The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-05

Dy law 10 6x6TClS6 bOme bOTb VI buperNlb-
ion over interstate telegraph communica.
ton, and l express the hope that for at.
tanning that end some measure may be
devised which will receive your appro-
baton.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
The Utah commission has submitted to
the secretary of the interior its second
annual report. As result of its labors
in supervising the recent election in that
territory, pursuant to the act of March
%, 1882, it appears that the persons by
that act disqualified, to the number Of
about 10000, were excluded from the
polls. This fact, however, affords little
cause for congratulation, and fear that
it is far from indicating any real and sub
stantial progress toward the extirpation of
polygamy. All of the members of the
legislature are Mormons. There is grave
reason to believe that they are in symps-
thy with the practices that this govern
ment is seeking to suppress, and that its
effort in that regard will be more likely
to encounter their opposition than to re-
ceive their encouragem snt and support.
Even if this view should happily be erro.
neous, the law under which the commits
sioners have been acting should be made
more effective by the incorporation of
some such stringent measures as they
recommend, as we're included in bill No.
2239 on the calendar of the senate at its
last session. / am convinced, however,
that polygamy has become so strongly in
trenched in the territory of Utah that it
Is proftless to attack it with any but the
stoutest weapons which constitutional
legislation can fashion. favor, there
fore, the repeal of the act upon (which
the existing government depends, the as
sumption by the national legislature of
the entire political control Of the terri
tory, and the establishment of commits
sion with such powers and duties as shall
be delegated to it by law.
FAR-oFF ALASKA.
trust that congress will not fail at its
present session to put Alaska under the
protection of law. Its people have re-
peatedy demonstrated against our neglect
to afford them the maintenance aud pro-
lection expressly guaranteed by the terms
of the treaty whereby that territory was
ceded to the United States. For sixteen
years they have pleaded 10 vain for that
which they should have received without
the asking. They have no law for the
collection of debts, the support of educa-
ton, the conveyance of property, the adj
ministration of estates, or the enforce
ment of contracts. None, indeed, for the
punishment of criminals, except such as
offend against certain customs, commerce
and navigation acts. The resources of
Alaska, especially in fur, mines and lum-
har or OF hlo IL, a,,l
BILE OF large development, while its geo.
graphical situation is one of political and
commercial Importance. The promptings
of interest, therefore, as we'll as considera-
tions of honor and good faith, demand
the immediate establishment of civil
government in that territory.
THE RAILWAY PROBLEM.
Complaints have lately been numerous
and urgent that certain corporations, con-
trolling in whole or in part the facilities
for the interstate carriage of persons and
merchandise over the great railroads of
the country, have resorted in their deal
ings with the public to divers measures
unjust and oppressive in their character.
In some instances the state governments
have attacked and suppressed these evils,
but in Others they have been unable to
afford adequate relief because of the ju-
risdictional limitations which are i'm.
posed upon them by the Federal Consti.
tuition. The question how far the ma
tional government may lawfully interfere
in the premises, and what, if any, super
vision or control it ought to exercise is
one which merits your careful considera-
tion. While we cannot fail to recognize
the Importance of the vast railway sys-
TENS OF the country, and their great and
benehcial influences upon the develop
ment OF our material wealth, we should,
on the other hand, remember that no in
divldual and no corporation ought to be
invested with absolute power over the in
terest OF any other citizens or class of
citizens. The right of these railway cor
porations to fair and profitable return
upon their investments and to reasonable
freedom in their regulations must be rec.
ognized. But it seems only Just that, so
far as its constitutional authority will
permit, congress should protect the peo-
pie at large in their interstate traffic
against acts of injustice which the state
governments are powerless to prevent.
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS.
In my last annual message l called at
tention to the necessity of protecting by
suitable legislation the forests situated
upon the public domain. In many por-
tions of the West the pursuit of general
agriculture is only made practicable by
resort to irrigation, while successful irri.
cation would itself be- impossible without
the aid afforded by forests in contributing
to the regularity and constancy of the
supply of water. During the past year
severe suffering and great loss of property
have been occasioned by profuse floods,
followed by periods of unusually low wa
ter 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 ques-
ton OF the timber by which the water
supply had been nourished and protected
The preservation of such portion of the
forests on the national domain as es.
sentially contribute to the equable flow of
important water courses is OF the highest
consequence. Important tributaries of
the Missouri, the Columbia and the Sas-
katchewan rise in the mountains of Mon
tana, near the northern boundary of the
United States, between the Black Feet
and Flat Head Indian reservations. This