The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-12-13
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
EVILS TO BE REMEDIED.

Much interest and varied information is con-
tanned III the report Of the secretary Of the
interior particularly call your attention to
his presentation Of certain phases Of the
Indian question, to his recommendations for
the repeal of the presumption and timber cul-
ture acts and far more stringent legislation to
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
out in the secretary's report: l have previ-
ously referred to the alarming state of Hitter
acy in certain portions of the country, and
again submit for the consideration 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 has submitted to the
secretary of the interior it's second annual re-
port As q result Of its labors supervising
the recent election in that Territory, pur
suant to the act of March 3D., 1882,
it appears that the persons by that act
disqualified, to the number of about II, 600,
were excluded from the polls. This fact, how
ever, affords little cause for congratulation,
and l fear that it is far from indicating any
real and substantial progress toward the extlr-
patton Of polygamy. All of the members OF
the legislature are Mormons There is grave
reason to believe that they are in sympathy
with the practices that this government is seek
ing to suppress, and that its effort in that re-
gard will be more likely to encounter their
Opposition 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 incorpor-
alton Of some such measures as they recon,
mend and as were included in bill No. 1855
on the calendar of the senate at its last session
I am convinced that polygamy Is so strongly
intfenched in the Territory OF Utah that it IL
profitless to attack with the state weapons
which constitutional legislation provide. ia
vor, therefore. the repeal OF the act upon which
the government depends, the assumption by the
national legislature Of entire political control
Of the Territory and the establishment of a
commission with such powers and duties as
shall be delegated to it by law.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AaR1CuLTuRE
is accomplishing much in the direction OF the
the report Of the commissioner giving
the results of his investigations
and experiments. will be found inter-
estipg and valuable. At his instance a
convention Of those interested in the cattle IN
Gus,ry of the country was lately held at
Chicago. The prevalence Of pleuro-pneu-
monia aud other contagious diseases OF ami
mails was one Of the chief topics of dis
cussion. A committee Of the convention
will invite your cooperation IN lnvesngat-
ing the causes Of these diseases, and pro-
viding methods for their prevention and cure.
trust that congress win not fail ct it's present
session to put Alaska under the protection of
laws Its people have repeatedly demonstrated
against onr neglect to afford them the main
tenance and protection expressly guaranteed by
the terms Of sthe treaty, Whereby that territory
years as they have plssdsd IN vain for that which
they should have received without ask.
in1. They hsNo no law for the