Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-12-12

should be held accountable for the er
tire cost of not only its own collectio
and delivery, but the collection and dc
livery of all other classes, and at
confident after full consideration of tn
/ subject that reduction of the rat
would be followed by such a CROWN,
accession of business as to occasion bu
slight and temporary loss to the revenu
of the postoffice.
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPHS.
The Postmaster General devote.
much of his report to the consideration
in its various aspects, of the relation,
OF the Government to the telegraph
As such reflection as | have been abb,
to give to this subject since nv last an
nual message has not led me to change
the view which | there expressed il
dissenting from the recommendation O
the Postmaster General, that the Gov
ernment assume some control over the
telegraph which it has always exercis.
eG over the mail, admitting that its
authority in the premises is as ample
40 liiS C' CA D6Cl Cldllucu lOI IL, IL MOuIu
not in my judgment be wise to use. II
that authority to purchase or assume
the control of existing telegraph lines
or to construct others with view OF
entering into a general competition
with private enterprises.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Much interesting and varied ipfor-
nation is contained in the report of the
Secretary of Interior. | particularly
call your attention to his presentation
Of certain phases of the Indian ques-
tions, to his recommendation for the re-
peal of the pre-emption and timber cul-
tivation acts ard for more stringent
Legislation to prevent frauds under the
pension laws
PENSION FRAUDS
The statutes which prescribe the
definitions and punishment of crimes
relating to pensions could doubtless be
made more effective by certain amounts
and additions which are pointed out in
the Secretary's report
lLLlTERACT.
| have previously referred to the
alarming state Of illiteracy in certain
portions of the country and again sub
NIT for the consideration of Congress
whether some Federal aid should be
extended to public primary education
wherever adequate provision therefore
has not already been made.
THE PoLYGAMY PROBLEM.
The Utah Commission has submit
ted TO the Secretary of the Interior its
second annual report As result OF
its labors in supervising the recent
election in that Territory pursuant to
the act of March %, 1882, it appears
that the persons Dy that act disquali-
fed, to the number of about 10000,
were excluded from the polls. This
fact, however, affords little cause for
congratulation, and | fear that it is far
from indicating any real and substan-
tial progress toward the extirpatiOn 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 efforts in that regard will be
more likely to encounter opposition
than to receive encouragement and sup
port Eyen if this view should happi-
ly 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. 223S on the calen-
dar of the Senate at its last session.
am convinced, however, that polygamy
has become SO strongly entrenched in
the Territory of Utah that it is profit
less to attack it with any but the stout
est weapons which constitutional legis-
lation can fashion. | favor therefore
the repeal of the act upon which the
existing government depends, the as
sumption by the National Legislature
of the entire political control of the
Territory and the establishment of a
commission with such powers and du-
ties as shall be delegated to it b,
law.
AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.
The Department of Agriculture is
accomplishing much in the direction of
the agricultural development of the
country and the report of the Commits
sioner giving the results of his investi-
cations 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 pre-
yalence Of pleuro pneumonia and other
contagious diseases of animals was one
Of the chief topics of discussion. A
committee of the convention will in
vite your cooperation in Investigating
the cause of these diseases and provid-
ing methods for their prevention and
cure.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Complaints have lately been MINER
Gus and urgent that certain corporations
controlling in whole or in part the facil-
ties for the Interstate carriage of per-
sons 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 govern
ments have attacked and suppressed
these evils, but in others they have
been unable to afford adequate relief
be cause of the jurisdictional 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.
CHECKING MONOPOLY
w Nhi1a Nya a.pnpt foil 70 ha