The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-12-04
Coming Legislation.
WORK THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE.

Coming Legislation.
WORK THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE.
In addition to the important bills that became
Jaws before the adjournment Of the last SEES.
sion, some other bills OF the highest i'm.
portaace were we'll advanced toward final
vote, and now stand upon the calendars Of
present session has a fixed limit, aid il
those measures are not now brought to q
final vote Iii the work that has been done
upon them by this Congress is lost. The
apportionmcnt bill, and of tho annual
appropriation bills will require not only that 10
that measures Ut minor and local interest shall
not be allowed to interrupt or retard the prog.
ress OF those that are OF universal interest.
In view of those conditions l refrain from
trng'ng before you at this time some sug-
gestions that would otherwise DO made, and
most earnestly invoke your attention to the
now we'll advanced. TO some OF those measures
which seem to me most important now briefly
cali your attention.
DEVELOP AMERICAN STEAMSHIP LINES.
desire to repeat with added urgency the
recommendations contained in my last annual
message in relation to the development Of
American steamship lines. The reciprocity
clause OF the tariff bill will be largely limited.
and its benefits retarded and diminished if pro:
vision is not contemporaneousiy made to en-.
courage c5Sa:g the establishment OF first.
nations as may meet our overtures
for enlarged commercial exchanges The
queutly. and offering to passengers comforta-
BILE safe and speedy transit, is the first condition
OF foreign trade 1t carries the order or tho
gives to the sailing vessels such carsocs as are
not urgent or perishabic, and indirectly ut
least promotes that important adjunct of com.
merce There is now 10th in this country and
In the nations Of Central and South America. .
state OF expectation and confidence Us to Ina
vNn1r .ptin Nnnn hio ion
BETTER ELECTION LAWS.
II any Intelligent and loyal company Of
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential human conditions OF life, l do
would begin with free and honest elections"
And 1t Is gratifying to know that generally
there is growing and non-partisan demand
sor oef.er eieG1on laws bu IL against ms
pressing and undeniablc fact that election
laws and methods are sometimes cunningly
cOntrived to secure minority control, whIiO
violence com lot IS tho ShOrtc ominS5 o. fraud.
PASS THE ELECTION LAW.
In my last annual message I suggested that
the development OF the existing law prov!d.
ing q Federal supervision of CO nSrcss tonal
elect ons offered an effective mot hod Of re-
forming these abuses. The nccd Of such n law
has manifested itself IN mary parts of tho
country, and its wholesome restraints an d
tionaity of such legislation Las boon af.
tirmed by the Supreme Court. Its probab.e
effectiveness is cvld ;nccd by the character Of
the Of position that is made TIC it. 1t has been
denounced as If it were q now exercise OF Fed
eral power and III invasion OF tho rights OF the
States. Moth NJ cou be- further from the
truth Congress- has already fixed the time for
the election II men. bers If Congress. 1t has de-
clared that votes for members OF Congress
%1s5 be BY has ~1 proSaea or for printed Ss
appointment by Ire cirsuit courts in Ger:
tain CASTS. and upon tho petition of u
certain mbcr OF .itizens Of election suner
nd mn IN h..1r int tn lion
the regis tt;lt.on of voters conducted by the
State officers; to challenge persons offering to
eze ae re s nd to- ax their
names to the lists tor tho purpose OF identlt.
cation and the prevention OF frauds: to
BIKES till the votes are a cast aud
counted; to attach to tho registry
list and election returns any statement t. Gil
ana election, and to take and transmit to tho
Clerk Of the House OF R:,lr ,scntativcs any
evidence OF fraudulent practices which may
for the appointment of Deputy United States
Marshals to attend Ut the polls, support the
supervisors in the discharge Of their duties
law. The provisions Of this 1a'nil ar title in
the Revised Statutes have been put to exercise
by both the pol teal parties. and in the No rth
court Of the petitions required by law "'''4 '''
It is not, therefore, question whether Wo
shall have a Federal election law, for We now
have one. and have had for nearly twenty
years, but whether we shall have an effective
law. The present law stops just short OF eff.
fectiveness, for it surrenders to the local
a9 nn6 al eont r ] thc nt
seat in the House OF REPRESENTATIVES. This
defect should be cured Equality OF repre-.
s Sc ana the parity OF the ELECTORS must
in our system OF government is lost. The quail.
itications of On elector must be sought in tho
law not in Inc opinions prenSces or fears Of
e.ector to the bal:otbox must be free from
the ambush OF fear and the cnticcmcnts Of
fraud; the count SO true and open that mono
shall gainsay it. Such q law SHOULD be ALSO
lutely non'partisan and impartial It should
give the advantage to honesty and the con-
troll to maiorities Surrey. there is nothing
sectional about this creed. and II 1t shall
happen that the PENALTIES of laws intended to
enforce these rights fall here and not there
hapny ' crime is ocs and no
universal Nor should it be forgotten
that every law, whether rotating to elections
the State or by the Nation. has force behind Il.
The courts, the marshal or constable, tho
posse com1tatus, tho prison, are all and always
behind the law.
If to promote with zcal and rca dy interest
every project for the development Of its mate
rial interests, its rivers, harbors. mines and
factories, and the intelligence and peace and
its homes is not accepted as sufficient evidence
OF friendl!ness to any State or section, can not
adu cOnnlVGncc at election practices that not
only disturb local results but rob tho electors
OF other States and sections OF their most
priceless political rights
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The preparation OF the ne oil appropriation
bills snEuld be conducted with the greatest
care and closest scrutiny Of expenditures. Ap.
preparations Should be adequate to the needs
OF the pubic service, but they should DC abso-
Mtely free from prodigality.
venture gain to remind you that the brief
time remaining for the consideration of the i'm
portant legislation now awaiting your atten.
ton Offers no margin for waste. II the present
duty Is discharged with diligence fidelity and
courage the work Of the Fifty.frst Congress
may be confidently submitted to the consider.
ate judgment OF the people.
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
EXECUTIVE MANSION December !, 1S0J.
USUALLY marry for acknowledgement.
A BURNING que3tion-''WE here's the fires,,'
IN. Y. Mail and Express.