The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-15

aud the interchange of ideas and
manufactures, will far excel any pc
cuniary outlay we make.
AGRICULTURAL.
transmit herewith the report of
the Commissioner of Agriculture, to-
gether with the report OF the Com
missioners Of the Board OF Auiit
and the board of Health of the Dis
trict of Columbia, to all of which
invite your attention.
The Bureau of Agriculture has
accomplished much in disseminating
knowledge of agriculture, and also
Introducing new aud useful products
adap,ed to our soil and climate, aud
is worthy of the continued encour-
agement of the Government.
EDUCATIONAL.
The report of the Commissioner of
Education, which accompanies the
report of the Secretary o. the lnteri-
or, shows gratifying progress in
educational matters.
A BLAST AGAINST PoLYGAMY-
In nearly every annual message
that | have had the honor OF trans
hitting to Congress, | have called at.
tention to the anomalous, MOI to say
scandalous, condition of affairs exist
ing in the Territory of Utah, aud
have asked for definite Legislation to
correct it. That polygamy should
exist in a free, enlightened and Chris
tian country, without the power to
punish so fragrant q crime against
deceney and morality, seems prepos-
ferrous. True, there is no law to sup
press this unnatural vice, but what is
needed is a law to punish it as a
crime, and at the same time to fix the
status Of the innocent children. the
off-pring of this system, and Of the
possible innocent plural wives; but,
as an institution, p%olygamy should
be banished from the land. While
this is being done | invite the at
tention of Congress to another,
though perhaps no less evil-the i'm
portation of Chinese women, but few
of whom are brought to our shores 10
pursue honorable or useful occupa-
tions.
Ncrs ~ Tr~ppIraprT LAWS RE-
COMMENDED
Observations, while visiting the
Territories Of Wyoming, Utah and
Colorado during the past autumn,
convinced me that existing laws,
regulating the disposition of public
lands, timber, etc, and probably the
mining laws themselves, are very de-
f%ective, and should be carefully
amended, aud at an early day. lna
Territory where the cultivation Of the
soil can only be followed by irriga-
ton, and where irrigation cannot be
made practicable, the lands can only
be used as pasturage, and this only
where stock can reach water to
quench its thirst, cannot be governed
by the same laws as TO entries OF
lands, every acre of which is an in
dependent estate by itself. Lands
must be heldin larger quantities to
Justify the expense of conducting
water upon it to make it fruitful, or
to justify utilizing it as pasturage.
The timber 10 most of the terrific
ries is principally confined to the
mountain regions, which are held for
entry in small quantities only, and
as mineral lands. The timber upon it
is the property of the United States,
for the disposal of which there is
now no adequate law. The settler
must become a consumer of this tim
Der, whether be lives upon the plains
or engages in working the mines,
hence every man becomes either a
trespasser himself, or knowingly a
patron of trespassers. My opportu-
mites for observation were not sufi-
eient to justify me in recommending
specific legislation on these subjects,
but | do recommend that a joint
committee of the two houses of Con-
gress, sufficiently large to be divided
into subcommittee, be organized to
visit all the mining States and Ter
r~itories during the coming summer,
and that the committee shall report
to Congress at the next session such
laws or amen lments to laws as it
may deem necessary to secur the
best interests Of the Government and
the people Of those Territories, who
are doing so much for their develop
ment. | am sure the citizens occu-
pying the territory described do not
wish to be trespassers, nor will they
be if legal ways are provided for
them to become owners of these actu-
al necessities of their position.
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
As this will be the last annual
message which l shall have the bon
or of transmitting to Congress before
my successor is chosen, | will repeat
or reeapitulate the questions which |
deem of vital Importance which
should be legislated upon and settled
at this session:
first, That the States shall be re-
quired to afford the opportunity Of a
good common school education to
every child within their limits.
Second, No sectarisn teuets shall
ever be taught in any school support
ed in whole or in part by the State,
nation, or by the proceeds of any tax
levied upon any community. Make
education compulsory so far as to de-
prive all persons who cannot read
aud write from becoming voters after
the year Of 1890, DISTINGUISHING none,
however, on the grounds of illitera-
CIV who may be voters at the time
this amendment takes effect.
Tl.-l IL