The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-03

SuhA-ASAa W SAhib AAou thc puNiiS tSot
within q limited period be maintained.
Ii any change of the objects or rates Of
taxation is deemed necessary by Con-
gress, it is suggested that experience
has shown that duty can be placed
on tea and coffee. which viii not en-
nance the price Of those articles to the
consumer and will add several millions
of dollars annually 70 the Treasury.
THE SUPPRESSION OF PoLYGAMY.
The continued and deliberate viola
ton by large mum Der of the promi-
Bent and influential citizens Of the
Territory of Utah. Of the laws of the
United States, for the prosecution end
punishment of polygamy. demands the
attention Of every department Of tue
Government. This Territory has e
population sufficient to enti,le it to ad-
mission as State, and the general in
terests of the nation and Territory
require its advance from the Territorial
form Of government to the responsible.
ties and privileges ofsa State. This
important change will not, however,
be approved by the country while the
citizens of Utah, in very considerable
number. uphold practice which is con.
demned as crime by tho laws Of all
civilized communities throughout the
world. The law for the suppression Of
this offence was enacted with great un-
aDimity by Congress more than II
years ago. but has remained until re-
Gently dead letter in the Territory Of
Utah, because of the peculiar Difficult.
ties attending its enforcement. The
opinion widely prevailed among the
citizens Of Utah that the law was in
contravention of the constitutional
guarantee of religious freedom. This
objection is now removed. The Su-
preme Court Of the United States has
decided the law to be within the legis.
lative power of Congress, and binding
as o rule OF action for oil who reside
within tho Territories. There is no
longer any reason for delay or hesita
tion III its enforcement. 1t should DO
firmly and effectively executed. If not
sufficiently stringent in its provisions, it
should be amended, and in aid of the
purpose in view. | recommend that
more comprehensive and more search
ing methods for preventing as we'll as
Furnishing this crime be provided. II
necessary to secure obedience TO the
law, the enjoyment and exercise Of the
rights and privileges of citizenship ii
tho Territories of the United States
may be withheld or drawn from thoss
who violate or oppose the enforcement
of the law on this subject.
THE ELECTIONS.
The elections of the past year,
though occupied only with State off.
GERS, have not failed to elicit on the
political discussions which attended
them all over the country, new and
decisive evidence of the deep interest
which the great body Of citizens take
in the progress of the country toward
q more general and complete establish
Dent, at whatever cost, Of universal
freedom and security in the exercise of
the elective franchise. While many
topics of political concern demand great
attention from our people; both in the
sphere Of national and State authority,
| find no reason to qualify the opinion
1 expressed in my last annual message
that no temporary or administ rative
interests of Government, however ur-
gent or weighty, will ever display the
zeal of our people in the defense of the
primary rights of citizenship and that
the power of public opinion will over
ride all political preiudices and all
sectional and State attachments. In
demanding that all over our wide ter.
ritory the name and character of citi-
Zens of the United States shall mean
one and the same thing, and carry with
them unchallenged security and respect
l earnestly appeal to the intelligence
and patriotism of ali good citizens OF
every part of the country, however
much they may DO divided in opinions
on other political subjects to unite in
compelling obedience to existing laws
aimed at the protection Of the right oil
suffrage. I respectfully urge upon
Congress to supply any defects in these
laws which experience has shown and
which it has within its power to rem
edy. l again invoke corporation OF
executive and legislative authorities Of
States in this great purpose. l am
fully convinced that if the public mind
can be set at rest on this paramount
question of popular rights. no seriou.
objection will thwart or delay the com.
plete pacification Of the country OF
retard the general diffusion of pros.
perity.
REFORMING THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In q former message | invited the
attention of Congress to the subject OF
the reformation IF the civil service @,
the Government and expressed the
intention of transmitting to Congress
as early as practicable q report upon
this subject by the chairman of the
civil service commission. In view oil
the fact that during a considerable pc
riod the Government of Great Britain
has been dealing with administrative
problems and abuses in various particu
lars analog us TO those presented in
this country, aud that in recent year.
sAa .,...,hA.l. ~.a~.-s-a ,,n.lar.toof
to have been effective ard in every
respect highly satisfactory. though
it desirable to have fuller information
upon the subject, aud accordingly
requested the chairman Of the civil
service commission to make thorough
investigation for this purpose. The
result has been al elaborate and com.
pr.hensive report. The report set.
forth the history of the partisan spoil.
custom in Great Britain, and of the rist
aud fall Of the parliamentary patrouag.
aud of official interference with tn,
freedom of elections. Il shows thai
after long trials of various kinds Of