Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-12-05
MTSCET,T. A NEOTyQ

dS VI Solue lHpOTC lines OF manufactured
goods.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In addition to important bills that be-
came laws before the adjournment of the
last session, some other bills of the highest
Importance were we'll advanced toward a
final vote and now stand upon the calen-
dars of the two houses in favored positions
urge their passage, and also favor steam
ship mail lines. The enactment of a
national bankruptcy law is still regarded
as very desirable. The constitution hay
ing given to congress jurisdiction OF this
subject it should be exercised and.rniform
rules provided for the administ;hs.. tion of
the affairs Of insolvent debtors ="
favor Of legislation atfordin7 oct Otoo copvl v!
right projection to foreign ,5""1;s 5r"."11;:s on a
authors abroad.
recommended as measure III, ,pislation.
The subject of cOnserva, ''p-, equal
distribution OF the water2eJS the
arid regions has been maid muca-s VA on
from congress. but h8 OF as ye. = put
upon permanent'' satisfactory basis.
Y The y urgency of Of tt! !Ma' ST., ST. does not grow
of the dangers that the NAAEar supply and
sites for necessary catch D&S3ins may fall
into the hands OF individuals or private
corporations and be used to render sub
servient large areas dependent upon such
supply. The owner of water is the owner
of lands, however titles may run. All un-
appropriated natural water sources and all
necessary reservoir sites should be held by
the government for equal use at fair rates
OF homestead settlers who will eventually
take up their lands. The United States
should not, in my opinion, undertake con-
struction OF dams or canals, but should
limit its work to such surveys and obser-
vations as will determine the water supply
both surface and subterranean, areas
capable of irrigation and use and storage
capacity Of reservoirs. This done, the use
of water and of reservoir sites might be
granted to the respective states or terri
tories, or to individuals or associations,
upon condition that the necessary works
should be constructed and the water fur
nished at fair rates without discrimination,
the rates to be subject to supervision by
legislatures or by boards OF water COM
missioners. The duly constituted essen
tial thing to be secured is common and
equal use at fair rates of the accumulation
OF water supply. 1t were almost better
that these lands should remain arid than
that those who occupy them should be-
come slaves of unrestricted mOnOpOlies
controlling one essential element of land
values and crop results.
The use of the telegraph by the post
office department as means for rapid
transmission of written communications is,
| believe, upon proper terms quite deirable.
The government does not own or operate
the railroads and it should not, think,
own or operate the telegraph lines. Il
does, however, seem quite practicable for
the government to contract with the tle-
graph companies, as it does with railroad
companies, to carry at specified rates such
communications as senders may designate
for this method of transmission. recon-
mend that such legislation be enacted as
well enable the postotfice department fairly
to test by experiment the advantages Of
such use of the telegraph. He favOrS a
more effective federal election law and
argues at some leagth in it's favor.
The preparation OF general appropriation
bills should be conducted with The greatest
care and greatest scrutiny of expenditures.
The appropriations should be adequate to
the needs of the public service, but they
should be absolutely free from prodigality
venture again to remind you that the
brief time remaining for consideration of
important legislation now awaiting your
attention offers no time for waste The
present duty discharged with diligence. fl
deity and courage, the work of the Fifty
first congress may confidently be submitted
to the cOnSiderate Judgment OF the people.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Washington, Dec l,
1890.