The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-07
Presidents Message.
coNctuDsD FROM SECOND PAGE.

aHOru tnem tne maintenance ana prOtec-
tion expressly guaranteed by the terms OF
ed 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 collection
Of debts, the support of education, the
conveyance OF property, the administration
of estates or the enforcement of con-
tracts, nor, indeed, for the punishment Of
criminals, except such a. is aiforded 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 devel-
0pment, while In its geographical situation
Is one vi political and commercial import
ance. The prOmptings. of interest, there
| fore, as well as considerations Of honor
and good faith, demand the immediate es-
Establishment of evil government in that
country. ..
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Complaints have lately been numerous
and urgent that certain corporations con-
| trolling, In whole or in part, the facilities
| for the interstate 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 at
tackled and suppressed these evils, but in
others they have been unable to afford AIDE
quate relief because of the jurisdictional
| limitations which are imposed upon them
by the Federal constitution. The question
| how far the National Government may law
| fully interfere in the premises, and what, II
| any, supervision or control il ought TO eXer-
| else, Is one which merits your careful con
| sideration. While we cannot fail to recog-
nize the importance Of the vast railway sys.
Il q -, and tl,,tr raaf I'D
| beneficial Influence upon the development of
| our material wealth, We should, on the other
| hand. remember that no individual and no
corporation ought 10 be invested with absO-
| Mte power over the Interest Of other citizen
| or class OF citizens. The right of these rail.
| way corporations to award any profitable re-
| turn upon their investments, and to reaSOna-
Bile freedom in their regulations, must be
| recognized But ii seems only Just that, ST.
| far as its constitutional authority will per
| nit, Congress should protect the people at
large, in their Interstate traffic against acts
| of Injustice, which the State Governments
are p0werless TO prevent
I raY 4 THE NATIONS FORESTS.
In my last annual message | called atten-
don to the necessity Of protecting by sulta-
| BILE 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 u iIriga-
ton, while successful irrigation would be
impossible without the aid afforded by
| forests In contributing 10 the regularity and
constancy Of the supply Of water During
| the vast year severe suffering and great loss
| Of property have been occasiOned by profuse
| floods. followed by periods Of unuSuallylUw
| water in many OF The great rivers Of the
country. These Irregularities were In great
measure caused by the removal from about
/ d. 49,. g, 1,