Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-02-21
and the providing of methods for their prever
tl1n and cnre


and the providing of methods for their preven-
Alaska.
trust that congress will not fail at its
present session to put Alaska under the pro-
lection of laws. It's people have repeatedly re-
monstrated against our neglect TO afford them
the maintenance and protection expressly
guaranteed by the terms of tue treaty whereby
that territory was ceded to the United States.
For sixteen years they have pleaded in vain for
that which theS should have received without
asking. They have no law for the collection
of the debt, the support of education, the
conveyance of property, the administration of
estates, or the enforcement of contracts; none,
indeed. for the punishment of criminals ex-
cept such as are offered against certain
customs, commerce and navigation acts. The
resources of Alaska, especially i'll fur. mines
and lumber are considerable in extent and
capable of large development, while its geo
graphical situation is one Ut political and COM
mercial Importance. Fhs promptings of in-
honor and good faith, demaud the immediate
establishment of civil government in that
territory.
Interstate Commerce.
Complaints have lately been general and
urgent that certain corporations controlling in
whole or in part the facilities for the inter
state carriage of persons and merchandise over
the great railroads of the country, have resort
ed in their dealings with the public to diverse
measures unjust and oppressive in their char
acter. In some instances the state govern
ments have attacked and suppressed these
evils, butin others they have not been able to
afford adequate relief because of the jurisdic-
tonal limitations which are imposed upon them
by the federal constitution. Tie question how
far the national government may lawfully in
terfere in the premises, end what,
II any, supervision or control it
ought to exercise. is one which merits your
careful consideration While we can't fail to
recognize the Importance of the vast railway
systems 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 absolute
power over the interest of any other citi-
zen or class Of citizens. The right
of those railway corporations to receive
any profitable return upon their Investments
and to reasonable freedom in their regulations
must be recognized, but it seems only just that,
SO far as its constitutional authority will per-
NIT, congress should protect the people at large
in their Interstate traffic against acts of injus
tice which the state governments are powerless
to prevent.
District of Columbia.
The report of the commissioner Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia is herewith transmitted.
ask for it your careful attention, especially for
those portions which relate to the assessments
OF arrears of taxes and water supply.
Protection of Forests.
In my last annual message called attention
to the necessity of protecting by suitable legis-
lation the forests situated upon the public de-
main. In many portions of the west the pur-
suit of general agriculture is only made prac-
ticable by resort to irrigation; while successful
irrigation would be impossible without the aid
afforded by forests in contributing to the reg
.ta,tt % L..
water. DuIingthc past year severe suffering
and great loss &Ihoperty have been occasioned
by profuse floods followed by periods of unus-
ually low water in many of the great rivers of
the country. These irregularities were. in
great measure, caused by the removal
from about the sources Of the streams inques-
ton of the timber by which the water supply
had been nourished and protected. The pres
ervation of such portion of the forest on the
national domain as essentially contributes to
the equable flow Of important water courses is
of the highest consequence. Important tribu-
taries of the Missouri, the Columbia and Sas-
katchewan, rise in the mountains of Montana,
near the northern boundary of the United
States. between the Blackfees and Flathead
Indian reservations. This region is unsuita bic
for settlement, but upon the rivers which flow
from it depends in the future the agricultural
development of vast tract of country. The
attention Of congress is called to the necessity
VI WltuurdWllS lTOu tuc puUHC Bale lDlS part
of the public domain and establishing there
forest preserve.
The industrial exhibitions which have been
held in the United States dusing the present
year attracted attention III many foreign coun-
tries when the announcement of those enter
prises had been made public through the for
eign agencies of this government. The indus
trial exhibit at Boston and the southern ex-
hibit at Louisville, were largely attended by
the exhibitors of foreign countries, notwith
standing the absence of any professional char
acler in those undertakings. The centennial
exposition to be held next year at New Orleans, in
commenloratlon of the centenary of the first
shipment of cotton from a port of the United
States, bids fair to meet with like gratifying
success. Under the act of congress of the 10th
of February, 1888, declaring the exposition to
benadonal and international in its character, for
eign governments with which the United States
maintains relations have been invited to pa1-
tcipate. The promoters of this important
undertaking have already received assurances
of the lively interest which it excites abroad.
The Civil Service.
| The commissioners who we're appointed under
the act of January l6, 1888, entitled San act
| to regulate and improve the civil service of the
| United States," entered promptly upon the dis
charge of these duties. series of rules,
| framed in accordance with the spirit of the
statute, was approved and promulgated by the
President. In some particulars, wherein
they seemed defective, those rules
were subsequently amended. 1t will be
| perceived that they diFcountenance any po.
| litjcal Or rp]iuions tests for admission tn thf