The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-06


The objections which may be justly urged
against any system which would require an
enormous increase in the civil service lists DO
not, however, appear equal to some OF the
plans which have lately attracted public COM
ment. 1t has been claimed, Tor example, that
Congress might wisely authorize the poStlnas-
ter general to contract with some private per-
sons or corporation, for the transmission OF
messages at specified rates and
under the supervision of the government
such schemes OF the same general NATURE, but
widely differing in their special characters
tics, have been suggested in the public prints,
and the arguments by which they nave been
supported and opposed have d0ub less at
tracted your attention. 1t is likely that the
whole subject will be considered by you at the
present session. In the nature of things 1t in
wolves so many questions of detail that your
deliberations would be aided but slightly, if at
all, by any particular suggestion which might
now suggest. | ayow my belief, however, that
the government should be authorized by law to
exercise some sort Of supervision OF interstate
telegraph communication, and l express the
hope that for attaining that end some measure
should be adopted which will receive your ap-
JURY FEES.
The attorney-general crticisee in his report
the provisions OF existing law fixing the fees of
jurors aud witnesses i'll the federal courts.
These provisions are chiefly contained in the
act of February 20, 1888. though some of them
were introduced into that act from statutes
which had been passed many years previous.
1t is manifest that such compensation might,
when these laws were enacted, have been Just
and reasonable, but would, i'll many instances,
be justly regarded at the present day, as IN,
adequate. concur with the encouragement
in the belief that the statute should be revised
by which these fees are regulated, SO, TOO,
should the laws which regulate the cOmpenSa-
ton of district attorneys, and of marshalS;
They should be paid wholly by salaries instead
OF part by fees, as is now the case. The change
would prove to be measure OF economy and
would discourage the institution of needless
and oppressive legal proceedings which it Is
to be feared, have, in some instances, been con-
fa1 frW-f II naa-l, ,alr nf nrNrlfr
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Much interesting and varied information is
contained in the report OF the secretary OF III
terror. 1 particularly call your attention TO
his presentation of certain phases OF Indian
questions. His recommendations for the re
peal of the preemption and TIMBER culture
acts and for more stringent legislation, TO pre-
vent frauds under the pension laws, the sIat-
utes which prescribe the definitions and pun
iShmentS of crimes, and relating TO pensions,
will doubtless be made more effective by GER
tain amendments and additions which are
pointed out in the Secretary's report.
FEDERAL AID TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
have previously referred to the alarming
state Of illiteracy in certain portions OF the
tion of Congress whether some federal ald
should be extended to public primary educa-
tion wherever adequate provision therefore
THE MoRMoNs.
The Utah commission has submitted to the
secretary of the interior its second an
nual report. As report OF its labOrs IN
that territory pursuant to the act of the first
Of March it appears the persons by that act
disqualified to the number of about II 900 were
excluded from the polls. This fact, however,
fear that it is far from indicating any real and
Subtanti3l progress toward the eXtirpatiOn OF
polygamy. All of the members Of the legisla-
ture are MOrmonS. There is grave reason to
believe they are in sympathy with the prac-
tees that this government is seeking to sup
press, and that its effort in that regard will be
more likely to encounter their opposition than
to receive their encouragement and support.
Even if this view should happily be unfounded
the law under which the Utah commissioners
have been acting should be made more erect
i've by the incorporation of some such string
ent measures as were included in bill No. 2238
on the calender of the Senate at its last session.
1 am convinced, however, ,polygamy has become
Utah that it is profitleSS to attack with any
but the StouteSt weapons which the conStltu-
tional legislation can fashion. favor there
fore a repeal of the act upon which the exist
ing government depends and the assumption
by the national legislature of the entire polit-
cal control in the territory and the establish
duties as shall be delegated to it by law.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
The department of agriculture is accomplish
ing much in the direction of the agricultural
development of the country, and the report OF
the commissioner giving the results of his in
veStigation and experiments will be found in
tereSting and valuable. At his instance con
yent0n 1i th0Se @ ldtefeshe1 G IN tHT & caGle us
of fpleurO-pneumOnia and other contagious d s.
eases OF animals was one OF the chief topics OF
discussion. A commission of the convention
Will invite your cooperation IN thlS lnVeSClga-
tion of the causes of diseases and providing
methods for their prevention and cure.
ALASKA.
trust that Congress will not fail at the pres
ent session to put Alaska under the protection
inf If0 hgaNyn W
strated against our neglect to afford them the
maintenance and protection, expressly guar.
an eed by tern OF u the & treaty Whereby tRat nat
sixteen years they have pleaded III vain Ter
that which they should have received without
the asking; They have no law for the collee-
ton of debts, the support of education, the
conveyance of property, the administration or
estates, or enforcement of contract 10 law for
punishment of criminals, except such as are
offered by certain customs of the country and
navigation. The resources of Alaska, especial
ly in furs, mines and timber, are
considerable in extent and capable
situation is one of political and commercial
Importance. The protection of inter est there
fore rs well as considerations of honor and
good faith demand the immediate establish
ment OF civil government in that territory.
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
Complaints have lately b:en numerous and
agents controlling whole or part of the
facilities for the Interstate carriage of persons
and merchandise for the great railways of the
country have resorted in the dealing with the
public to diverse measures unjust and OppreS-
sive in their character. IN some ms instances tne
these evils, but in others sthey have been
unable to afford adequate relief because OF the
iurisdictiOnal limitations which are imposed
on them by the federal constitution. The
question how far the national government may
lawfully interfrre in the premises, and what: If
ahy, supervision or contract it ought to exercise
is one viii h merits your Careful consideration
While we cannot fail to recognize the 1mpor-
tance of the vast railway system in its great
of our material wealth, we should on the other
hand remember that no individual and no COR
poration ought to BE- interested in the absolute
power over the interests of any citizen or class
of citizens The rights of these railway COM
panies to award and profitable returns upon
their Investments and to reasonable freedom
in their regulations must be economical, but it
seems only Just that so far as its constitutional
authority will permit, Congress should protect
the people at large in lheic state traffic against
acts of injustice which the state governments
are powerleSS to prevent.
PROTECTION OF THE FORESTS.
In mylast annual message called attention
to the necessity of protecting by suit able leg1s-
lation the forests situated on public DOMAIN
In great many portions OF the West
only i made practicable by resort to irrigation,
while successful irrigation would be impoSs1-
BILE without aid afforded by the forest in con
tributing to the regular and constant supply
of water. During the past year severe suffer-
ing and great loss of property has been Occa-
stoned by profuse floods, HOwed by periods
of unusually low water in many OF the great
rivers of the country. These irregularities
were in a great measure caused by remOval
from about the sources OF the rivers, OF TIMBER
by which the water supply had been nourished
and protected. The preservation OF such por-
ton of forests on the national domain, as es-
sentially contribute to the flow OF important
water courses, are of the highest Importance.
The important tributaries OF the Missouri,
Columbia and the Saskatchewan rise IN
the mountains of Montana, near the north
ern boundary of the United States,
between the BlackfOO and Rathead Indian
reservation. This region is unsuitable for
commerce, but on the rivers which flow from
it depends the future agricultural development
of a vast tract of country. The attention OF
Congress is called to the necessity of With
drawing from public sale this part OF the pub
| lie domain and establishing there forest re-
serve.
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS.
The industrial exhibitions which have been
held IN the United States during the present
year have attracted attention IN many iorelgn
| countries, where the announcements OF tneSe
enterprises have been made known through
| the foreign agencies of this government. The
| industrial exhibition at Boston and the South
ern Exposition at Louisville were largely at
| tended by exhibitors of foreign countries, not
withstandng the absence of any professional
| character in these undertakings.
THE NEW ORLEANS CENTENNIAL.
The centennial exhibition to be held next
| year at New Orleans, in commemoratioI
of the centenary of the first shipment
bids fair to meet with like gratifying success
| Under the act of Congress of the 10th OF Feb
| ruary, 1888, declaring that exposition to be ma
tional and international in its character, al