The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-12-14
INTERIOR
Evils no BE REMEDIED.

Much interest and varied information is con-
tanned in the report Of the secretary of the
interior. particularly call your attention to
his presentation Of certain phases of the
Indian question, to his recommendations for
the repeal or 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 aud pun
ishments of crimes pertaining to pensions, could
doubtless be made more effective b. certain
amendments and additions, which are pointed
out in the secretary's report / have previ-
ously referred TO the alarming state of litter
aey 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 q result of its labors supervising
the rece2t election in that Territory, pur-
suant to the act of March %, 1882,
it appears that the persons by that act
disqualified, to the number OF about $4,000,
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-
patton of polygamy. All of the members CT
the legislature are Mormons. There is grave
reason to believe that they are in sympathy
with the practices that this government ls seek
ing to suppress, and that its effort in that re-
gard will be more likely to encounter their
opposition than receive their encouragement
and support Even il this view shonld
happily be erroneous, the law under
which the commissioners have been acting,
should be made more effective by the lncorpor-
alton of SOM such measures as they recon-
mend and as were included in bill No. 2,23S
on the calendar of the senate ct it's last session.
l am convinced that polygamy is 80 strongly
intrenched in the Territory of Utah that II Is
proftless to attack with the state weapons
which constitutional legislation provide. 1 Ia
vor, 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 o
commission with such powers and duties as
shall be delegated to it by law.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
is accomplishing much in the direction OF the
agricultural development of the country, and
the report Of the commissions giving
the results OF his Investigations
and experiments. will be found inter
esting and valuable. At his instance q
convention Of those interested IN the cattle IN
dustry of the country was lately held at
Chicag The prevalence of pleuro-pneu-
monia aud other contagious diseases OF AMI
mails was one OF the chief topics OF dis
cussion. A committee OF the convention
will invite your cooperation IN invesigat-
lux IL CAuH66 Oh blt1o ulSNdcCbs ~ RAO-
yiding methods for their prevention and cure.
l trust that congress will not fad at as present
session to put Alaska under the protection of
laws. Its people have repeatedly demonstrated
against our neglect to afford them tho main-
tenance and protection expressly guaranteed by
the terms of the treaty, whereby mat territory
was ceded to the United States. For sixteen
years they have pleaded in vain for that which
they should have received without ask
ing They have no law for the
collection Of the debt, the support
OF schools the conveyance OF property, the
Administration OF laws, or the enforcement. OF
contracts-none indeed for the punishment OF
criminals except such as are afforded by GER
tain customs, and navigation acts.
The resources OF Alaska, especially IN fur,
mines and lumber, are considerable in extent
and capable Of large development, while its geo.
graphical situation is one OF political and com
mercial importance. The promptlngs OF inter-
est, therefore, as well es considerations OF honor
and good faith, demand the immediate estab-
lishment Of civil government in that Territory.
RAILWAYS.
Complaints have lately been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations controlling 10
whole or part the facilities for the Interstate
carriage Of merchandise by the great railway
of tie country have resorted in their dealings
with the public to divers measures UNJUST
and oppressive in their character. In some
instances the State governments have attacked
others they have been unable to af'
ford adequate relief because or tht
jurisdictionai limitations which are imposed
upon them by the federal constitution. Ihe
question whether the national government may
lawfully interfere in the premises, and what
If any, supervision OF control 1T ought to exer.
else, is one which merits your careful consld'
Grafton While we cannot fail to recog-
nize tho Importance OF the vast rail
way systems Of the country, and theil
great and beneficial influence upon tn
development OF our material wealth w
should, on the other hand, remember that nc
individual corporation ought to DO inyestet
with absolute power over the interest OF an,
other citizen or CLASSIC citizens. The right y