment OF
degrees in the crime of murder.
A topic dealt with by the attorney gen
eral of much Importance is the condition
of the administration of justice in the In
dian Territory. The permanent solution
of what is called the Indian problem is
not to be expected at once, but meanwhile
such ameliorations of present conditions
as the existing system will admit ought
not to be neglected. l am satisfied there
should be federal court established for
the territory with sufficient judges, and
that this court should sit within the ter
ritory and have the same jurisdiction as
10 territorial affairs as is now vested in
the federal courts sitting in Arkansas and
Texas.
Another subject of pressing moment
referred to by the attorney general is
the reorganization of the Union Pacific
Railway company on a basis equitable
as regards all private interests and as
favorable to the government as exist
ing conditions will permit. The opera
ton of railroad by a court through
receivers is an anomalous state of things
which should be terminatd on all
grounds, public and private, at the
earliest possible moment; besides not
10 enact the needed enabling legislation
mt the present session postpOnes the
whole matter until the assembling of
a new congress, and inevitably increases
all the complications of the situation,
and could not but be regarded as sig
nal failure at solving weighty problem.
Eight years ago, in my annual message
| urged upon the congress as strongly
as | could, the location and construction
of two prisons for the commitment of
United States prisoners. a similar
recommendation has been made from
time to time since, and few years ago
n law was passed providing for the
selection of sites for three such insti-
tutions. No appropriation has, how
ever been made to carry the act INTO
effect and the old and discreditable
condition still exists 1t is not my pur-
pose at this time to repeat the consldera-
lions which make an impregnable case
in favor of the ownership and manage
ment by the government of the penal
institutions in which federal prisoners
are contained | simply desire to again
urge former recommendations on the
subject and to particularly call the at
tention of the congress to that part OF
the report of the secretary of war, III
which he states that the military prison
at Fort Leavenworth, Kan, can be
turned over TO the government as a
prison for federal convicts, without the
least difficulty and with an actual saw
ing of money from every point OF view:
Pending n more complete reform, l
hope that by the adoption of the sug-
restion of the secretary of war, this easy
step may be taken in the direction of
the proper care of its conyicts by the
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general
a comprehensive statement OF
the operations of the postotfice depart
ment for the last fiscal year.
The receipts of the department during
the year amounted to $75,OS0, 4l9.O4 ana
the expenditures to $S4, 324 ,414.15.
The transactions of the postal service
indicate with barometric certainty the
in business of the country.
Inasmuch, therefore, as business compll-
cations continued to exist throughout
the last year to an unforeseen extent. IT Is
not surprising that the deficiency of rev
nnues to meet the expenses OF the postotnce
which was estimated in ad-
vance to be about $S,000,000, should be
exceeded by nearly $1,250,0O0.
The ascertained revenues of the last
rear, which were the basis for calculation
for the current year, being less than es,
states that the latest indications are so
favorable that he confidently predicts an
Increase of at least so per cent in the
.eyenues of the current year over those
VI the last year. -,
The expenditures increase steadily
and necessarily with the sreWtn ana
leeds of the country, so the deficiency
$ greater or less in any year depending
ipOn the volume of receipts. i
The postmaster general states that II
his deficiency is unnecessary and might
be obviated at once if the law regulating
rates upon mail matter of the second
lass were modified. The rate received
for the transmission of second class mat
er is one cent per pound. while the cost
If such transmission to the government
$ eight times that amount In the gem
,ral terms of the law this rate covers
newspapers and periodicals. The eX-
ensions of the meaning of the items
rom time to time have admitted to priv
leges intended for legitimate newspa-
lers and periodicals Il surprising range I
Vt publications and created abuses the
'ost of which aggregate to the total de-
iciency of the postottice department.
Pretended newspapers are started by i
business houses for the mere purpose of
ADVERTISING goods, complying with the law L
u
alton as soon as the period of advertis-
ne is over. Sample copies" of pretend
ID newspapers are issued in great number
for like purpose, only the result is Il
great loss of revenue to the government,
besides its humiliating use as an agency |
10 aid in carrying out the scheme of a
business house to advertise its goods by |
means of trick upon both its rival
houses and the regular and legitimate
newspaper. Paper covered literature
consisting mainly of trashy novels, to the
extent of many thousands of tons is sent |
through the mails at one cent per pound, |
while the publishers of standard works |
are required TO pay eight times that |
amount in sending their publications. |
Another abuse consists in the free car |
rage through the mails of hundreds of |
tons of seed and grain uselessly distrib |
lted by the department of agriculture.
The postmaster general predicts that if |
The law be so amended as to abate these |
abuses, not only will the postotlice de-
Partment shows no deficiency. but he be-
ieves that in the near future all legiti |
mate newspapers and periodical maga |
zines might be properly transmitted |
through mails to their subscribers free of
cost. l invite your prompt consideration |
Of this subject and fully endorse the views |
Of the postmaster general.
The total number of poStotiices in the |
United States on the 3Oth day of June. |
1894, was 80. 500, an increase of 1903 over |
the preceding year. Six hundred and ten |
4 /,