Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-13


daions for the repeal Of the preemption and
timber culture act and 70: more stringent
legislation TO prevent frauds under the pen
sion laws. The ;, atutes which prescribe the
definitions and punishmen,s OF crimes re-
iatins to pensions could doubtless be made
more effective by certain amendments and
additions which are pointed out in the Sec
retarys report.
| have previously referred 10 the alarm
ing state of illteracy in certain portions OF
the country and again submit for the consld-
Grafton of Congress whether or not some
federal aid should be extended to public
primary education whenever adequate pro-
vision therefor has not ALREADY been made.
THE CUR>i. OF PoLYGAMN.
The Utah commission has submitted to
the Secretary Of the Interior lis second an
nual report a. result of lis labor> IN super
vi>ing the recent election in that territor,
pursuant to the act of March - l>S2 1t
appears that the persons by that act disqual-
flied, to the number of about twelve thous-
and. were excluded from the polls Th>
fact however. affari> little cause for con
graduation. and fear that it is far from in
dicating any real and substantial progress,
toward the extirpation Of polygamy. All
of the members Of the legislature are Nor
mons. There is grave reason - believe that
They are IN sympathy with the practices thai
this Government l. seek ing II suppress. and
that It's effort IN that regard will he more
likely To encounter their opposition than 10
receive their encouragement and support.
Even If tins view should happily be er-
rcneuus the law under which the commits
>oners have been acting should dc made
more effective bv the Incorporation OF some
such stringent m, .ures as they recommend.
a. were included ii bill No. 923> on the cal
endAr Of the Senate at its las, session
am convinced, however. that polvgamy has
become Strongly ntrenched in the terri
tory OF Utah that 1t j. proiitless to attack il
with any but the >toutest weapons which
constitutional legislators can fashion. IA
Nor. therefore, the repeal of the act upon
which the existing Government depends and
the assumption by the National legislature
of the entire political control of the terrific
nv. and the establishment OF commission
with such powers and duties as Shall he del
egated to il by law.
TIE DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture il accom-
pI>hiny much in e direction of the az ricl,-
tural development Of the country and The
report of the Commissioners giving the IT,
suits Of his Investigations and experiment,
Will be found interesting and valuable \.
his instance a convention Of those interested
in the cattle industry of the country wa,
lately held in Chicago The prevalence
of p.curo- pneumonia and other contagiou,
diseases of animals was one of the chic
topics Of discussion. \ committee of the
convention will invite your cn-opcra,i1n il
investigating the causes OF these disease,
and providing methods for their preyen,ioa
and cure.
TERRITORY OF ALASKA.
trust that Congress will not fail at il,
present session to put Alaska under the
protection of law. It's people have repeat
edlv demonstrated against our neglect Il
afford them the maintenance and protection
especially guaranteed by the treaty whereof,
that territory was leded 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 law fol
the collection Of debts. the support Of ed
ucation, the conveyance of property, the adj,
ministration of estates or the enforcement
of contracts. none, indeed, for the punish
ment Of criminals except such as offend
against certain customs. commerce and nav
igation acts. The resources of Alaska. es-
peciallv in fur, mines and lumber, are con-
siderable in extent and capable of large de-
velopment while It's geographical situation
is one Of political and commercial import.
snce. The promptings of interest, there
fore, as well as considerations of honor and
good faith, demand the immediate establish
ment of civil government IN that territory
INTEREST COMMERCE.
Complaints have lately been numerou.
ard urgent that certain corporations. con.
trolling in whole or in part the facilities toI
the Inter State carriage Of persons and mer-
chandise over the great railroads of the
country, have resorted in these dealings
with the public to divers measures. un just
aud oppressive in their character. In some
instances the State governments have at
tackled and suppressed these evils, but in
Others thew have been unable 10 afford ade-
quate relief because Of the jurisdiction and
limitations which are imposed on them b,
the Federal Constitution. The question
how far the National Government NAV law.
fully interfere in those premises and, if any
what supervision or control it ought to ex-
ercise. is one which merits your careful con-
sideration While We cannot fail to recog.
nize the importance of the vast railway sys.
TENS of the country and their great beneficial
influences on the development Of our mate
rial wealth, we should, on the other hand
remember that no individual and no corpo.
ration ought TO be invested with absolute
power over the interests of any other citi-
zen or class of citizens. The right of these
railway corporations to fair and profitable
return upon their investments and reasona-
bic freedom in their regulations must be
recognized, but it seems only just that sc
far as its constitutional authority will per
NIT Congress should protect the people a
large in their inter State traffic against acts
of injustice which the State governments ar,
powerless to prevent.
LEGISLATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF oUT
FORESTS.
In nv last annual message called at
tention to the necessity of protecting b,
suitable legislation the forests situated or
the public domain. In many portions o.
the west the pursuit of general agricul-
ture is only made practicable by resort Il
irrigation while successful irrigation would
itself be impossible without the aid afforded
by the forests in contributing to the re-
sularity and constancy Of the supply Of
water. During the past year severe suffer.
;,u and oreat loss of property has been oc.
casioned by profuse floods followed b,
periods Of unusually low water in many Of
the great rivers of the country. These
irregularities were in 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