The Dickinson press., 1883-12-15
INTERIOR
EVILS TO BE REs1ED1ED.

EVILS TO BE
Much interest and varied information is con-
tanned in the report Of the secretary of the
interior. 1particularly call your attention to
his presentation Of certain phases of the
Indian question, to his recommendations for
the repeal Of the presumption and timber Gull
ture acts and far more stringent legislation to
prevent frauds under the pension laws. The
statutes which prescribe the definition and pun
ishments of crimes pertaining to pensions. could
doubtless be made more effective by certain
amendments and additions, which are pointed
out in the secretary's report. ! have previ-
ously referred to the alarming state of filter
acy in certain portions of the country. and
again submit for the consideration of congress
whether some federal aid should not be extended
to public primary education wherever ade-
quate provision therefor has not already been
made.
The Utah commission has submitted to the
secretary of the interior its second annual re-
port. As a result of its labors supervising
the recent election in that Territory, pur.
II appears that the persons by that aci
disqualified, TO the number Of about IL, 900,
were excluded from the polls. This fact, how
ever, affords little cause for congratulation,
and L fear that it is far from indicating any
real and substantial progress toward the extir-
the legislature are Mormons. There is grave
reason to believe that they are in sympathy
with the practices that this government is seek
ing to suppress, and that its effort in that re-
gard viii be more likely to encounter their
happily BIO erroneous, the law under
which the commissioners have been acting,
should be made more effective by the incorpor-
alton of some such measures as they recon-
nap6 and q q uoro ipolp1o1 in Kin NJ o 900
on the calendar of the senate at its last session.
l am convinced that polygamy is 80 strongly
intrenched in the Territory Of Utah that it Is
proftless to attack with the state weapons
which constitutional legislation provide. / IA
yor, therefore,. the repeal of the act upon which
the government depends, the assumption by the
national legislature OF entire political control
of the Territory and the establishment of a
commission with such powers and duties as
shall be delegated to it by law.
THE DEPARTMENT OF A~GRICULTuRE
is accomplishing much in the direction of the
agricultural DEVELOPMENT of the country, and
the report Of the commissioner giving
the results Of his investigations
and experiments sna will be found inter.
convention Of those Interested in the cattle in
dusty of the country was lately held at
Chicago. The prevalence of pleuro-pneu-
monia and other contagious diseases Of ami
mails was one Of the chief topics Of dis
CusSlou. n COululibGo0 OF Tue convention
will invite your cooperation in investigat.
ing the causes of these diseases, aud pro.
yiding methods for their prevention and cure.
l trust that congress vii. not fail at its present
session to put Alaska under the protection Of
laws. Us people have repeatedly remonstratsd
against our neglect to afford them the MANI
%teenance and protection expressly guaranteed by
the terms of the treaty, whereby that t%erritory
was coded to tie United States. For siyteeS
years they have pleaded in vain for that NM
they should have received Without II
ing. They have no Law T. ask
collection of the debt til. IF the
Of schools the conveyance OF supper
administration Of laws, or tb,, ptoperty, the
co~ntracts-non indeed for the %nnn;ahmant Q;
criminals except such as are res sh Pansdm ns 90 o.
tain customs. oomm..srce and navipst;o uy Ger Ger
MINES ana Iamber, are considerable N erten;;
sna S:pable Of large development, while it's Geo.
graphical situation is one OF political and CON-
merclal Importance. The promptings Of inter
esd therefore, as well as considerations of honor
ana gooa faith, demand the immediate estab.
lishment of civil government in that Territory
RAILWAYS.
Complaints have lately been humorous and
urgent that certain corporations eontrollinr in
whole or part the facilities for the inter-ststa
-' s. 49,