district judges are designated for this purpose. CIR- Before the establishment of this new CUIT OF AP COURT Court, the decision of a circuit court was JURIS than $5,000 may be carried to Washington. ADMIN TIVE NESS DIS ATTOR Among the Federal administrative officers in Nebraska, the district attorney is the business agent of the nation. One is appointed ISTRA- for each district. In any matter arisBUSI- ing in connection with mail, revenue, or commerce, he represents the central government and acts for it in all suits. In any case concerning the amount of duty on imports or concerning national banks, the district TRICT attorney is counsel for the United States. NEY The post office, which involves a great deal of traffic, is under the immediate control of an executive officer. The laws governing it, howPOST ever, are made by Congress. The post OFFICE office system has developed under the care of the Nation. From the postmaster general, in the cabinet, down to the least clerk in a country post-office, there are a very large number of employees who were formerly appointed by the president, the post-master general, and his subordinates. Now, however, a far better plan has been introduced. It opens the positions to competition, and provides examinations for applicants. This plan, known as the civil service movement, is a step in removing the "spoils" system, or the system of rewarding partisans with office. Beginning with the most important clerkships in the executive department, it has been gradually extended to the lower positions and also to other departments of the government. CIVIL Many students have already heard about the "Original Package" bill. This involves the fact that the United States has control of all COM PORTS OF In MERCE commerce between states (Const. of U. S., Art. I., § 8, par. 3). When a case arises concerning goods carried from one state to another, it must come before the United States courts. connection with commercial relations, it is pertinent to ask what is meant by Lincoln and Omaha being ports of entry. Not all customs that ENTRY are levied upon goods brought into this country are collected at the harbor or place where the goods enter our boundaries. order that the goods may not have to be unpacked and packed again, the United States establishes custom houses in the interior, where all imports may be inspected and taxed according to the laws of Congress. The places where such custom houses are located are called ports of entry. In Since the first grants of land to the Union Pacific railroad during the territorial period, many RAIL- thousands of acres of land have been given for the same purpose. The United States has taken such a part in starting these great projects as public highways, that the question has arisen whether the Nation ought not to own them. Railroads carry so much freight and are used so extensively for traveling that they are of more than state importance. Nevertheless the State attempts to regulate the charges for freight and passengers, by the board of transportation. NA. Another subject of importance which the Nation controls is the banking system. The laws of Nebraska regulate how the business may be carried on here, but national banks are TIONAL formed under the laws of the United States. There is one bark examiner for Nebraska, appointed by the president, who reports at regular intervals on the condition of banks in the State. BANKS CON GRESS The State shares in the national government through its representatives. Every state is entitled to have two in the senate and as many in the house as its population entitles it to. have. The senators represent the states as equal units, but in the house the number from each state is according to population. The number of people which one congressman represented at the beginning of SENTA- the national government in 1788 was 30,000. Now it has increased to 173,901. SENA- REPRE TIVES The grouping of counties for the six districts are shown in the accompanying map. Although a congressman is chosen in the autumn, his term of office does not begin until the following March 4. Usually, however, Congress does not meet until the December after that, so that it is a year from the time a representative is elected before he has a chance to take his seat. REVIEW. Compare our government with foreign governments in the method of maintaining its power. What kinds of Federal courts are there? How many in Nebraska? How are "circuits" arranged? What cases may be heard by the circuit court of appeals? By the Supreme Court? Describe the work of the district attorney. Name the different ways in which the United States affects the daily life of the citizens through its officers. Why does not the United States deliver mail in the country? What is the civil service law? Is there reason why any of the officers of the executive department should not be under civil service law? What is the "spoils " system? Should the United States have control of commerce? How does this control affect the question of building a bridge across the Missouri? Could the State of Nebraska build a bridge across the Missouri without permission? The Platte? What are ports of entry? Find out from the nearest bank just how a company of men start a national bank. How is a state represented in Congress? How is Nebraska represented? When a new census is taken in 1900, how will a new apportionment of representatives be made? |