The Portland daily press., 1883-12-05


in the act OF February &c, 1858, though some
OF them were introduced into the section from
statutes which had been passed MANY wears
previous. 1t is manifest that such compensa-
ton as might when these laws were enacted
have been just and reasonable would, in many
instances, be justly regarded at the present
day as inadequate. / concur with the Attor-
ney General in the belief that the statutes
should be revised by which those fees are reg
ulated So too should the laws which regulate
the compensation of district attorneys and
marshals. They should be paid wholly by
salaries instead OF in part by fees as is now the
case. The change would prove to be a meas
ure OF economy and would discourage the in
ceedings which it is to he feared have in some
instances been conducted for the mere sake of
personal gain.
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
Much interesting and varied information is
contained in the report of tho Secretary of the
Interior. particularly call your attention to
his presentation of certain phases of the Indian
question, to his recommendation for the repeal
OF the presumption and timber culture act and
for more stringent legislation to prevent frauds
under the pensions laws. The statutes which
prescribe the definitions and punishments of
crimes relating to pensions could doubtless be
made more effective by certain amendments
and additions which are pointed out in the
Secretary's report.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
have previously referred to the alarming
state of illiteracy in certain portions of the
country and again submit for the consideration
OF Congress whether some federal aid should not
beextended to public primary. education wher-
ever adequate provision therefor has not al
ready been made
THE MORMON PROBLEM
The Utah Commission has submitted to the
Secretary of the Interior its second annual re-
port, as result of its labors in supervising the
recent election III that territory, pursuant to
the act of March 22d. 1882 1t appears that
the persons by that act disqualified, to the
number OF about 1900, were excluded from
the polls. This fact however, affords little
cause for congratulatioD, and 1 fear that it is
far from indicating any real and substantial
progress toward the extirpstion of polygamy.
All of the members of the legislature are
Mormons. There is grave reason to believe
that they are in sympathy with the practices
that this government is seeking to suppress,
and that its effort in that regard will be more
likely to encounter their opposition, than to
receive their encouragement and support.
Even il this view should happily be errone-
GUS, the law under which the Commissioners
nave been acting should be made more effect
i've by the incorporation of some such stringent
measures as they recommend, as were includ-
ed in bill No. 1928, on the calendar of the
Senate at its last session. am convinced,
however, that polygamy has become SO strong
ly intrenched in the Territory of Utah that it
is proftless to attack it with any but the stout
est weapons which constitutional legislation
can fashion. l favor, therefore, the repeal of
the act upon which the existing government
depends, the assumption by the National Legis-
lature of the entire political control of the
territory and the establishment of a commits
sion with such powers aud duties as shall be
delegated to it by law.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The department of agriculture is accom-
pilshlng much In the direction of the agricul--
tural development of the country and the re-
port OF the commissioner giving the results 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-pneu-
monia and other contagious diseases of
animals was one of the chief topics of discus
sion. A committee of the convention will in
vite your cooperation in investigating the
causes of these diseases and providing methods
for their prevention and cure.
ALASKA
trust that Congress will not fail at its pre-
sent session to put Alaska under the protec-
ton of law. Its people have repeatedly re-
monstrated against our neglect to afford them
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-
C0lfOu WlbuOuJ LILO asking. In0Y nave 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 punishment
OF criminals except such as offennd against GER
tain customs, commerce and navigation acts
The resources of Alaska especially in fur,
mines and lumber are considerabl in extent
and capable of large development while its
geographical situation is one of political and
and commercial Importance. The promptings
rv14n khnra L..
of honor and good faith demand the imme-
date establishment of civil government in
that territory.
RAILROAD MONOPOLY.
Complaints have lately been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations controlling in
a whole or in part the facilities for the inter
state carriage OF persona and merchandise over
the great railroads of the country, have resor-
ted in their dealings with the public to diverse
measures, unjust and oppressive in their char
acter In some instances the State govern
ments have attacked and suppressed thes
evils but in others they have been unable to
afford adequate relief because of the jurisdict-
ional limitations which are imposed upon them
by the federal constitution. The question
haw far the national government may
lawfully interfere in the premises and what, if
any, supervision or control it ought to exer-
else is one which merits your careful considera-
ton. While we cannot fail to recognize the
Importance OF the vast railway systems of the
COulbIy anu tH6lE Er6db anu D6lcEClnl lDnu0n-
ces upon the development of our material
wealth we should, on the other hand, remen-
Der that no individual and no corporation
ought to be invested with absolute power over
the interest OF any other citizen. The right
OF these railway corporations to fair and prof
liable return upon their investments and rea-
sonable freedom in their regulations must be
recognized but 1t seems only just that so far as
its constitutional authority will permit, Con-
gress should protect the people at large in
fxatan IN frnf1 1n - .1l,
which the State governments are powerless to
prevent.
PROTECTION OF THE FORESTS
In my la It annual message called attention
to the necessity of protecting by suitable legis-
lation the forests situated upon the public de-
main in many portions OF the West. The pur-
suit of minerals and agriculture is only made
practicable by resort to irrigation, while sue
cessful irrigation would be impossible without
the aid afforded by forests in contributing to
the regularity and constancy of the supply of
water, During the past year severe suffering
and great loss of property have been OCCASION
ed by profuse floods, followed by periods of I'M
usually low water in many of the great rivers
of the country. These Irregularities were in 4
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 nourished and protected. The preserva-
tion of such portion of the forests on the ma
tional domain as essentially contribute to the
equal flow of important water courses, is Of
the bighest consequence. Important tributaries
of the Missouri, the Columbia and the Saskat-
chewan rise in the mountains of Montana,
near the northern boundary of the United
States, between the Black Feet and Flat Head
Indian reservations. This region is unsuitable
for settlement, but upon the rivers which flow
from it depends in the future the agricultural
cultivation of vast tract of country. The at
tention of Congress is called to the necessity of
Withdrawing from public sale this part of the
public domain, and establishing there forest
preserve
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS.
The industrial exhibitions which have been
held in the United States during the present
year attracted attention in many foreign coun-
tries, where the establishment of these enter
prises had been made public through the for
eign agencies OF this government. The indus.