Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/276

 228 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS Grinnell Land; and that officer and the few other survivors were rescued at Cape Sabine June 22, 1884. On recommendation of the president, an act of congress was passed directing the immediate return of the &quot;Alert&quot; to the English government. The reduction of letter postage from three to two cents a half ounce was recommended, and was effected by the act of March 3, 1883; the unit of weight was on March 3, 1885, made one ounce, instead of a half ounce; the rate of transient news papers and periodicals was reduced, June 9, 1884, to one cent for four ounces, and the rate on similar matter, when sent by the publisher or from a news agency to actual subscribers or to other news agents, including sample copies, was on March 3, 1885, reduced to one cent a pound. The fast-mail and free-delivery systems were largely extended; and also, on March 3, 1883, the money-order sys tem. Special letter deliveries were established March 3, 1885. The star service at the west was increased at reduced cost. The foreign mail service was improved, the appropriation of $800,000, al ready alluded to, was made, and various postal con ventions were negotiated. Recommendations were made for the revision of the laws fixing the fees of jurors and witnesses, and for prescribing by salaries the compensation of district attorneys and marshals. The prosecu tion of persons charged with frauds in connection