The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07

department.. Inc act OF 1640 was
passed in face of the fact that there
existed deficiency of $4,000; that of
1851 was encouraged by the slight sur
plus of $4,000. The excess of revenue
in the next fiscal year is likely
to be S350,0O0 If congress
should approve these suggestions, it
may be deemed desirable to supply to
some extent the deficiency that must
for time ensue, by increasing the
charge for carrying merchandise,
which is now but sixteen cents per
pound. But even without such an
increase, am confident that the re-
ceipts under the diminished rate would
equal the expenditures after the lapse
of three or four years.
THE JUDICIARY.
The report of the department of JUS
tice brings a view to your notice of
enlarging the present system of federal
| Jurisprudence so as effectually to an
swer the requirements of the ever
increasing litigation with which it is
called upon to deal.
| The attorney general renews the
suggestions of his predecessor, that in
the interests of justice better pro-
vision than the existing laws afford
should be made in certain judicial dis
tricts for fixing the fees of witnesses
and jurors. In my message of De
cember last l referred to pending
criminal proceedings growing out of
alleged frauds in what is known as
the star route service of the postoffice
department, and advised you that |
had enjoined upon the attorney gen.
eral and associates, to whom the inter-
ests of the government were en-
trusted, the duty of prosecut-
ing with the utmost rigor of
the law all persons who might
be found chargeable with these
offences. The trial of one of these
cases has since occurred. 1t occupied
for many weeks the attention of the
supreme court of this district, and was
conducted with great zeal and
ability. 1t resulted in disagreement
of the jury, but the case has been
again placed upon the calendar and
will shortly be retired. If any guilty
person shall finally escape punishment
for their offences it will not be for lack
of deligent and earnest efforts on the
part of the prosecution.
A BANKRUPT LAW.
| | trust that some agreement NAV be
reached which will speedily enable con-
| greSs, with the concurrence of the eX-
ecutive, to award the commercial COM
munity the benefit of a national bank
rupt law.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The report of the secretary of the
interior with its accompanying docu-
ments presents full statement of the
operations of that department in re-
spect to Indian affairs. Nothing
has occurred which has changed or
seriously modified the views to which
l devoted much of my space in
former communication to congress.
renew the recommendations therein
contained as to extending to the In
dian the protection of the law ,allotting
land in several districts and making
suitable provision for the education Of
youths. Such provision, as the secre-
tary forcibly maintains, will prove I'M
availing unless it is broad enough to
include all those who are able and will
ing to make use of it and should not
solely relate to intellectual instruc-
ton, but also instruction in such man.
ual labor and simple industrial arts as
can be made practically available.
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
Among the important subjects
which are included in the sec
retary's report and what will doubt
less furnish occasion for congressional
action, may be mentioned the neglect
of the railroad companies to which
large grants of land were made by the
acts of 1862 and 1864 to take title
thereto, and their consequent inequit-
able exemption from local taxation.
EDUCATION.
No survey of our material condition
can avail to suggest inquiries as the
moral and intellectual progress of the
people. The census returns discloses
an alarming state of illiteracy in the
main portions of the country where
the provision for schools is greatly in
adequate. 1t is momentOus ques-
ton for the discretion of congress
whether immediate and substantial
aid should not be extended by the gen.
eral government for supplemeting the
effects of private benefcence and state
and territory legislation in behalf of
education.
| INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The regulation of Interstate COM
merce has already been the subject of
your deliberations. One of the Incl
dents of the marvellous extension of
the railway system of the country has
been the adoption of such measures
by the corporations which own or
control roads as FASTENED to impair
the advantages of healthful COMPETE
ton and to make hurtful discrimina-
ton in the adjustment of freightage
| These inequalities have centered in
several appropriate legislations, the
| effect of which is necessarily restricted
Il fn tho lin1itc of fhnir farrif1ru
| So far as such mischiefS affect com
MERGE between the states or between
any one of the states and the country,
they are subjects of national concern,
| and congress alone can afford relief.
THE MORMONS.
The results which have thus far at
tended the enforcement of the recent
statute for the suppression of poly
gamy IN the territories arereported by
| the secretary of the interior. 1t is not
| noticeable that any additional legisla-
| ton in this regard will be deemed
desirable until the effect of existing
laws shall be more closely observed.
l congratulate you that the COM
missioners under whose supervision
these laws have been put in operation
are encouraged to believe that the evil
at which they are aimed may be sup
pressed without resort to such radical
measures as in some quarters have
been thought indispensable for sue
cess. The close relation of the general
government to the territory preparing
to be great states may well engage
your attention. 1t is there that the
Indian disturbance may occur and
that polygamy has found root for its
growth I cannot dOuht that a careful
survey of territorial legislation would
be of the highest utility and life and
property would become more secure.
The liability of outbreaks between the
Indians and whites would be lessened. |
The public domain would be more Sc
curely guarded and better progress be
made in the instruction of the young. |
Alaska is still without any form of |
civil government. If means were pro- |
vided for the education of its people |
and for the protection of their lives |
and property the immense resources of |
the region would invite permanent |
settlement and open new fields of in
dustry and enterprise.
THE FORESTS.
The report of the commissioner of |
agriculture presents an account of the |
labor of that department during the |
past year and includes information of |
much interest to the general public. |
The condition of the forests of the |
country and the wasteful manner in |
which their destruction is taking place |
give cause for serious apprehension. |
Their action in protecting the earth's |
surface, in modifying the extremes
of climate and regulating and sustain