Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-12-15
POLTGAAIY.

over-burdened court.
PoLYGAMY.
For maay years the executive, in his annual
message TO congress, has called attention to the
necessity of stringent legislation for the suppress
sion of polygamy in the territories especially in
Utah. The existing statute for the punishment
of this OdiOus crime so revolving to the moral and
religious sense of christianity has been persstently
and contenptuously violated ever since its enact
ment. Indeed in spite of the commemorate efforts
the part of authorities who represent the
United States in that territory, the law has not in
various instances been enforced, and for causes
to which reference viii presently be made, is prac
tically dead letter. Tn fact that the adher-
ents of the Mormon church which rests upon
pOygamy as its corner stone, have recently been
peopling in large numbers, Idaho Ari-
IONA and others of our western terri
tories, is well calculated to excite the
liYliest interest and apprehension. 1t imposes
upon congress and the executive the duty of using
against this barbarous system ali the power which,
under the constitution and law, they can WELD for
its destruction. Reference has already been made
to the obstacles which the United States officers
have encountered in their efforts to punish viola
tOns of the law. Prominent among the obstacles
Is the difficulty of procuring legal evidence suff
Gent to warrant a conviction, even in the of
the most notorious offenders. Your attention is
the United States, explaining its judgment of
reversal in thu case of Miles, who had been con
victed of bigamy in Utah. The court refers to
the fact that the secresy attending the celebra-
ton of marriages in that territory, makes that
part Of evidence very difficult, and the propriety
Is suggested of modifying that law of evidence
which makes a wife incompetent to testify
against her husband. This suggestion is ap-
proved. l recommend also the passing of an act,
providing that in the territories of the u S..
the fact that woman has been married to per-
charged with bigamy shall not dsqualify her as
a witness upon his trial for that Offense. | fur
ther recommend legislation by which any person
sOlemnizing marriage il any of the territories
shall be required, under stringent penalties for
neglect refusal to file a certificate of such mar
rage in the supreme court of the territory, unless
congress may devise other practicable
measures for obyiating the difficulties
which have hitherto attended the efforts
to suppress this iniquity. [ assure you of
my determined purpose to cooperate with you in
any lawful and discreet measures which may be
proposed to that end.
EDUCATIONAL.
Although our system of government does
not contemplate that the nation should pro-
vide or support a system for the educa-
ton of our people. no measures calculated to pro-
mote that general I'M diligence and virtue on which
the prosperity of institutions greatly depends,
have ever been regarded with Indifference by
public domain has been from time to time de-
voted to the promotion of education. There is
special reason why; by setting apart the pro-
ceeds of the sale of public lands, or by
some other course, the government
should aid in the work of education. Many who
now exercise the right of suffrage are unable to
read the ballot which they cast. Upon many who
had Just emerged from q condition of slav-
cry there suddenly devOlved the responsibilities
of citizenship in that portion of the country most
impoverished by the war. | am pleased to hear
from the report of the commissioner of education
that there has been lately a commendable in
crease of interest and effort for their Instruction.
but all that can be done by local legislation and
private generosity should be supplemented
by such aid as can be constitutionally
afforded by the national government. |
would suggest that if any fund be dedicated to
this purpose, it may be wisely distributed IN the
different states according to the ratio of litter
acy, as by this means those locations which are
most in need of such assistance will reap its es-
pecial benefit
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the commissioner of agriculture
exhibits the results of the experiments in which
! that department has been engaged during the
| past year, and makes important suggestions in
reference to the agricultural development Of the
| country.
! The steady increase of our population and the
| consequent addition to the number of those en-
! gagng in the pursuit of husbandry are giving to
| this department growing dignity and i'm
portance. The commissioners suggestions touch
ing its capacity for greater usefulness, deserve
| attention, as it more and more cOmmends itself
| to the interest which it was created to promote.
| PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the commissioner
of pensions that since 1860, 7S9 063 original pen
sion claims have been filed; 4509l of these have
been allowed and inscribed in the pension roll;
! 1859 have been rejected and abandoned being
thirteen per cent. of the whole number
| of claims settled. There are now pending
for settlement 265, 575 original pension claims,
227 ,040 of which were fled prior to July LIST, 1880
These, when allowed, will involve the payment OF
| arrears from the date of discharge in of an
| invalid. and from date of death termination OF
prior right in all other cases. From all the data
obtalnabe 1t is estimated that per cent. of the
number Of claims pending will be rejected OF
| abandoned. This would show the probable re-
lection of 81 040 cases and the probable admission
Of about 49,, 600 claims, all of which involve the
! payment OF arrears of pension. With the present
force employed, the number Of adjudications re-
manning the same and no new business interyen-
| ing, this number Of claims-193, 000-could be
acted upon In period of six years, and taking
January first, 1884, as near period from which
to estimate in each case the average amount Of
| arrears, 1t Is found that every case allowed
would require for the first payment up
! on it the sum of 81 $50 Multiplyine
this amount by the whole number of probable ad-
mi SSionS, gives $3.50 900 900 as the sum required
for first payments. This represents the sum
which must be paid upon claims which we re
| filed before July LIST, 1880, and are now pending
and entitled to the benefit of arrears. From thi:
amount, $3.50 coo 900, may be deducted from ter
to fifteen millions for cases where the claim.
| ant Is dying. There is no person who under the
law is entitled to succeed to the pension, leaving
1926 900 600 as the probable amount to be paid
on these estimates. No account has
| hoo tol-a of tba I'D
since June 80, 1880, and now penang which must
receive attention as current business, but which
do not involve the payment of any arrears be,
yond the date of filing the claim of this number
It Is estimated that SO per cent will be allowed AZ
has been stated. With the present force of the
pension bureau 675 clerks it is estimated that il
will take six years to dispose of the claims now
pending. 1t is stated by the commissioner of pen
Sions that by addition of go clerks increasing
the adjudicating force rather than the mechanical
double the amount of work could be accom-
pliShed so that these cases could be acted upon
| within three years, from a consideration of jus
| tice which may be urged for a speedy settlement
of the claims now on file in the pension office. Ii
is no less important on the score of economy, in
asmuch as fully one-third of the clerical force OF
the office is now wholly occupied in giving atten-
ton to correspondence with the thousands OF
claimants whose cases have been on the files for
the past eighteen years.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my letter accepting the nomination of Vice
President, 1 stated that in my judgment no man
should be an incumbent of an ofice whose duties
he is for any cause unfit to perform, who is lask-
ing in the ability. fidelity. or integrity which
a proper administration of that Office de-
mands. This sentiment would doubtless meet
with general acquiesence, but opinion has keen
widely divided upon the wisdom and practicability
of the various reformatory schemes which kave
been suggested and of certain proposed regula-
\ CrOV IN
| air,l,- hona,,Sn hnI. Sonrrad