River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-12-13
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT

EVILS 10 BE kEMEDlED.
Much interest and varied information is con-
tanned in the report of the secretary Of the
interior particularly call your attention tc
his presentation of certain phases Of tn,
Indian question, 10 his recommendations foI
the repeal OF the presumption aud timber cui-
ture acts and far more stringent legislation L
prevent frauds under the pension laws The
statutes which prescribe the definition and pun
ishments of crimes pertaining to pensions, could
doubtless be made more effective by certain
amendments and additions, which are pointed
out in the secretary's report. 1 have preyi-
ously referred 10 the alarming state OF litter
aey in certain portions OF the country, and
again submit for the cons Iteration 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 las submitted to the
secretary of the interior its second annual re-
port As a result of its labors supervising
The recent election in that Territory, pur-
suant 10 the act Of March y, 1857,
it appears that the persons by that act
disqualified, 10 the number OF about 10000,
were excluded from tue polls. This fact, how
ever, affords little cause for cougrdtulation,
and l fear that it is far from inuIca'ing any
real aud substantial progress toward the extir-
patton Of polygamy. All Of the members Of
the legislature are Mornons. There is grave
with the practices that this government is seek
ing 10 suppress, and that is effort in that re-
gard will be more likely to encounter their
opposition than r. ceiYe their encouragement
aud support Even If this view shouid
happily be erroneous, the law under
which the commissioners have been acting,
should be made more effective by the incorpor-
alton of some such measures as they recon-
mend and as were included In bill No. =, 23S
on the calendar Of the senate OF its last session
! am convinced that Dolygamy is 20 strongly
intrenched in the Territory OF Utah that It II
profitless to attack with the state weapons
which constitutional legislation provide ia
vor, therefore, the repeal Of the act upon "hica
the government depends, the assumption by the
national legislature OF entire political control
OF the Territory and the establishing at OF
commission with such powers and duties as
shall be delegated 10 it by law.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
10 accomplishing much IN the direction OF the
agricultural development OF the country, aud
the report Of the commissioner giyng
and experiments. will be found inter.
estipg and valuable. At his instance a
convention of those interested in the cattle IN
dusiry of the country was lately held at
Chicago The prevalence of pleurO-pneu-
monis aud other contagious diseases Of AMI
mails was one OF the chief topics Of dis
cussion. A committee of the convention
win invite your cooperation IN invesigat-
ing the causes OF these diseases, and pro-
wiling methods for their prevention aud cure
trust that congress viii not fail at its present
session to put Alaska under the protection Of
laws It's people have repeatedly demonstrated
against our neglect to afford them the main
teDance and protection expressly guaranteed by
the terms Of the treaty, whereby that territory
was coded 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