The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-07

and especially in the Territory of Utah
The existing statutes for the punishment OF
i this odious crime, so revolving to the
moral and religious sense of Christendom
has been persistenly and contemptuously
violated ever since its enactment. Indeed,
in spite of commendable efforts on the par'
of the authorities, who represent the Uni
ted States in that Territory, the law has In
very rare instances been enforced and for q
cause to which reference win presently be
made, is practically a dead letter. The
fact that adherents of the Mormon church,
which rests upon polygamy as its corner
stone, have recently been peopling in
| lage numbers, Idaho, Arizona, and other
of our western territories is well calculated
to excite the utmost interest and apprehen-
sion. It imposes upon Congress and the
Executive the duty of using against this
barbarous system all the power which
under the Constitution and law, they
can WELD for its destruction. Referen-
| ces have been already made to the objects
which the United States officers have en-
/ countered in their efforts to punish yio-
lations of the law. Prominent among the
obstacles is the difficulty OF procuring legal
evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction,
even in the case of most notorious offend
/
ance of the Supreme Court of the United
States, explaining its judgment in the case
of Miles, who had been convicted of biga-
my in Utah. The Court refers to the fact
| that the secrecy attending the celebration
of marriages in that Territory makes that
part of polygamy very difficult to detect,
| and the propriety is suggested of modify
| ing that law of evidence which now makes
wife incompetent to testify against her
! husband. This suggestion is approved. /
/ recommend also the passing of an act pro
| viding that in the Territories of the United
| States the fact that woman has been mar
| ried to a person charged with bigamy shall
not disqualify her as witness upon his
trial for that offense. I further recommend
| legislation by which any person solemniz-
| ing q marriage in any of the Territories
| shall be required. under stringent penalties
| for the neglect or refusal, to file certif-
cate of such marriage in the Supreme Court
of the Territory, unless Congress may de-
| wise other practicable meausres for obviat-
| ing the difficulties which have hitherto at
tended the efforts to suppress this iniquity.
/ assure you of my determined purpose to
cooperate with you in any lawful and dis
Greet measures which may be proposed to
| that end,
| EDUCATION AND THE PUBLIC LANDS.
| Although our system of government
does not contemplate that the Nation
should provide or support system for
the education of our people, measures cal
culated to promote that general intelligence
and virtue upon which the prosperity of
our institutions SO greatly depends, have
never been regarded with Indifference by
| congress or the executive. A large por-
tion Of the public domain has been, from
| time to time, devoted to the promotion of
education. There is now a special reason
why, by setting apart the proceeds of its
sales of public lands, or by some other
course, the government should aid the
work of education. Many who now exer-
else the right of suffrage are unable to
read the ballot which they cast. Upon
many who had just emerged from con
dition of slavery were suddenly deyolved
! the responsibilities of citizenship in that
portion of the country most impoverished
by war. / have been pleased to learn
from the report of the Commissioner OF
Education that there has been lately a COM
mendable increase of interest and effort
for their instruction; but all that can be
done by local legislation and private gener
osity should be supplemented by such aid
as can be constitutionally afforded by the
National Government. / would suggest
| JDat II aAV Iunu DC uCUICdlcu 10 TINS puT
pose it may be wisely distributed in the
different States, according to the ratio OF
illiteracy, as by this means those locations
| which are most in need of such assistance
will reap especial benefit.
| THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Commissioner of Agri
laculture exhibits the results of the expert
ments in which that Department has beer
engaged during the past year, and makes
important suggestions in reference to the
agricultural development of the country
The steady increase of our population ant
the consequent addition to the number o1
those engaging in the pursuit of husbandry
are giving to this department a growing
dignity and Importance. The Commits
sioner,s suggestions touching 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 Com
missioner of Pensions, that since 1850
7S9, ,063 signal pensien claims have beer
filed, and $50, $40 sof these have been al
lowed and inscribed ON the pension roll
72, $50 have been rejected and abandoned
being thirteen plus per cent of the whole
nuInOeT OI CidlIHs 6ctlleQ- 1HCTS nov
pending for settlement 266, $50 origina
pension claims, %, ,704 of which were
filed prior to July /, 1880. These
when allowed, will involve the pay
ment of arrears from the date O.
discharge in case of an invalid and from
the date of death or termination of
prior right in all other cases from ths
date obtainable. 1t is estimated that i
will take six years to dispose of the claims
now pending. 1t is stated by the Commits
sioner of Pensions, that by an addition O
, $50 claims, increasing the adjudicatins
force rather than the mechanical. A mum
ber of claims now pending will be rejec
ted or abandoned. This would show thl
probable rejection of Sd. .040 cases, and th,
probable admission of about 193. 600 claim
all of which involve the payment of ar
rears of pension. With the present fore,
employed, the number of adjustments re
naming the same, and no new business in
tervening this number of claims 193, 900
could be acted upon in period of 81,
years and taking January 1st, 1884, as
8 near period from which to estimate IN eacl
case an average amount of arrears, it
foundsfhat every case allowed would re
quire, for the first payment upon it tn
sum of 81 $50. Multiplying this amour
of the whole number of probable admis
sions piyas S150 O00 00O as the sur, rp