The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-08
ontinued encouragement of the Govern
The Report OF the Commissioners OF
Education,

meut.
! The Report OF the Commissioner OF
! Education,
Which accompanied the report OF the
Secretary of the Interior, shows graft
flying progress in educational matters.
ScandaIous State of Affairs I'm Utah.
In nearly every annual message that
have had the honor of transmitting
to Congress have called
attention TO the anamolous, not to say
scanGalOus condition Of affairs existing in
the Territory of Utah, and have asked
for definite legislation TO correct it. That
polygamy should exist in free, enlight-
ened and Christian country, without the
power to punish so fragrant a crime
against decency and morality, seems pre-
posterous. True, there is no law TO sus-
tain this unnatural vice. but what is
needed is law 10 punish it
as crime and ut the same
tina to fix the status of
the innocent children, the offspring of
this system, and of The possibly innocent
plural wives, but as an institution should
be banshed from the land.
While this Is being done | invite the
attention OF Congress to another, though
perhaps no less an evil, the importationo Of
Chinese Women,
but few of whom are brought to our
shores to pursue honorable or useful oc-
equations.
Public Lands in the West.
Observation while visiting the terri
tories Of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado
during the past autumn, convinced me
that the existing laws regulating the dis
position Of public lands, timber, &c,
and probly the the mining laws them
selves, are very defective, and should
be carefully amended and at an early
day in territory where cultivation Of the
soil can only be followed by irrigation
and where irrigation cannot be practical
bic the lands can only be used as pastur-
age. and this only where stock can reach
water to qucuCh their thirst cannot be
governed by the same laws a - entries
lands, every acre Of which Is an indie
pendent estate By itself. Lands must be
held in larger quantities to Justify the
expense OF conducting water npon 1t to
make fruitful or to justify utilizing as
pasturage. The lumber in most Of the
territories is confined TO the mountain
regions which are held for entry in small
quantities only rs mineral lands. The
timber is the property Of the United
States, for the disposal Of which there Is
now no adequate law. The settler must
become consumer of this timber, wheth-
er he lives upon the plains or Is engaged
in working the mines. Hence every
man becomes either Il trespasscr himself,
or knowingly Il patron of trespassers. My
opportunities for observing were not saili-
Gent to justsfy me in commenting specific
legislation on these subjects, but ! do
recommend that Joint Committee Of
the two Houses OF Congress, sufficiently
large to be divided in sub committees, be
organized to visit ali the mining States
and territories during the coming sum
mer. and that the committee shall report
to Congress at the next session, such laws
or amendments to laws rs 1t may deem
necessary to secure the best interests OF
the Government and the people of terri
tories who are doing 50 much tor their
developments. l am sure the citizens
occupying the territory described, don't
wish to be trespassers, nor will they be,
if legal ways are provided for them to
become owners Of those actual neces-
sarlcs.
The Presidents Last Mcssagc-A Syn
Opsis of Its Contents.
As this will be the last message which
[ shall have the honor of transmitting
to Congress before my successor is chosen,
| will repeat, or recapltulate, what ! deem
of vital importance, which should be
legislated upon and settled at this ses-
sion:
First. That the States shall be re-
quired to afford the opportunity of Il
good common school education to every
child in their limits.
Second. That no scctarian texts will
be taught in any schsol supported, IN
whole rim in part, by the State or ma
ton, or by the proceeds ofany tax lev
led uponan community.
Make education compulsory, so rs to
deprive all persons who cannot read and
write from becoming voters after 1880.
Dsfranchisc none, however, on the
ground of illteracy who may be voters
at the time this amendment takes effect.
Third. declare the Church and State for
ever separate and distinct, but each free
within their proper sphere, and that all
church property shall bear It's own pro-
portion of the taxes. Fourth, drive out
licensed immortality. such a poiygamy
and the importation Of women tor lille
gitimate purposes To recur again to
the Centennial year, it would seem, now
AS we are about to begin the second cen
turv of our national existence, to be a
most fitting time for this reform. Fifth,
enact such laws ~ will ensure speedy
return to a sound currency.
Believing that these views will com
mend themselves to the great majority OF
the right-thinking and patriotic citizens
Of the United States, | submit the rest to
Congress.
rSIrncdI L. s. GRANT.
Er,cptirc Nousi0a, Dec. T. 1910.