The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-12-17


very rare instances been enforced, and for
cause to which reference viii presently be
made, is practically dead letter. The fact
that the adherents of the Mormon Church,
which rests upon polygamy as its cornerstone,
have recently been peopling In large numbers,
Idaho, Arizona and other of our west
ern territories. is well calculated to excite the
liveiest interest and apprehension. 1t 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. Reference
has been already made to the obstacles which the
United States officers have encountered in their
efforts to punish the violation of the law.
Prominent among the obstacles is the difficulty
of procuring legal evidence sufficient to war
rant conviction even IN the cases Of the most
notorious offenders.
Your attention is called to the statement of
the supreme court of the United States ex-
planning its Judgment of reversal in the case
of Miles who had been convicted of bigamy ID
Utal. The court refers to the fact that
the peculiarities attending the celebration
of marriages IN that territory makes
that part of polygamy very difficult and the
propriety is suggested of modifying the law of
evidence which now makes a wife incompetent
to testify against her husband. This sugges-
ton as approved, | recommend. also the pass
ing of an act providing that in the territories
of these United States, the fact that
woman has been married to per-
son charged with bigamy shall not
dlsquahfy her a witness upon his trial for
that offense. / further recommend legislation
by which any person solennizlng marriage III
any of the territories shall be required. under
stringent penalties for neglect or refusal to file
certificate OF such marriage in the supreme
court of the territory, unless congress may de-
wise other practicable measures for obviating
the difficulties which have hitherto attended the
efforts to suppress this iniQuitv. | assure YOU
of Tr
You in any lawful and discreet measures which
may be proposed to that end.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Although our system of government does
not contemplate that the nation should provide
or support system for the education of our
people, no measures calculated to promote that
general intelligence and virtue upon which the
perpetuity of ourinsttutions so greatly depend
have ever been regarded with indifference by
congress or the executive. A large portion Of
the public domain has been from time to time
devoted to the promotion of education. There
is no special reason why by setting apart the
proceeds of the sales of public lands, or
by some other course the government should
not aid 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 a condition of sla-
very were suddenly devolved the responsible
ties of citizenship, in that portion of the
country most impoverished by war. l have
been pleased to learn from the report of the
commissioner of education that there has been
lately commendable increase 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 gov
eminent. would suggest that if any fund be
dedicated to this purpose, it may be wisely dis
tributed in different states according to the
rates Of llllteracy. as by this means these lOcG-
tiOOg which are most in need 0f sucb
VIII reap the especial benefit.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The report of the commissioner of agTicul-
ture exhibits the results of the experiments i'll
which that department has been engaged dur
ing the past year, and makes important sug-
gestions in reference to the agricultural de-
velopment of the country. The steady increase
of our population and the consequent addition
to the those engaging in the pursuit of hus-
bandry are giving to this department a growing
dignity and Importance. The commissioners
suggestions touching its capacity for greater
usefulness deserve attention as it more and
more commands itself to the interest which it
was created to promote.
PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the commission
er of pensions that since 1860, 799, 063 original
pension claims have been filed; $50, $40 of these
have been allowed and inscribed on the pen
sion roll, ", $50 have been rejected and aban-
doned, being thirteen per cent, of the whole
number Of claims settled. There are now pend
ing for settlement 265,575 original pension
claims, 227, 040 of which were fled prior to July,
1880. These when allowed viii involve the
payment of arrears from the date of discharge
in case of an invalid, and from the date of
death or termination of prior right on all
other cases. From all the data oitGinable it is
estimated that fifteen per cent Of the
number of claims now pending VIII be rejected
or abandoned. This would show the probable
rejection Of "a, 900 cases and the probable adj
mission of about 1913. 600 claims all of which
involve the payment Of arrears of pensions.
With the present force employed, the number
of adjudications remaining the same, and no
new business intervening, this number of
claims, 1873, 000 could be acted upon in period
Of six years and taking January L, 1884, as q
near period, from which to estimate III each
case, the average amount of arrears 1t Is found
that every case allowed would require for the
first payment upon it the sum of 1850.
Multiplying this amount by the whole number
of probable admissions, will give $3.50, 00G,0 600
as the sum required for the first payment.
This represents the sum which must be paid
upon claims which were filed before July l,
1880, and which are now pending, and entitled
to the benefit of the arrears act. From this
amount, $3.50, coo. 0G0, may be deducted from
$4,000, 900 to S15,000,0 600 for cases where the
claimant dying there Is no person wko under
the law would be entitled to succeed to the pen
sion, leaving 1896, 100000 as the probable
amount to be paid in these estimates. No ac-
count has been taken Of the $500 cases filed
since June 80, 1880, and now pending, which
must receive attention as current business, but
which do not involve the paymelt Of any ar
rears beyond the date of fling the claim. OF
this number it Is estimated that Sc per cent. will
be allowed as has been stated. With the pres
ent force of the pension bureau, 675 clerks it is
estimated that it will take six years
to dispose of the claims now pending.
10 ctota NV Ia Of
that by an addition of $50 claims INCREASING the
adjudicating force rather than the mecchanicaD
double the amount of work could be accom-
plisEed SO that these cases could be acted on
within three years. From consideration OF
justice speedy settlement of the claims now
on the files of the pension office may be urged.
1t is no less important on the score of economy
nasmuch as fully one-third of the clerical
force of the Office is now wholly occupied in
giving attention to correspondence with the
thousands of claimants whose cases have been
on the files for the past eighteen years.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
advise appropriations for such internal inn
provements as to the wisdom of the congress
may seem to be of public importance. The
necessity of improving the navigation of the Mis-
sissippi River justifes a special alluson to that
subject. l suggest the adoption of some meas
ure for removal Of distractions which now
impede the navigation of that great channel of
commerce.
CIVIL SERVICE.
In my letter accepting the nomination for
vice president, l stated that in my Judgment no
man should be the incumbent of an office the
duties of which he is for any cause unfit to per-
form, who is lacking in the ability, fidelity or
integrity which proper administration of such
Office demands. This sentiment would doubt
less meet with general acquiescence,
but opinion has been unduly divided
upon the wisdom and practicability of