The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from Page g.

turers. l commend the whole subject |
to the wisdom of Congress, with the |
suggestion that no question of greater
or farther reaching import
ance can engage their attention. In
1870 the Supreme Court of the United
states declared unconstitutional the
statutes of certain States which i'm
posed upon ship owners or cOnsignees
tax OF one dollar and a half for each
passenger arriving from a foreign coun-
try. In lieu thereof they were required
TO indemnify the State and local author
tiles against the expense for the future
relief or support of such passengers.
Since this decision the expense attend
ing the care and supervision of i'm
migrants has fallen on the States at
whose ports they have landed. As a
large majority of such immigrants im-
mediately upon their arrival proceed to
the inland States and the Territories to
seek permanent homes, it is manifestly
unjust to impose upon the State, whose
shores they first reach, the burden
which II now bears. For this reason
and because of the national importance
of the subject, l recommend legislation
regarding the supervision and transit
tory care of immigrants at the ports of
debarkatiOn. Iregret to state that the
people of Alaska have reason to COM
plain that they are as yet unprOvided
with any form of government by which
life or property can be protected. While
the extent of its population does not
justify the application of the costly ma
chinery of territorial administration,
there is immediate necessity for cOnsti-
tuting such a form of government as
will promote the education of the peO-
pie and secure the administration of
justice.
The Senate at its last session passed
bill providing for the construction of a
building for the library of Congress,
but it failed to become law. The pro-
vision of suitable protection for this
great collection of books and for the
Copyright Department connected with
it has become a subject of national i'm
pOrtance and should receive prompt at
tentiOn.
The report of the Commissioners of
the District OF Columbia, herewith trans
mitted, will inform you fully of the
condition of the affairs of the
district. The vital Importance of legis-
latiOn for the reclamation and i'm
prOvement of the marshes and for the
establishment Of the harbor lines along
the Potomac river front. 1t is repre-
sented that in their present condition
these marshes seriously affect the health
of the residents of adjacent parts of the
city, and they greatly mar the general
aspect of the park in which stands the
| Washington monument. This improve
ment would add to that park and to the
| park south of the Executive Mansion, a
large area of valuable land, and would
transform what is now believed to be a
dangerous nuisance into an attractive
landscape extending to the river front
They recommend the removal of the
steam railway lines from the surface OF
the streets of the city, and the location
of the necessary depOts in such places
as may be convenient for the public ac'
cOmmOdatiOn, and they call attention tC
the deficiency of the water supply
which seriously affects the material
prosperity of the city and the health
and comfort of it's inhabitants. l com
mend these subjects to your favorable
consideration.
The importance of timely Legislation
with respect to the ascertainment anC
declaration of the veto for Presidential
electors was called sharply to the atten
tiOn of the people more than four year
ago. 1t is to be hoped that some wei
defined measure may be devised bCfOr
another national election, which will
render unnecessary a resort to any CX
pedient of temporary character for t..
, determination of quest iOns upon co..
! tested returns.