The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-08


ton Of some such stringent measures as
they recommend, as were included in bill
No. 2223S 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 1t
Is proftless to attack 1t with any but the
strongest weapons which constitutional
legislation can fashion. favor, therefore,
the repeal of the act upon which the eX
isting government depends, the assumption
by the national legislation OF the entire
political control of the territory and the
powers and duties as shall be delegated to
IL by law.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
The Department of Agriculture Is ac-
cOmplishing much in the directi Il of the
agricultural development of the country,
and the report of the commissioner, giving
the results of his inveSti gationS and eX-
periments, will be found interesting and
valuable. At his instance, convention
of those interested in the cattle industry
of the country was lately held a; Chicago.
The prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia and
other contagious diseases OF animals was
one of the chief topics of discussion, and a
committee Of the convention will invite
your cooperation in investigating the
causes of these diseases. and providing
methods for their prevention and cure.
ALASKA.
trust that congress will not fail, at its
present session, to put Alaska under the
protection of law. It's people have repeat
eddy demonstrated against our neglect to
afford them the maintenance and protec-.
ton expressly guaranteed by the terms OF
the treaty, whereby that territory was ced-
ed to the United States. For sixteen years
they have pleaded In vain for that which
they should have received without the
asking. They have no law for collection
of debts, the support of education, the
conveyance of property, the administration
of estates or the enforcement OF con-
tracts, nor, indeed, for the punishment OF
criminals, except such rs is afforded against
certalr customs, commerce ana naVigatlOn
acts. The resources of Alaska, especially
in fur, mines and lumber, are considerable
in extent and capable of large deyel-
opment, while in its geographical situation
is one of political and commercial import
ance. The promptingS OF interest. there
fore, rs well as considerations OF honor
and good faith, demand the Immediate es-
Punishment of evil government in that
country.
/ INTERSTATE COMMERCE..
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 dealings
with the public. to divers measures unjust
and oppressive in their character. In some
instances the State governments have at
tackled and suppressed these evils, but in
others they have been unable TO afford ade
Quate relief because of the juriSdictiOnal
limitations which are imposed upon them
by the Federal constitution. The question
how far the National Government may law
fully interfere in the premises, and what If
any, supervision or control it ought to eXer-
else, is one which merits your careful con-
sideratiOn. While we cannot fail to recOg.
nze the importance of the vast railway syS.
TEN of the country, and their great and
beneficial influence upon the development OF
our material wealth. we should, on the other
hand, remember that no individual and no
corporation ought to be invested with absO-
lutte power over the interest of other citizen
or class of citizens. The right of these rull-
way corporations to award any profitable re-
turn upon their investments, and to rcaSona-
BILE freedom in their regulations, must be
recognized. But ii seems only lust that, so
far as its constitutional authority will per
nit, Congress should protect the people ut
large, in their Interstate traffic against acts
of Injustice, which the State Governments
are p0werless to prevent.
THE NATIONS FORESTS.
In my last annual message called atten-
ton to the necessity of protecting by Suita-
Bile legislation the forests situated upon the
public domain. In many portions of the
West the pursuit of general agriculture is
only made practicable by resort to rriga-
ton. while successful irrigation would be
impossible without the aid afforded by
forest in contributing to the regularity and
conNtancy of the supply of water. During
the past year severe suffering and great loss
OF property have been OccaSiOncd by prOfuse
foods, followed by periods Of unusually low
,,, tl,..a ~ hn
country. These irregularities were in great
measure caused by the removal from about
the sources of the streams in question Of the
timber by which the water supply had been
nOurishcd and protected. The preservation
of such portions of the forests oil the ma
tional domain as essentially contribute TO
the cquable flow Of important wates courses
is of the highest consequence. Important
tributaries of the Missouri, the Columbia
and the Saskatchewan rise in the mountains
of Montana, near the northern boundary N
the United States, between the Blackteet
and Flat Head Indian reservations. This
region is unsuitable for settlement, but upon
the rivers which flow from 1t 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
public domain and establishing there II
forest preserve.
INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS.
The Industrial exhibition, which have
been held in the United States during the
present year attracted attention in many
foreign countries, Wher" the announcement
of those enterprises nave been made public
through the foreign ag,ncic, of this govern
ment
The industrial Exhibition at Boston and
the Southern Exposition at Louisville were
largely attended by the exhibitors Of foreign
countries, Notwithstanding the absence of
any professional character in those under
takings
The Centennial Exposition to be held
next year at New Orleans, in cOnmemora-
ton of the first shipment of cotton from
port of the United States, bids fair to meet
with like gratifying success. Under the
acts of Congress of February 10. 1883, de-
caring that exposition 10 be national and
international in its character, foreign gov
crnments with which the United States
maintain relations have been invited to par
ticipate. The promoters of this important
undertaking have already received assur--
anccs of the lively interest which is excited
abroad.
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.
The report of the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia is herewith transmit
ted. | ask for it your careful attention, eS-
pecially those portions which relate toasseSs-
IunuiS nf arrears pt faxes and water