The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-12-06

his presentation of certain phrases Of the Indian
question; to his recommendations for the re-
zeal of the Presumption and Timber Culture
act. and for more stringent legislation 10 pre-
ntes which prescribe the definitions and punish
inents OF crimes relating to pensions could
be made more effective by certain
and additions which are pointed
nut In the Sccrctarv's report.
Primary Education.
I have previously referred to the alarming
state Of illiteracy I'm certain portions OF the
country, and again submit for the consideration
OF Congress, whether some Federal aid should
not he extended to public primary education
wherever adequate provision therefor has not
already been made.
The Mormons.
The Utah Commission has submitted TO the
Secretary OF the Interior It's second annual Ic-
port as oaa result Of Its anof In tn,
TO the act Of March 81. 1882 II app 'ars
sa ,.soaia e ae a number NIB ,os e rs tact % bow
ever, affords little cause for conGratulation, md
fear that II is far from indicating any real aud
substantial progress IS toward the sxtirpaio,n, Of
ture are MOrrnons. There Is grave reason to
believe that they are In sympathy with the
practices that this dOvernm mt is seeking 70
suppress. and that Its efforts in that regard will
be more likely to encounter their opposition
than receive their announcement and
support. Even II this View should
which the commission have been acting should
be made more effective by the Incorporation OF
some such stringent measures a. they recon-
Calendar OF the senate. At Its last session. ] am
convinced, however, that polyEamy has become
no strongly intrenched in the Territory Of Utah.
that 1t Is protless to attack 1t with any but the
strongest weapons which constitutional legisla-
tion can fashion favor, therefore. the repeal
Of the Act upon which the existing Government
depends. the assumption by the National
OF the territory and the establishment OF ccm-
mission, with such powers and duties as shall
be delegated to 1t by law.
Agricultural Development.
The Department of Agriculture is accomplish
development Of the country. and the report OF
the Commissioners. giving the results Of his in
vestigations and experiments will be found in
tcrcsting an valuable. At his instance. con
vention Of those interested in the cattle industry
Of the country WAS lately held At Chicago. The
prevalence Of pleuro pneumonia and other con-
tagtous diseases of animals was one Of the chiet
topics Of discussion, and 4 committee OF tho
Convention will invite your co operation In in :
vestigating the causes Of these diseases. au.l
providing methods tor their prevention an
cure.
thrust that Congress will not fail. at its pres
ent session, to put Alaska under the protection
Of law. It's people have repeatedly monstrst
cd against our neglect to afford them the main
tenance and protection expressly guaranteed hy
the terms Of the treaty, whereby that Territory
was cedcd to the United States. Fer 10 yea
they have pleaded in vain for that which they
should have received without tn asking. They
have no law for collection Of debts, the support
of education, the conveyance Of property. tho
administration Of estates. or the enforcement
OF contracts, nor. indeed. for the punishment oi
criminals, except Snch as is Afforded against
certain customs. commerce ana navigation ac =
The resources IF Alaska, especially In fur
mines and lumber. are considerable IN extent
and capable OF lai ige desclol III mt. while in l i
geographical situation 1t IL one OF political and
commercial importance. The promptinys OF
interest. therefore. a. we'll as considerations o
establishment Of civil government in thai
Inter- state Cornmercs.
Complaints have lately been nunsr .ns and
urgent that certain corporations controlling, il
whole or In part. the facilities for the inter
State carriage OF persons and merehanGlli
over the great lairoads Of the country
the public, to divers measures nm
just and oppressive In their character. In som,
instances the state Governments have a.tacke,
and suppressed these evils. hut in others the,
have been unable TO afford adequate relief, he
| cause of the jnrisdictional limitations which
are imposed upon them by the Federal eonstitn
tion. The question how far the National 'iov
| ernmcnt NAV lawfully interfere in tho premises
| and what. II any, supervision or controlit ought
| 70 exercise, AZ one which merits your cars fu
nixe the Importance of the vast raiiwa,
system OF the conntry. and their grea
| and beneficial infuenc, upon tn,
development OF our material wealth, we should
| on the other hand. remember that no individua
| and no corporation ought ~ he invested Will
absolute power over the interest of any othe
citizen or class Of citizens. The right of thes
| railway corporations to award any proiitah
| return upon their investments. and 10 rsasona
| hle freedom in their regulations. msst he racog
ni1ed But II seems ONLY just that. ~ far as II
H..
should protect the people at large. in their Inter
State traffic again acts ot injustice. which tn
| State Governments are powcrless 10 prevent.
The Nations Forests.
| In my last annual message called at;cntio,
to the necessity of protecting by suitable legis
latioM the forests situated upon the public ITO
main. In many portions OF the West the rGr
snit Of general agriculture il only made practic
able by resort to irrigation, while successful
| irrigation would I've impossible without the ait
afforded by forests | l contributing To the rcgn
| lsrity and constancy of the supply Of water
/ During the past year severe suffering and rrea
/ loss OF property have be n occasioned by pro
fuse floods. followed ny periods of unusual
low water in many Of the great river
1 Of the country. These Irregularities wcr
4 great measure caussd by The removal tror
| tbout the sources ot the streams In question 4
| the timber by waich the water suppy had hccl
nourished and protected. The preservation q
! such portions OF the forests on the nat oaa
domain IA essentially contribute Il the eauab,
! flow of important water courses i OF the high
/ est consequence. Important tributaries OF tn
Missouri. the Columbia AM III, sa~katch wa
/ northern boundary of the United States. hc
tween the Blackfcet and Flat Heal In.ia
| reservations This region Is unsaitahle for sat
tlement. hut upon the rivers which flow fron
| 1t depends the future agricultural development
| of vast tract Of country. The attention q
4 Congress IL called t. the necessity of withdraw
| ing from public sale this mart o. the publ
| domain. and establishing there ferest pre
| serve.
Industrial Exl,i,itions.
| The industrial exhibitions which have bee
| held In the United States during the rio Ell
year attracted attention In many fareien conn
prisea have been made public through tn
| foreign agencies Of this Government.
The Industrial Exhibition a. Roston and III
attended by The sshihitors % Of iorern enc, eonn,ss. %
notwithstanding the absence OF any professions
character In those undertakings.
The Centennial Exposition TO be held nes
| year at New Orleans. In commemofaiion " IN
4 centenary Of the first shipment ot cotton from
1 port OF the United States. bids fair 10 meet wit
like gratifying success. Under the act OF Con
exposition to be national and international In IL
| character, foreign Governments with which th
United States maintain relations have been In
portant Undertaking have already received a.
surances OF the lively interest which II excite
| abroad
District Of Columbia.
The report of the Commissioners of the Dis
| triet of Columbia is herewith transmitted
| Ask for II your careful attention, especially Il
those portions which relate TO a. scssments ,
arrears OF taxes and water supply.
Civil Service.
The Commissioners who were appointed ur
der the act OF Jan. 10, 1883, entitled An act
regulate and improve the civil service of Il
| United States" entered promptly upon the dir
| charge OF their duties A series OF rul,
framed in accordance with the spir
| OF the statute was approved and prt
i.mnlgatcd by the President, hn; In some pa,
ticulars, wherein they seemed defective, the
rules were subsequently amended. II will |
| perceived that they discountenance any politics
or religious tests for admission TO the offices
Il the public service tn which the statute relate
The act II limited in its original application |