Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-05
INTERNAL MATTERS.
Tie Utah Com m missiOD, the Condition OF
Alaska and the Railway Question.
Nuch in 70 erestinp and valued information

Alaska and the Railway Question.
Much interesting and valued information
is contained in the report OF the Secretary
of the Interior. | particularly call your
attention to the presentation of certain
phases of the Indian questions TO his re-
commendations of the repeal OF the. pre-
emption and number of culture acts, and
more stringent legislation to prevent fraud
under the pension laws. The statutes
which prescribe the definitions and pun
ishments of crimes relating to pensioners
could doubtless be made more effective by
certain amendments and additions which
are pointed out in the Secretarys report.
have previously referred to the alarm
ing state of illiteracy in certain portions OF
the country, and again submit for the con.
ideration Of Congress whether some Fed
0al aid should be extended to public pri'
mary education wherever adequate prOvl-
sion therefor has not already been made.
The Utah Commission
has submitted to the Secretary 0f the In
terror its second annual report % = result
OF its labors in the supervision OF the re-
cent election in that Territory pursuant to
G the %. Strsos Sc Is d?Tssa21ahhs d?s =, appear9 that
number of about 1900, were excluded
from the polls. This fact, however, affords
little cause for congratulation, and lear
that it is far from indicating any real and
substantial progress toward the eXlrpation
OF polygamy. All of the members OF the
Legislature are Mormons, and there is grave
reason to believe that they are in sympathy
with the practices that this Government IS
seeking 10 suppress, and that It's effort In
that regard will be more likely 10 encoun'
ter their opposition to than receive their
encouragement and support. Even II 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 2,23S on the cal:
endar Of the Senate at its last session.
sm convinced, however, that polygamy
has become 80 strongly entrenched in the
Territory of Utah that it is proiltless 10 at
| tack il with any but the sioutest weapons
| which the constitution ana legislature can
| fashion. ! favor therefore the repeal oi
thr act upon which the existing govern
m.ut depends, the assumption OF the
National Legislature OF the entire political
control OF the Territory, aud the esta6
lisEment OF a commission with snch
nov ers and duties as shall be delegated by
Law.
trust that Congress will not fail, at its
pre.ent session, to. put Alaska under the
protection of law. It's people have
Repeatedly demonstrated Against Our
Neglect
| TO sflord them the maintenance and pro-
lection expressly guaranteed BY the terms
of the treaty whereby that territory was
| ceded to the United States. For sixteen
wears they have pleaded in vain for that
which they should have received without
| the asking. They have no laws for the COL
lection of debts, the support OF education
| the conveyance OF property, the admins.
trstion Of estates or the enforcement OF
J contracts. None indeed for the punish.
ment of criminals except such as oHereu
| against certain customs OF the commerce
and navigation acts. The resources OF
Alaska, especially in fur, mines and lum-
Der are considerable in extent and capable
of large development, while in its geo.
grs phiCal situation, ii is one OF political
and commercial importance. The prompt
| inC of interest, therefore, as well as consid-
eratiOns OF honor and good faith demand
The Immediate Establishment OF Civil
Government
| in that territory.
Complaints have lately been numerous
| and urgent that certain corporations CON
| trolling in whole, or in part, the facilities
| for the inter State csrrlage OF persons ana
| merchandise over the great railroads OF the
| country. have resulted in their dealings
| with the public to diverse 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
| adequate relief, because OF the Jurlsdlc-
| TONED limitations which are imposed upon
| them by the federal constitution. Inc
question, how far the National Govern
| nent may lawfully interfere in the prem
| ises, and what, il any, supervision oil con
| troll il ought 10 exercise, is one which
merits your careful consideration. Nhlle
| we cannot fail to recognize
The Importance OF the Vast Railway
| system
of the country and their great and benit-
c;sl influences upon the Developments OF
our material wealth, We should on the
other hand remember that no individual
| and no corporation ought to be invested
| with absolute power over the Interests OF
spy other citizens or class OF citizens Inc
| RIGHT of these railway corporations TO a
| fair and profitable return upon their IN
| yestmepts and 10 reasonable freedom on
| their regulations must be recognised, but
| il sesms only Just that so far as ite co1sti'
| tutional authority will permit congress
| should protect the people at large IN thei'
| ;nter-State traffic against acts OF injustice
| which the State governments are poWeriess
1 a.