Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-12-05
Presidents Message.
CONTINUED from iir,t page. )

VI tne entlre pOtltlcal cOntfol OF the IefrltO-
| ~ and the establishment of a commission
with sucb power and duties as shall be dele
gated to it by law.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
| The Department of Agriculture is accom-
plishing much in tie direction of the agricul-
tural development of the country, and the
report Of the commissioner giving the result
of his investigations and experiments. will be
found interesting and valuable. At his in
| stance convention of those interested in the
cattle industry of the country, was lately
held at Chicago. The prevalence of pleuro-
pneumonia and other contagious diseases of
animals vas one of the chief topics of Discus
sion. A committee of the convention will
invite your cooperation in the investigation
of the causes of the diseases, and provide
methods for their prevention and cure.
ALASKA
1 trust that Congress will not fail at its
present session to put Alaska under the pro-
tec.ion of law. Its people have repeatedly
demonstrated against our neglect to afford
the maintenance and protection expressly
guaranteed by the terms of the treaty where
by that territory was ceded to the United
States. For sixteen years they have pleaded
IN vain for that which they should have re-
ceived without the asking. They have no
law for the collection of debts, the support of
education. the conveyance of property, the
administration of estates or the enforcement
of contracts-none indeed for the punish
ment of criminals, except such as offend
against certain customs, commerce and navi-
CATION acts. The resources of Alaska, especial
ly in fur, mines and lumber, are
considerable in extent and capable
of large development, while its
geographical situation is one of political and
commercial importance. The promptings of
interest, therefore, as well as considerations
Of honor and good filth. demand the imme-
diate establishment of civil government in
that territory.
RAILROAD MATTERS.
Complaints have lately been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations controlling
in whole or in part the facilities of the inter-
state carriage of persons and merchandise
over the great railroads of the country, have
resorted in their dealings with the public to
divers measures unjust and oppressive in
their character. In some instances the state
governments have attacked and suppressed
these evils, but in others they have been
unable to afford adequate relief because Of
the jurisdictional Limitations which are inn
posed upon them BY the federal constitution.
The question How far the national govern
ment may lawfully interfere in the premises,
and what, if any, supervision or control it
ought to exercise?' is one which merits your
careful consideration. While we cannot fail
to recognize the importance of the vast rail-
way systems of the country and their hene-
fetal influences upon the development Of our
material wealth, we should, on the other
hand, remember that no individual and
corporation ought to be invested with abso-
lutte power over the interest of any other
-.
right of these railway corpo-
rations to a fair and profitable
return upon their investments and reasonable
freedom in their regulations, must be recog-
nized, but it seems only just that, so far as
its constitutional authority will permit, Con-
gress should protect the people at large in
their interstate traffic, against acts of I'M u.s.
tice, which the State governments are power
less to prevent.
In my last annual message l called atten-
ton to the necessity of protecting by suitable
legislation.
THE FORESTS
situated upon the public domain. In many
portions of the West the pursuit of general
agriculture is only made practicable by resort
to irrigation, while successful irrigation
would itself be impossible without the aid
afforded by forests in contributing to the reg
ularity and constancy of the supply of water.
During the past year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been occasioned
by profuse floods followed by periods of un-
usually low water in many of the great riv-
ers of the country. These irregularities
were in great measure caused by the removal
from about the sources of the streams in
question of the timber by which the water
supply had been nourshsd and protected.
The preservation of such portion of the
forests of the national domain as essentially
contribute to the equable flow of important
water courses, is of the highest consequence.
Important tributaries of the Missouri--the
Columbia and the Saskatchewan-rise in the
mountains of Montana near the northern
boundary of the. United States between the
Blackfeet and Flathead Indian reservations.
This region is unsuitable for settlement, but
upon the rivers which flow from it depend in
the future the agricultural development of a
vast tract of country. The attention of Con-
gress is called to the necessity of withdraw
ing from the putlic sale this part of the pub
lie domain, and establishing there a forest
preserve. The industrial exhibitions which
have been held in the United States during
the present year, attracted attention in many
foreign countries, where the announcement
of these enterprises had been made public
through the foreign agencies of this govern
ment.
THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION
at Boston, and the Southern exposition at
Louisville, were largely attended by the ex-
hbitors of foreign countries, notwithstanding
the absence of any professional character in
those undertakings.
The centennial exposition, to be held next
wear at New Orleans. in commemoration of
the centenary of the first shipment of cotton
from a part of the United States, bids fair to
meet with like gratifying success.
Under the act of Congress Of the 10th Of
February, 1888, declaring that exposition to
be national and international in its charac-
ter, all foreign governments with which the
United States maintain relations, have been
invited to participate. The promoters of this
important undertaking have already received
assurances of the lively interest which it ex-
cited abroad.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report of the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia is herewith transmitted.
ask for it your careful attention, especially
for those portions which relate to assessments,
arrears of taxes and water supply. The COM
missoners who were appointed under the act
of January l6, 1888, entitled "An act to re-
wise and improve the civil service of the