The new North-west., 1883-12-07

power over all the interests of other citizen:
or class OF citizens. The right Of railway
corporations 10 demand a profitable return
upon their investments, and TO reasonable
freedom In their regulation, must be recog
nized; but IL seems only just so far as III
constitutional authority will permit, that
Congress should protect the people at large
in their inter State traffic against acts of in
justice which the State governments are
powerless to do.
FORESTRY.
In my last annual message, / called atten-
ton TO the necessity of protecting by suitable
legislation the forests situated upon the pub
lie domain. In many portions of the West
the pursuit of general agriculture is only
made practicable by resort to irrigation
while such useful irrigation would be i'm
possible without the ard afforded by the for
ests, In contributing TO the regularity and
constancy of such supply of water. During
the past year severe suffering and great loss
Of property have been occasioned by periods
of unusually low water in many of the grea,
rivers of the country. The Irregularities
were In great measure caused by the re.
moval from about the sources of the streams
In question of the timber by which the wa.
sOi oupPi1 mas bCth ptOtSN'
ted. The preservation of such portions OF
the forests on the National domain as essen
tial TO contribute to the equitable flow of
important water-courses, Is of the highest
consequence. Important tributaries Of the
Missouri, Columbia and the Saskatchewan
rise in the mountains of Montana near the
northern boundary of the United States, be.
tween the Blackfoot and Flathead Indian
reservations. This region Is unsuitable for
settlement, but upon the rivers which dow
from 1t depends the future agricultural de-
velopment Of vast tract of country. The
attention of Congress Is called to the neces-
sity of Withdrawing from public sale this
part Of the public domain and establishing
there forest preserve.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
At the time when the present Executive
entered upon his office, his death, removal,
resignation or inability TO discharge his
duties, would have left the government with
out constitutional head. 1t is probable, of
course, that similar contingency may again
arise, unless the wisdom of Congress shall
provide against its recurrence. The Senate
al its last session, after full consideration,
passed an act relating to this subject, which
will now, | trust, commend itself to the ap 9.
proval of both Houses of Congress.
The clause of the Constitution on which
must depend any law regulating the Presi.
dental succession presents also for solution
other questions of paramount importance.
These questions relate to the proper inter.
pretation Of the phrase, "Inability TO dis
charge the powers and duties of said office"
Our organic law provides that when the
President shall suffer from such inability the
Presidential Office shall devolve upon the
Vice President, who was himself under like
circumstances to give place to such officer as
Congress may by law appoint TO act as Pres
ident. | do not here set forth numerous
interesting inquiries which are suggested by
these words Of the Constitution. They
were fully stated in my first communication
to Congress, and have heretofore been the
subject OF frequent deliberation 10 that body.
1t is greatly 10 be hoped that these momen.
tous questions will find speedy solutions, lest
an emergency may arise when long delay
will be impossible, and any determination,
albeit the wisest, may furnish cause for anx-
iety and alarm.
LIMITED VETO OF MONEY BILLS.
For the reasons fully stated in my last an
nual message, | repeat my recommendation
that Congress propose an amendment TO that
provision of the Constitution which pre-
scribes the formalities for the enactment of
laws whereby in respect TO bills for the ap-
preparation Of public money the Executive
may be enabled, while giving his approval to
particular items. TO interpose his veto as to
such Others as do not commend themselves
to his judgment.
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The fourteenth amendment of the Consti-
tuition confers the rights of citizenship upon
all persons born or naturaized in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.
1t was the special purpose Of this amend
ment TO insure the members of the co lored
race the full enjoyment of civil and political
rights. Certain statutory provisions intended
TO secure enforcement of those rights have
been recently ydeclared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court. Any legislation whereby
Congress may lawfully supplement the guar.
antees which the Constitution affords Of
equal enjoyment by all the citizens of the
United States Of every right, privilege and
immunity Of citizenship, will receive my un-
hesitating approval.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.