The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-12-07

triots for fixing tho fees Of witnesses and
jurors In my message Of December last, !
referred to pending criminal proceedings
growing ont of alleged frauds in what is known
as the star route service CT the postoffice de-
partment. and advised you that had enjoined
upon the attorney general and associate coun-
were entrusted, the duty of prosecuting,
with the utmost vigor of law,
all persons who might be found
chargeable with those otfenses. A trial Of ono
Of these cases has since occurred. It occu-
pied for many weeks the attention Of the su-
preme court Of this district and was conducted
with great zeal and ability. It resulted in q
disagreement Of the jury, but the cause has
again been placed upon the calendar and will
shortly DO retired. II any guilty man shall
finally escape punishment for these offenses
1t will not be for lack OF diligent and urgent
work OF the prosecution: trust that some
agreement will be reached which will speedily
aid congress, with the concurrence Of the OK
eoutive, to afford the commercial community
the benefit Of national bankrupt law.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMEN
INDIAN AFFAIRS
The report Of the secretary Of the interior,
with ito accompanying documents, presents q
full statement Of the varied operations Of that
department In respect to Indian affairs, moth
ing has occurred which has changed or seri-
ously modified the views to which devoted
much space in former communication to con-
gress I renew the recommendations therein
contained as to extending to the Indians the
provisions OF law allotting land In severalty to
such as deserve il, and making ample provi-
sion for the education OF Indian youth. Such
provision, the secretary maintains, will
prove unavailing unless it ia broad
enough to include all those who are able and
willing to make use of it and should not solely
relate to intellectual training but also to
instruction In such manual labor aud simple
industrial arts a. can be made practically
available
RAILROAD GRANTS
Among other important subjects which are
included in the secretary's report and which
will doubtless furnish occasion for congress
sional action may be meutionedss the neglect
of railroad companies to which large grants OF
land were made by the acts of 1862 and 1864
to take title thereto and their consequent
inequitable exemption from local taxation
No survey of our material condition can fail to
suggest inquiries as to the moral and intel
lectuai progress of the people The census
return discloses an alarming state Of illiteracy
i'll certain portions Of the country where the
provision for schools is grossly inadequate
1t is momentOns question for the decision OF
congress whether immediate substantial aid
should 10 extended by the general government
for supplem enting the efforts Of private beuef-
cenoe and State and Territorial legislation in
behalf Of education
RAILROAD DISCRIMINATION.
The regulation of internal commerce has
already been the subject Of your deliberations.
One of the incidents OF the extension
Of the railway system of the country has been
the adoption of such measures by the corpo-
rations which own or control the roads as have
tended to impair the advantages or healthful
competition and make hurtfu Determinations
in the adjustment of freightage. These in
equalities have been corrected IN several Of the
States by appropriate legislation, the effect o +
which 1s necessarily restricted to the limits OF
their own territory So far as such mlschiefs
affect commerce between the States or between
any Of the States aud foreign country they
are subjects Of rational concern, and congress
can afford relief.
The results which have thus far attended the
enforcement of recent statutes for the sup
preston Of polygamy in the Territories are re-
ported by the secretary Of the interior. 1t is
not probable that any additional legislation in
this regard will be deemed desirable until the
effect of the existing laws shall be more closely
observed and studied I oongratulate,you that
the commissioners under whose supervision
those Laws have been put in operation are en-
cOuraged to h6lleVe that the eva a. Wnlon toey
are a1lue0 may Do suppressed V1tuou' IoeO1t
to such radical measures as in some quarters
nave Deen rnouguS indispensable TOR success.
The close relation Of the general government
to the Territories preparing to be great States
maywell engage your attention 1t is there
that Indian disturbances mainly occur and
that polygamy has found room for its growth.
I cannot DOUBT that careful survey OF Terri
torial legislation would be Of the highest
utility. Life and property would become mere
secure, tie liability Of outbreaks between In
dams and whites would be lessened, the
public domain would be more &C.
curely guarded and better progress be
made in the instruction OF the young.
Alaska is still without any form Of OWL gov
ernment If means were provided for the edu-
cation Of it's people and for the protection Of
their lives aud property, the immense re-.
sources Of the region would invite permanent
settlement and open up new field for IN
dustry and enterprise.