The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-12

ons which constitutional legislation
can fashion.
flavor, therefore, the repeal of the
act upon which the existing govern
ment depends the assumption by
the National Legislature ofthe entire
political control of the Territory,
and the establishment ola commits
sion. with such powers as shall be
delegated to it by law.
WHAT THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT is
DOING.
The Department of Agriculture Is
accomplishing much in the direction
of the agricultural development OF
the country, and the report of the
Commissioner giving the results OF
bis investigations and experiments,
will be found interesting and valua-
bic. At his instance convention
of those interested in the cattle IN
dustry of the country was lately held
at Chicago. The prevalence of pleu-
ro- pneumonia and other contagious
diseases of animals was one of the
chief topics of discussion. A COM
mittee Of the convention will invite
your cooperation in investigating
the causes of these diseases and pro-
viding methods for their prevention
and cure.
GOOD WORD FOR ALASKA.
/ trust that Congress will not fail,
at its present session, to put Alaska
under the protection of the law. is
people have repeatedly demonstrated
against our neglect TO afford them
the maintenance and protection
expressly guaranteed by the terms
of the treaty whereby that territory
was ceded to the United States. For
sixteen years they have pleaded in
vain for that which they should
have received without the asking
They have no law for the collection
of debts, the support of education,
the conveyance of property, the ad-
ministration of estates, or the
enforcement of contracts none, in
deed, for the punishment OF Grimm
ais, except such as offend against
certain customs, commerce, and the
navigation acts.
The resources of Alaska, especially
/ in fur. mines and lumber, are con-
siderable in extent and capable of
large development, while in its geo.
graphical situation it is one ofpolit-
cal and commercial importance.
The promptings of interest, there
fore as well as considerations Of
honor and good faith, demand the
immediate establishment of a civil
government in that Territory.
The EVILS OF RAILROAD MONOPOLY.
Complaints have recently been
numerous and urgent that certain
corporations controlling IN whole or
in part the facility for the interstate
carriage of persons and merchandise
over the great railroads of the coun-
try have reverted in their dealings
with the public to divers measures
unjust and oppressive in their char
acter. In some instances the State
governments have attacked and sup
pressed these evils. but in others
they have been unable to afford ad
euuate relief. because of the juris-
dictional limitations which are
imposed upon them by the Federal
Constitution.
The question of how far the Ma
tional Government may lawfully
interfere in the premises, and what,
if any, supervision or contrel it
ought to exercise, is one which mer-
its your careful consideration.
While We cannot fail to recognize
the importance of the vast railway
systems of the country, and their
great and beneficial Influences rpon
the developments of our material
wealth, we should. on the other
hand remember that no individual
or no corporation ought to be invest
ed with absolute power over the in
terest of any other citizen or class Of
citizens. The right of these railway
corporations to a fair and profitable
return upon their investments and
to reasonable freedom in their regu-
lation must be recognized, but it
seems only Just that, so far as it has
constitutional authority to prevent
Congress should protect the people
at large in their interstate traffic
against acts of injustice which the
State Governments are powerless to
prevent.
PROTECTION FOR THE FORESTS.
In my last annual message | call
ed attention to the necessity of pro-
tecting, by suitable legislation, the
forests situated upon the public do
main. In many portions of the
West the pursuit of general agricul-
ture is only made practicable by
resort to irrigation while successful
irrigation would pe impossible with
out the aid afforded by forests in
contributing to the regularity and
constancy of the water supply. Dur
ing the past year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been
occasioned by profuse foods, follow
ed by periods of unusually low water
in many of the great rivers Of the
country. The irregularities in great
measure are caused by the removal
from about the sources of the
streams in question of the timber
which the water supply had nourish-
ed and protected.
The preservation of such portion
of the forests on the national do
main as essentially contribute to the
equable flow of important water
courses is Of the highest consequence.
Important tributaries ofthe Missou-
4 ri, the Columbia, and other rivers
rise in the mountains near the
northern boundries 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 depends the future agricultural
development of a vast tract of coun-
try.
The attention of Congress is called
to the necessity of Withdrawing from
public sale this part of the public