Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-12-06

wears previous. 1t is manifest that such
compensation as might. when these laws
were enacted, have been Just and reasonable
would, in many instances, be justly regard
ed at the present day as inadequate. / con-
cur with the attorney general in the belief
that the statutes should be revised by
which these fees are regulated. So,
too. should the laws which req
ulate the compensation of district ATTORNEYS
and marshals. They should be paid wholly
by salaries, instead of in part by fees, as is
now the case. The change would prove to
be q measure of economy, and would dis
courage the institution of needless and op-
pressive legal proceedings which, it is to be
feared, have in some instances been conduct
ed for the mere sake of personal gain.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Much interesting and varied information
is contained in the report of the secretary of
the interior. particularly call your stten-
tion 10 his presentation of certain phases of
the Indian question; TO his recommenda-
tions for the repeal of the pre-emption and
timber culture acts and for more stringent
legislation to prevent frauds under the pen
sion laws. The statutes which prescribe the
detection and punishments Of crimes relat-
ing TO pensions could doubtless be made
more effective by certain amendments and
additions which are pointed out in the secre-
tary's report.
ILLITERACY.
l have previously referred to the alarming
state OF illiteracy in certain portions of the
country, and again submit for the considera-
ton OF Congress. whether some Federal aid
should be extended to public primary edu-
cation. wherever adequate provision therefor
has not already been made.
PoLYGATY.
The Utah commission has submitted to the
secretary of the interior its second annual
report. As q result of its labors in supervis-
ing the recent election in that territory, pur-
suant to the act of March 22 1882, it appears
that the persons by that act disqualified to
the number of about 12, 900, were excluded
from the polls This fact, however, affords little
cause for congratulation, and fear that it is
far from indicating any real and substantial
progress toward the extirpation of polyg
amy. All of the members of the Legislature
are Mormons. There is grave reason to be-
lieve that they are in sympathy with the
practices that this government is seeking to
suppress and that its effort in that regard
will be more likely to encounter their oppO-
sition, than receive their encouragement and
support. Even if this view should happily
be erroneous, the law under which the
commissioners have been acting should
be made more effective by the
incorporation of some such stringent meas
ures as they recommend, as were included in
bill No. 223S 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 stout
est weapons which constitutional legislation
can fashion. | favor the repeal of the act
upon which the existing government de-
pends, the assumption by the National Legis-
1ature of the entire political control of the ter
ritory, and the establishment of a commits
sion with such powers and duties as shall be
delegated to il by law.
AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture is accom-
plishing much in the direction of the agri
cultural development of the country, and
the report Of the commissioner, giving the
results of his investigations and experiments
will be found interesting and valuable. At
his instance convention of those interested
in the cattle industry of the country was
lately held at Chicago. The prevalence of
pleuro-pneumonia and other contagious dis
eases of animals was one of the chief topics
of discussion. A committee of the conven-
tion will invite your cooperation in inves-
tigating the causes of these diseases, and pro-
viding methods for their prevention and
cure.
ALASKA.
I trust that Congress will not fail at its
present session to put Alaska under the pro-
lection of law. Its people have repeatedly
against our neglect to afford
them the maintenance and protection ex
pressly guaranteed by the terms of the
treaty, whereby that territory was ceded 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 the collection of debts,
the support of education, the conveyance of
the administration of estates, or
the enforcement of contracts; none in
deed 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 lumber, are considerable in ex-
tent and capable of large development,
while in its geographical situation it is one
of political and commercial importance.
The promptings of interest, therefore, as
we'll as considerations of honor and good
faith, demand the immediate establishment
of civil government il. that territory.
RAILROAD AGGRESSION.
Complaints have lately been numerous
and urgent that certain corporations control
ling in whole or in part the facilities for the
interstate carriage of persons and merchan-
disc over the great railroads of the country
have resorted, in their dealings with the
public, to diverse measures unjust and op-
pressive in their character. In some instances
the state governments have attacked and
these evils, but in others they
have been unable to afford adequate relief,
because of the jurisdictional limitations
which are imposed upon them by the Fed
eral Constitution. The question how far
the national government may lawfully
interfere in the premises, and what if any,
supervision OF control it ought to exercise, is
one which merits your careful consideration.
While we cannot fail to recognize the i'm
portance of the vast railway systems of the
country and their great and beneficial in
fiuences upon the development of our ma
terial wealth, We should on the other hand
that no individual and no cor
poration ought to be invested with absolute
power over the interest of any other citizens
1r class of citizens. The right of these rail-
way corporations to fair and profitable re-
urn of their investments and to freedom to
heir regulations must be recognized, but it
seems only Just that SO far as its constitu-
ional authority will permit, Congress should
protect the people at large in their inter-
tate traffic against acts Of injustice which
tate governments are powerless to prevent.
FOREST PROTECTION.
In my last annual message l called atten-
ion 20 the necessity of protection by suita-
,le legislation of the forests situated upon the
public domain. In many portions of the
West the pursuit of general agriculture is
,nly made practicable by resort to irri-
,ation, while successful irrigation would be
impossible without the aid afforded by for
sts in contributing to the regularity and
onstancy of the supply of water. During
he past year severe suffering ard great loss
# property have been occasioned by profuse |
loods followed by periods of unusally low |
water in many Of the great rivers of |
he country. These irregularities were |
n great measure caused by the removal from |
bout the sources of the streams in question |
# the timber by which the water supply |
lad been nourished and protected. The |
of such portion Of the forests on |
he national domain as essentially con-
ribute to the equable flow of important |
Tater courses is of the highest consequence.
important tributaries of the Missouri, the |
Columbia and the Saskatchewan rise in the
fountains Of Montana, near the north
m boundary of the United States,
etween the Blackfeel and Flathead
indian reservations. This region is
nsuitable for settlement, but upon
he rivers which flow from it depends the
1ture agricultural development of a vast
-act of country. The attention of Congress
called to the necessity of withdrawing
.om public sale this part of the public do
lain and establishing there forest preserve.