The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-04

origin in the service, is often dificult, and 1
many deserving cases impossible to establish
That very many OF those who endured the hare
ships of our most bloody and arduou
campaigns are now disabled from disease
that had a real but not traceable origin il
the service, we do not doubt. Besides these
| there is another class composed OF men, man.
OF whom served an enlistment of the three full
years, and re-enlisted veterans who added
fourth year OF service, who escaped the casual
ties OF battle and the assaults OF disease, who
were always ready for any detail, who were IL
the very battle line OF their command, and vert
mustered out in sound health and have since
the close OF the war, while fighting with the
same indomitable and independent spirit the
contests OF civil life, been overcome by disease
or casualty. 1 am not unaware that the.pensior
roll already involves very large expenditure
Neither am deferred by this fact from recon-
mending that Congress grant a pension TO such
honorably discharged sailors and soldiers as
served during the war and are now dependent
upon their own labor for maintenance and by di-
ing it. Many OF them who would be included in
this form of relief are now dependent upon pub
lie aid, and il does not, In my judgment, consist
with national honor that they shall
continue to subsist upon the local relief indis-
criminately given to paupers instead of upon
the special and generous promise of the nation
they served so CALAMITY and unselfshly. Our
people am sure, will very generally approve
such legislation, and am equally sure that the
survivors of the army and navy will feel a CRATE
fnl sense Of relief when this worthy and suffer
ing class of their comrades are faithfully cared
for In the existing law that which should be
remedied, to some of these the secretary OF the
interior has called attention.
1t is gratifying to be able to state that through
the adoption of new and better methods in the
war department the calls OF the pension office
for information as TO military and hospital
records of claimants are now answered and the
injurious and veXatious delay that heretofore
occurred are entirely avoided. This will greatly
facilitate an adjustment OF all pending claims.
THE ADVENT OF FOUR
new states, South Dakota, North Dakota, Mon
tana and Washington, into the union under the
constitution, in the same month, and the admiS-
sion Of their duly chosen representatives to our
national Congress at the same session, is an
event as uneXampled as interesting The certi-
fication OF the votes cast and the constitutions
adopted in each of these states was received by
me as required in the Sth section of the act of
February -, 1889; the governors OF said terri
tories respectively having after careful exam
ination found that the several constitutions and
governments were republican in form and not
repugnant to the constitution of the United
States, that all provisions of the act of Congress
had been complied with. and that majority of
the votes cast in each of the said proposed
states was in favor of adopting the constitution
I did so declare by separate proclamation as
TO each; as to North Dakota and South Dakota
on Saturday, November 2; as to Montana on
Friday, November s, and as 10 Washington on
Monday, November H.
Each of these states has within it resources
the development Of which will employ the ener-
gies and Weld comfortable SuStenance to a great
population. OF these new states the smallest
aShington-S stands twelfth, and the largest
Montana-third, among forty-two, in area.
The people OF these states are already well
trained, intelligent and patriotic American citi
Zens having common interests and sympathies
with the older states, and common purpose to
defend the integrity, and uphold the honor of
the nation.
THE ATTENTION OF THE INTERSTATE
commission has been called to the urgent need
of congressional legislation for the better pro-
lection OF the lives and limbs OF those engaged
in operating the great freight lines OF the coun-
try, and especially yard men and brakemen. A
petition signed by nearly one hundred thousand
brakemen was presented to this commission,
asking that steps be taken to bring about the use
OF automatic brakes and couplers on all freight
cars.
At a meeting OF state railroad commissioners
and their accredited representatives, held at
Washington in March last, upon the invitation
OF the interstate commerce commission, a reso-
luton was unanimously adopted urging the COM
mission to consider what can be done to prevent
the loss OF life and limb in coupling and IN
coupling freight cars and in handling the brakes
OF switch cars.
During the year ending June 30 1888, over two
thousand railroad employees were killed in
service and more than twenty thousand injured.
1t is competent, think, for Congress to require
a uniformity in the construction OF the cars used
in inter state commerce, and the use of safety
appliances on such trains. Time will be neces
sary to make the needed changes, but an intel
lgent and earnest beginning should be made at
once. 1t is a reproach to our civilization that
any class OF our workmen should, in the pursuit
OF necessary and useful vocation, be subjected
TO peril OF life and limb as great as that of SOL
diers in time Of war.
THE CREATION OF AN EXECUTIVE
department to be known as the department of
agriculture by the act of February last, was
a wise and timely response 10 a request which
had long been respectfully urged by the farmers
of the country, but much remains TO be done to
perfect the organization Of the department so it
will fairly meet the expectations which existed.
In this connection attention is called to the sug
gestions contained in the report OF the secre-
tary, which is herewith submitted, The need of
i law office for the department, such as is pro-
yided for the other executive departments, is
The failure of the last Congress to
make the usual provision for the publication OF
annual reports should be promptly remedied.
The public interest in the report and its value
to the farming community, l am sure, will not
be diminished under the new organization Of the
1 recommended that the weather service be
from the war department and estab-
liShed as department OF agriculture. This
will involve an entire reorganization, both OF
the Cweather bureau and the signal corps max
ing OF the first purely civil organization, and of
the other purely military staf corps. The
report of the chief signal officer shows that the
work of the corps on its military side, has been
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The interest of the people of the District Of
should not be lost sight Of in the pres
sure for consideration of the measures affecting
the whole country. Having no Legislature OF its
own, either municipal or general, its people
must look to Congress for the regulation of those
concerns that are the subject of local control
Our people have interests that the national
capital should be made attractive and beautiful
aV.I OH oil hot its naia oil chr Da
maintained.
The law regarding the sale OF intoxicating
drinks within the district should be revised with
view of bringing the traffic under stringent
limitations and control.
In execution of the power conferred upon me
by the act making an appropriation for the ex-
penses of the District Of Columbia for the year
ending June 80 1889, l, on the 18th day of
August last appointed Rudolph Herring OF New
York Samuel w. Gray, of Rhode Island, and
Frederick p. Stearns, OF Massachusetts, three
eminent sanitary engineers, to examine and re-
port upon the system OF sewerage existing IN
the District of Columbia. Their report, which
is not vet completed, will be in due course sub
mitted to Congress. The report of the commits
sioners of tee district is herewith transmitted,
and the attention of Congress is herewith called
to the suggestions to Congress contained
therein.
THE PROPOSITION TO OBSERVE
the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery
Of America by the opening of worlds fair or
in one OF the great cities Will be pre-
sented for the consideration of Congress. The
value and interest of such an exposition may
have claim for promotion by the general govern
nent.
CIVIL SERVICE.
On the 4th day of March last, the civil ser
vice commission had but single member. The
were filed on the 9TH day of May, and
since then the commissi IN have been indus
triously going through with an inadequate force
executing the law. They were assured that
cordial support would be given them in faith
full and impartial enforcement OF the statute
and OF the rules and regulations adopted in aid