Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-07


Agriculture.
The Department Of Agriculture is accom-
plishing much In the direction of the agricu
tural development OF the country, and the
report of the commissioner giving the results
OF his investigations and experiments will bt
be found interesting aud valuable.
At his instance convention OF those in.
terested in the cattle industry of the country
was lately held at Chicago. The prev.
alence Of pleuro-pncumonia and other con.
tagious diseases of animals was one of the
chiefitopics of discussion. A committee of the
convention will invite your cooperation il
investigating the causes of these disease: and
providing methods for their prevention and
cure.
AlasNa.
trust that Congress will not fail at It's
present session TO put Alisga under the pro-
lection of law. Its people have repeatedly
demonstrated against our neglect to afford
them the maintenance and protection cx-
pressy guaranteed by the terms OF the treaty
whereby that territory was coded to the
United States For sixteen years they have
pl AIDED 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 convey
ance of property. the administration of es-
tit9s or the enforcement Of contracts nor
indeed for the punishment OF criminals ex-
cept such as offend against certain customs,
commerce and navigation acts.
The resources of Alaska, especially in fur,
mincs and lumber, arc considerable In ex-
tent 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
faith, demand the immediate establishment
OF civil government in that territory.
Common Carriers.
Complaints have lately been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations, controlling
in whole or in part the facilities for the in
terstate carriage of persons and merchandise
over the great railroads OF the country, have
resortcd 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 iurisdictional
limitations which are imposed upon them by
the federal constitution. The question how
far the National Government 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 can not fail to recognize the i'm
portance of the vast railway systems OF the
country and their great and beneficent infiu-
ences upon the development OF our material
wealth, we should, on the other hand, re-
member, that no individual and no corpora
ton ought to be invested with absolute pow
er over the interest of any other citizen or
class of citizens.
The right of these railway corporations to
fair and profitable return upon their invest
ments, and to reasonable freedom in their
regulation, must be recognized but it seems
only Just, that 80 far as its constitutional au-
thority will permit, Congress should protect
the people a. large In their interstate traffic
against acts of injustice which the state gov.
ernments are powerless to prevent.
Peservation of Forests.
In my last annual message called attcn
ton to the necessity OF projecting by suitable
legislation the forests situated upon the pub
lie domain. In many portions OF the Wes'
the pursuit of general agriculture is only
made practicable by resort to irrigation
while successful irrigation would itself bt
impossible without the aid afforded by for
cy of the supply of water.
During the past year severe suffering and
great loss Of property have been occasloned
by profuse floods followed by periods of un
usually low water In many OF the great
rivers of the country. These irregularities
were in great measure caused by the remova
from about the sources of the streams II
question of the timber by which the watel
supply had been nourished and protected.
The preservation of such portions OF thu
forests on the national domain rs essentially
contribute 10 the equable flow OF importan
water courses is of the highest consequence
Important tributaries of the Missouri, ih'
Columbia and the Saskatchewan rise in tb'
mountain region of Montana, near the north
ern boundary of the United States, between
the Blackfeet and the Flathead Indian reser
vatons This region is unsuitable for settle
ment, but upon the rivers which flow from I
depends the future agricultural development
| of vast tract of country The attention Of
Congress is called to the necessity Of with
drawing from pubic sale this part OF thu
public domain and establishing there fores
preserve.
The industrial exhibitions which have beef
held In the United States during the presen
wear attracted attention in many foreigI
countries where the announcement OF thos
enterprises had been made public through thu
foreign agencies of this government. The in
dustrial exhibition at Boston and the South
ern exposition at Louisville were largely at
tended by the exhibitors of foreign countrie
| Notwithstanding the absence OF any prolesse'
national character in those undertakings
The centennial exposition to be held mex
year at New Orleans, in commentator
the centenary Of the first shipment OF cotto
l :, = ~ rn;t hiHu fair D.
meet with like gratifying success.
Under the act of Congress of the 10th G
February, 1888, declaring that exposition t
be national and International in its character
all foreign governments with which tn
United States maintain relations, have bee
invited to participate.
The promoters of this important undertaR
ing have already received assurances OF IN
lively interest which 1t has excited abroad.
The report OF the commissioners OF th
District Of Columbia is herewith transmitted
ask for it your careful attention, especial
for those portions which relate TO asses
menls, arrears of taxes and increase OF waite
supply.
The civil service.
The commissioners who were appolnte
under the act of January 10, 1888, enlitle
IAN act TO regulate ana improve Inc CIV
service of the United States, entered promp
ly upon the dscharges of their duties.
A series OF rules, framed In accordan'
with the spirit of The statute, was approve
and promulgated by the President In son
particulars wherein they seemed defecti,
those rules were subsequently amended.
|, will be perceived that they discountenan'
any political or religious tests for admissic
to those offices of the public service to whit
the statute relates.
The act is limited in its original applicable
to the classified ccrkships in the several @
: ecutive departments at Washington (numbe
e ing about 5000 and to similar positions
!. customs districts and postofiices where
j many as fifty persons are employed.
= A classification of these positions analogo
r to that existing in fine Washington offic
was duly made before the law went in
U effect