Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-05

efforts in that regard will no more likely encounter
their opposition than receive their encouragement
and support. Even il this view should happily be
erroneous the law under which the Commissioners
have been acting should be made more effective by
the incorporation Of some such stringent measures
as they recommend, as were included in bill No.
2,SS, on the roll Of the Senate at the last session.
am convinced, however that poygAmy has become
strongly intrenched in the Territory of Utah. that it
is protless to attack it with any but the stoutest
weapons which constitutional legislation can make.
favor, therefore, the repeal OF the Act upon which
the existing Government depends resumption
10y the National Legislature of the entire political
control OF the Territory, and the establishment OF
Commission with such powers and duties as shall be
delegated to it by law
DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
The Department CT Agriculture is accomplishing
much in the direction Of the agricultural develop
ment of the country, and the report OF the Com.
missioner giving the results OF his investigations
and experiments, will be found interesting and val
liable. At his instance Convention Of those inter.
ested IN the cattle industry of the country was
lately held at Chicago, The prevalence of pleur
pneumonia aud other contagious diseases OF animals
was one of the chief topics OF discussion. COM
mittee Of the Convention will invite your co-opera-
ton in investigating the causes Of these diseases
and providing methods for their prevention and cure
THE ALASKA SITUATION.
trust that Congress will not fail, at its present
session. to put Alaska under the protection of law
Its people have repeatedly demonstrated against our
neglect to afford them the maintenance and protec.
ton expressly guaranteed by the terms Of the treaty
whereby that Territory was eeded to the United
States. For sixteen years they have pleaded for
that which they should have had without the ask
ing They have no law for the collection Of debt,
the support of education, the conveyance of prop
erty, the administration OF estates, or the enforce
ment of contracts. None, indeed, for the punish
ment of criminals, except such as those offend
against certain customs commerce and navigation
Acts. The resources Of Alaska, especially in fur,
mines and lumber, are considerable in extent, and
capable of large Development; while, in its geo
graphical situation, it is Of political and com.
mercial Importance. The promptings of interest, as
well as considerations Of honor and coed faith de-
mand the immediate establishment Of a civil gov
ernment in that Territory.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
Complaints have lately been urgent that certain
corporations controlling, in whole or in part, the
facilities for the interstate carriage Of persons and
merchandise upon the great railroads of the
country, have, IN their dealings with the pub
lie, devised 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 lin
itations which are imposed on them by the Federal
Constitution. The question how far the national
Government may interfere in the premises, ard
what, If any, supervision control it ought exer-
else, is which merits your careful consideration
While not fail to recognize the importance Of
the vast railway systems Of the country and their
great and beneficial influences upon the develop
ment of our material wealth. We should, on the
other hand rem smber that no individual and no
corporation, ought to be invested with absolute
power all Of the interests Of other citizens or
class of citizens The right of railway corporations
to demand profitable return upon their invest
ments and reasonable freedom in their regula-
tions, must be recognized but it seems only Just,
so far as its constitutional authority will permit,
that Congress should protect the people at large in
their interstate traffic against acts of injustice
which the State Governments are powerless to pre-
vent
PRESERVATION OF THE FORESTS.
In my last annual message I called attention 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 agri-
culture is only made practicable by resort to irrga
tioD while such useful irrigation would be impossi-
bic without the aid afforded by forests in contribut
ing to the regularity and constancy of such supply
of water. During the past year severe suffering and
great loss Of property have been occlsoned by
periods of unusually low water in many Of the great
rivers of the country. These Irregularities are in
great measure caused by the removal from about
the OF the streams in question Of the timber
by which the water supply had has been nourished
and protected. The preservation of such portions
of the forest on the national domain will essentially
contribute to the equitable flow of important water
courses, and is of the highest consequence. I'm
portant tributaries of the Missouri, the Columbia
and the Saskatchewan Iise in the mountains Of Mon
ana, near the northern boundary Of the United
States, between the Blackfeet and Flathead Indian
reservations This region is unsuitable for settle
meut, but upon the rivers which flow from it de
pends the future agricultural development of vast
tract of country. The attention of Congress is
called to the necessity of withdrawing from public
sale this part of the public domain, and estab-
fishing there Forest Preserver.
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS.
The industrial exhibitions which have been held
in the United States during the present year at
tracted great attention in many foreign countries,
where the announcement of those enterprises had
been made public through the foreign agencies of this
Government The Industrial Exhibitionat Boston and
the Southern Exposition at Louisville were largely
attended by the exhibitors OF foreign countries not
withstanding the absence OF anything national in the
character in those undertakings centennial exposi-
tion, to be held next year at New Orleans, in CON-
memoration Of the century Of the first shipment Of
cotton from that part of the United States bids fair
to meet with a like gratifying success Under the
Act of Congress Of the 10th Of February, 1885, de-
claring that exposition to be national and inter
national in its character, foreign Governments with
which the United States maintain relations have
been invited to participate. The promoters of this
important undertaking nave already received assur
Of the lively interest which is excited abroad.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The report Of tie Commissioners for the District OF
Columbia is herewith transmitted l ask for it your
careful attention, especially for those portions which
relate to assessments for arrears of taxes and water
supply.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The Commissioners who were appointed under the
Act of January 16, 1888, entitled "An Act to regu-
late and improve the civil service OF the United
States entered promptly upon the discharge OF
their duties. A series of rules framed in accord
ance with the spirit of the statute was approved
and promulgated by the President In scme par
tculars wherein they seemed defective, these rules
were subsequently amended so as to lrovide that
they discountenance any political or religious tests
for admission to Offices OF the public service to which
the statute relates. the Act is limited in its
original application to the classified clerkships in
the Executive departments at Washington number
ing about 5,600 and to similar positions in the
customs districts and postoffces, where as many as
fifty persons employed. classification Of these
Positions analogous to that existing in the
Washington offices, was duly made before
the law went into effect. Eleven customs
districts and twenty-three postotfces were thus
brought under the immediate operation of the
statute The annual report of the Civil Service
Commission. which will soon be submitted to Con-