The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-04

best appliances, simplicity, effectiveness
and cost Icing considered. This difaculty
will only yield to legislation which should
b based upon full inquiry and impartial
tesla. The purpose should be to secure tho
cooperation OF all we'll disposed managers
and owners, but the fearful fact that every
years. delay involves the sacrifice Of 1000
lives and the manning OF $1,000 young
mon should plead both with congress and
the managers against needless delay,
Far West water Supply.
The subject Of the conservation and
equal distribution Of the water supply Of
the arid regions has had much attention
for congress. but has not a. yet been put
upon permanent and satisfactory basis.
The urgency Of the subject does not grow
out Of auy large present demand tor the
use Of these lands for agriculture, but out
OF the danger that the water supply and
the sites for the necessary catch basins
may fall into the hands Of individuals or
private corporations aud be used to render
subservient the large areas dependent
upon such supply. The owner OF the
water is the owner Of the lands however
the titles may run.
Postal Telegraph Service.
The use Of the telegraph by the postof-
flee department as means for the rapid
trans m is sion Of written communications,
l.. believe, upon proper terms, quite de-
sirable. The government does not own or
operate the railroads, and 1t should not,
think own or operate the telegraph lines
1t does, however, seem to be quite practl-
cable for the government to contract with
the telegraph companies, as it does with
the railroad companies, to carry At spect
nod rates such communications as the
senders msy designate for this method OF
transmission. l recommend that such
legislation may bo enacted IS will enable
the postofflce department to test BY ex-
psrience the advantages Of such use Of
the telegraph.
'Fres and Honest Elections"
II any intelligent and loyal company Of
American citiEnns were required to eata-
logue the essential conditions Of national
life, do not doubt that with absolute
unanimity they would begin with ''free
aud honest elections" And 1t Is crafty
ing to know that generally there 10 =
growing and patriotic demand for bstter
hope and progress must Be SGT the de-
pressing and undesirable fact1that election
laws and methods are sometimes cum
ningly contrivcd 70 secure minority con-
troll, while violence completes the short
comiugs Of fraud.
In my last annual lmessaRe suggested
that the development Of the existing law
= AEuCAA4 Vi COu-
Rressional elections offered an effective
method Of reforming these abuses. The
need Of such law has manifested itself
in many parts Of the country, and its
wholesome restraints and penalties will
be useful In all
II the proposed law gives to any quail
fed elector, BY hairs weight, moro than
his equal influence or detracts BY 80 much
feom any qualified electer, IL Is fully i'm
l,eached. But II the law u equal and the
animosities it IL to evoke grow out Of the
fact that some electors have peea accus.
toned to exersise the franchise for others
As we'll as for themselves, then these ami
mosities ought not to be confessed with
out shame, and cannot b given any
weight in discussion without di,honni.
No choice Il left me but to enforce with
vigor all laws Intended to secure to til.
citizen his constitutional rights, and to
omnlend that the inade4uacies Of such
laws be promptly renedied.
venture again to remind yoN that the
brief time remaining for the consideration
of the important legislation now awaiting
your attention Offers no margin for waste.
II tho present duty Il discharged with
diligence, fidelity AID courage, the work
of the Fifty-hrst congress may be conf
IDENTIFY submitted to the consiG crate judg.
msnt OF the people.
BENJAMIN H. HARRISON.
EXECUTIVE MANsIoN, Dec. l, 1880.