River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-15

IVES imposed was 6 Per cent, is now in most in
stances X per cent? and oesides the entire circu-
lation originally limited by law, and no in
crease allowable when the existing banks had
practically monopoly OF the business. Ihis
foreign to the suggestion that for the fran
chise TO the savoring granters, the government
might very properly exact tax upon the cir
culatien, but for years the system has
been free, aud the amount of circulation
controlled By the public demand. The retention Of
this tax has been suggested as means u reim-
bursting the government for the expense OF printing
and furnishing the circulating notes. II the tax
should be reported il would certainly seem proper
to require the national banks % pay the amount
Of saeh expense 10 the comptroller of the currency.
| Ii is perhaps doubtful whether the reduction 81
taxation upon liquors and tobacco is advisable.
especially in view u the drain uPon the treasury
which must attend the payment OF arrears Of
pensions. comparison, however, OF the amount
Of taxes collected under the varying rates Of taxa
ton which have at different times prevailed, sug
CERT the intimation thar some reduction may soon
| be maze without diminuton Of the revenue. Tn
tariff also needs reyising, but that due regare
may be paid TO the conflicting interests Of our
cit zens important changes should be made with
caution. II a careful revision cannot be made at
! this session a commission such lately APP
proved BY the senate aud IS now recommended by
| the senate and now recommended BY
the secretary Of the treasury would
doubtless tighten the labors Of congress when
ever this subject is brought to its consideration.
| The accompanying report Vt the Secretary Of War
| will give the operations Of that department for
| the past year.
RIVERS AND HARsoRs.
The report of the chief of engineers furnishes IA
| detailed account of the operation for the i'm
| provenent Of rivers and harbors. | commend to
your attention the suggestions contained IN this
re port in regard to the condition Of fortiiea-
J lions especially our coast defeHces. aud recon-
/ \ u. -. L.tfFa IL.
| by which the efficiency OF our torpedo system
would be improved | also ca your tttention to
| his remarks on the impr yement of the South
| Pass OF the Mississippi river. In an aliuslon
to that subject ! suggest the adoption Of some
measure for the removal Of distractions
which impede navigation OF that great
channel OF commerce. The proposed free
bridge over the Potomac river at George
town; the importance Of completing
at an early day the north wing OF the department
building and other recommendations to the secre-
tary Of war which appear in his report. TIE re-
port of the actual expenditures OF this depart
ment for the fiscal year endlng June 80 1881 are
$40 l22 20l 80; the appropriations for the year
1882 were $4I $50 725 ~; and the estimates for
1883 are 81 ,54l ,2769i.
UNITED STATES COURTS.
The acting attorney general calls attention to
the necessity OF modifying the present system Of
the courts OF the United States, necessity due
10 the large increase of business, especially in the
supreme court. Litigation in our federal trihun-
ais became greatly expanded after the close of the
late war. 50 long tn, expanse might be at
tributable to the abnormal condition IN which the
community found itself immediately alter the e.
turn of peace prudence required that no change
be made in the constitution OF war tribunals,
but it has now became apparent that an immense
increase Of litigation has resulted from the Won
derfu growth and Development Of the country.
There is no ground for belief that the bust
ness of the United States courts will ever be less
ia volume than at present. Indeed that 1t Is like
ly 10 be much greater Is generally recognized by
the b. nch and bar. In view of the fact that con-
gress has already given much consid-
deration this subject, | make no
suggestions as to detail but express
the hope at your deliberations may result in
sLeh legislation as will give early relief to the
over burdened court.
PoLYGAMy.
For ma2y 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 odons crime so revolving TO the moral and
religious sense of Oh ristany has been persistenty
and contemptuously violated ever since its enact
ment. Indeed in spite of the commendable efforts
on 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-
teallv dead letter. The fact that the adher
ents Of the Mormon church which upon
poiygamy as its corner stone, have recently been
peopng in large numbers, Idaho Ari-
IONA and others of our western terri
tories. is well calculated to excite the
livliest interest and apprehension 1t imposes
upon congress and the executive the duty of using
again this barbarous system all the power which
under the constitution and law, they can WELD toI
its destruction. Reference has already been made
to the obstacles which the United States sfficers
have encountered in their efforts to punish viola
lions of the law. Prominent among the obstacles
is the difficulty of procuring legal evidence sutf-
Gent to warrant conviction, even in the case of
the most notorious offenders. Your attention is
called to the occupation Of the supreme court Of
the United States, explaining its Judgment OF
reversal in the case of Miles who had been con-
ycted of bigamy in Utah. The court refers to
the fact that the secresy attending the oelebra-
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 now makes a wife incompetent to testify
| against her husband. This suggestion is APP
| 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-
son charged with bigamy shall not dsqualfy her as
a witness upon his trial for that offense. fur
| ther recommend legislation by which any person
| solemnizing marriage 10 any of the territories
/
neglect or refusal to file certificate of such mar
riage in the supreme court of the territory unless
| congress may devise other practicable
measures for obviating the difficulties
| which have hitherto attended the efforts
to suppress this iniquity. L 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 support system Tor the educa-
| ton of people no measures calculated to pro
mote that general in diligence and virtue on which
the prosperity of institutions greatly depends
| have ever been regarded with indifference by
| congress or the executive. large porsion OF the
| public domain has been from time to time de-
! voted to the promotion Of education. There is O
| 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 exeI else the right of suffrage are unable to
| read the ballot which they east. Upon many who
| bad Just emerged from condition of slay-
| cry there suddenly devolyed 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 c0mmendable in
crease of interest and effort for their instruction
but all that can be done by local legislation and
| private generosity should be supplem nted
/ by such aid as be cOnStItutiOnaliy
| afforded by the national government
would suggest that if any fund be dedicated to
this purpose, it may be wisely distributed in thu
| 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-
gaging in the pursuit OF husbandry are giving to
| this department growing dignity AMI inl-
| ing its capacity for greater usefulness. deserve
| attention as it more and commends itself
| to the interest which it was created to promote.
PENSIONS.
II appears from the report of the commissioner
of pensions, that since 1860, 7S9 O63 original pen
sion claims have been filed; 450,9l9 of these have
| been allowed and inscribed in the pension roll
| Y, $50 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 0i0 Of which were filed prior to july LIST, 1850
| These when allowed, will involve the payment Of
arrears from the date of discharg In cas- OF al
| invalid. and from date Of death or termination Of
prior right in all other From all the data
obtanable it is estimated that 10 per cent OF th'
number Of claims now pending will be rsIscted O